Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-15
ITS ANNUAL ELECTION
OFFICERS CHOSEN BY ANACoSTIA
CITIZENS ASSOCIATION.
Report Of Committee Relating to
Public School Situation-Transac-
ton of Other Business.

ton of Other Business.
The Anacostia Citizens Association held
its annual election of officers Wednesday
with the following result: Dr.~James A.
Watson, president (re-elected); George o.
Watson first vice president; John F. Earn
shaw. second vice president; Charles r.
Burr, secretary (re-elected): James c. Leon
ard, treasurer (re-elected); James Marbury,
sergeant-at-arms (re-elected). Members
elected to the executive committee were
DR.. r. A. Pyles, Eugene E. Thompson, Nor
ris Otterback and o. s. Humphrey.
The committee on public schools, to
which had been referred the resolution of
President Watson, calling for the censuring
of the board of education and Superin-
tendent Chancellor in connection with the
situation existing in the public schools of
the District, reported. After reciting the
changes that had taken place in the school
system, which was described as being in
transitional stage, the committee expressed
the opinion that the members of the board
of education should receive compensation
in many large cities of the country where
such members serve without salary. After
referring to the personnel of the District
board. which was praised, although 1t
hight De HiOTe representative Oh the va
rious. sections of the District it was stated
that owing to the committees lack of
knowledge regarding many acts of the
board censure should be withheld. so
much Of the resolution" the report read,
''as states that this association go on rec
ord as opposing the principle of selecting
for local Offices men outside the District
meets with our hearty approval We be-
lieve our association has, gone on record
on this subject, and we are confident it
will maintain this position. Obviously the
appointment of Mr.. Chancellor, a non-resi-
dent of the District, to the position of su
perintendent of our public schools, seems
matter for just and unfavorable criticism.
Surely this great city has men capable of
filling this honorable position. And it seems
unjust to our people that an outsider should
receive the appointment, yet this commit
tee has been informed that the position
was rendered to more than one Washington
educator, only to be declined
The committee recommended that Presi
dent Watson's resolution be not approved.
President Watson demanded further op-
portunity to study the report submitted
by the committee on public schools before
any decided action was taken by the as
ISOLATION and the report was laid on the
table, to be taken up at the next meet
ing.
Reclamation Of Flats.
Chairman Leonard of the committee on
the reclamation of the Anacostia flats told
the association that the project was no
nearer contamination than it was two
years ago.
Morris Otterback mentioned that when
the bill providing for the construction of
a road along the south bank of the Ana
costa river between Anacostia and the
plant of the Firth-Sterling Steel Company,
at Giesboro, was taken up by the House
District committee action was postponed
indefinitely. On motion of Mr.. Otterback
it was decided to again invite the atten-
ton of the congressional committees to
the benefit of such highway as is pro-
posed. The fact that Anacosta had been
District were being reported upon in Con-
gress was referred to by DR.. George c.
Havenner.
President Watson named Dr. Havenner,
DR.. Pyles and William Latmer as COM
mittee to urge the establishment of a
park. On motion of Mr.. Thompson the
same committee was directed to endeavor
to bring about the improvement to the
park space between Washington and
Jackson streets.
New System Of Streets.
In response to the request of the associa-
ton for information as to the new system
Of street names for the Anacostia section
as there are a number of streets in the
town the names of which conflict with
those in other places in the District, the
Commissioners answered that the new sys-
tenn Is now being prepared and when it is
completed the plan will be referred to the
citizens organization for its Information.
Secretary Burr reported having commune
Gated with the Commissioners about hav-
ing a fire alarm box placed on Minnesota
avenue near 18th street, and also with
placing before them an urgent request for
additional policemen in the Anacostia terri
tory. as the section is too large to be
thoroughly patrolled by the present force,
it was stated letter was read from Chief
Belt Of the District fire department, which
notified the association of his recommended
ton for the fire alarm box named, but
later communication from the Commission
ers impaired the informant of there being
no funds with which to erect the box. In
connection with the plea for more patrol
men the Commissioners wrote that owing
to the limited force the police department
is not prepared at this time to make addi-
tional assignments. The secretary stated
the appeal of the association for cheaper
gas had been filed with the District Com
missioners and Representative Madden.
The Endorsement by the association of the
Madden transfer bill affecting the local
street railways was stated to have been
forwarded to the officials dealing with this
subject.
The following were elected to member
ship in the association: E. v. Burke, H. c.
Laymen, Johnson Hardy, Benjamin Nun
dell and J. D. Miller. Mr.. Mundell spoke
for arousing interest in greater Ana
costa" movement.