Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-07
TRADE BOARD MEETS
Proceedings at Third General
Session for 1908.
SCHOOL REPORT ADOPTED
Necessity for Fire Prevention and
Protection.
PAROLE FOR YOUNG PRISONERS
Steps to Have Centenary of Lincoln's
Birth a Legal Holiday
in the District.
SCHOOL REPORT ADOPTED
PAROLE FOR YOUNG PRISONERS

MANY important matters occupied the at
tention of-the Washington Board OF iraue
mt its third general meeting for l9os. heiu
i'll the red parlor of the New Wizard no.
tel last evening. A feature was the adop
ton of the report of the STANDING coli-
mittee on schools, together with amend
ments proposed during the meeting. m
tended TO secure complete protection from
fire of all existing school buildings in the
District. as we'll as of all modern school
houses hereafter to be constructed
Indirect reference to the problems or
school construction was also brought INTO
the meeting in connection with the ac-
ceptance of invitation, issued by
Waddy b. Wood, president of the Wash
ington Architectural Club, that the Board
of Trade attend the coming exhibition Oh
the club in the Corcoran Art Gallery MT.
Wood stated that the exhibit will be MOD
eled along lines to show the progress Oh
architecture in Washington, and James
F. OYSTER and w. V. COX of the Doaru OIL
education were the active agents in Sc
curing the passage of motion tnat the
architects club be asked to include some
plans and designs for school, puloihgs III
its display.
Cause for Discussion.
The report of the standing committee on
schools was presented by Thomas f.
Morgan. vice chairman of the committee
on schools of last year, and discussion
was provoked when William II. Singleton,
chairman of the present school commit
tee made a motion that the report be
recommitted. Mr.. Singleton said this re-
quest expressed the sentiments or MS
committee. the latter believing that the
report having been drawn last October,
could not fully meet ali points In the ex-
listing situation because of the many
events which have transpired in the
schools since last autumn.
The opposite ground was argued by Mr..
Morgan. and he declared that the sub
stance of the report had formed an i'm
pOrtant part in the able annual report of
the former president of the Board of
Trade. Gen. John NJ Wilson. Mr.. Nor
gan recalled that the board had unani-
mously accepted Gen. Wilson's report. and
he urged that equal support should be
given to the same propositions now. His
motion finally prevailed The report rec
commended more and larger school build
ings, larger and more adequate play
grounds and a pension system for public
school teachers.
Fire Prevention and Protection.
Amendments to the report based upon
the necessity for fire prevention and pro-
lection in the schools, were presented by
Herbert F. l.. Allen and by John r.
Weaver and both suggestions were unan-
imously adopted. In substance, Mr.. AL
lens motion committed the Board of
Trade to active steps to have the District
Commissioners delay the award of con-
tracts for new school buildings until such
time as Congress could make an emer-
gency appropriation to cover the addi-
tional cost of fire-proOfing materials in the
construction. By accepting the amend
no fa-
voring the principle that all schoolhouses
built in the future should be as nearly fire
proof as modern architectural science can
make them. and immediate action will be
taken to bring the matter to the attention
of the Commissioners in connection with
the invitations for bids upon three build
ings which are now proposed-one of
twelve rooms and two of sixteen rooms
each. The amendment offered by Mr.
Weaver had the same ends in view, but it
specified more particularly that the
schools should be equipped with stand
pipes and other apparatus for the sup
preston of incipent fires and with ade-
quate fire escapes so that all rooms might
be quickly emptied in case of emergency.
Report on Membership.
For the committee on membership Louis
j. Wiliige reported total membership for
the year of 1J7. with loss of sixty men,
bers by death and resignation. The active
membership to date. he said, was 697.
In connection with the report on chari-
ties and correction presented by Walter {.
Clcphane. Judge Ivory G.. KimbaN of the
Police Court submitted report on a pa
role system for youthful prisoners which
was unanimously adopted. The report
was founded on the systems in operation
iii other cities. and in brief provides for
the paroling of persons convicted in the
Police Court i'm charge of parole officers
and the final discharge of the prisoners