Evening star., 1908-01-22
OPPOSITION TO CHANGE
LOCAL BODIES OBJECT II
SCHOOL REORGANIZATION.
Board Of Trade and Chamber Of
Commerce to Appear Before Com
mittees of Congress.

It was learned today from reliable
source that plans are being made to
have the committees on schools Of both
the Board of Trade and the Chamber Of
Commerce, acting jointly, to go before
the proper committees OF Congress in
active support of the present school law
and in opposition to the Dolliver bill.
which was introduced in the Senate q
few days ago. No definite decision has
been reached in the matter, it is stated.
but the committees are expected to take
up the matter within a short time
The committees on schools Of the two
organizations, working separately, have
looked into the present situation in the
school system and into the present con-
troversy. and both committees have de-
clded that reorganization at the pres
ent time is inadvisable. The recon-
mendations Of the committees will be
presented to their respective orsaniza-
tiOns in the near future
The opposition to the Dolltver bill On
the part of the two committees, it is
learned, is on the grounds that it takes
the control OF the local schools out of
the hands of the local residents, whose
children are in the schools. and dele
gates the control to outside parties
Many of the members of the committees,
it is understood, believe the control of
the local institutions in which their
children are educated should be In the
hands of District people.
Will Attend Hearing.
If either the Senate or the House sub
committee on schools decides to hold an
investigation of the local conditions it
is believed the committees of the two
local trade bodies will decide to appear
at the Capitol at one of those hearings
al, ,-ia the preSent
school law and conditions.
The petition of the teachers In the Wnlte
schools indorsing the present board ana
asking for further trial OF the present
school law. which was placed in the hanas
of Capt James F. Oyster, president of the
board of education, yesterday. is expected
to be presented at the meeting OF the
board this afternoon, the request OF the
teachers that the petition be sent 70
Senator Burkett to be then considered.
1t is regarded as probable that the board
will decide to forward the petition, as re-
quested.
Following the lead of the white teach
ers it was learned today. a similar round
robin has been started among the col
ored teachers. and is being circulated. a
proposition to have the petition get to
the Capitol and have it's influence there
similar to that adopted in the case OF the
other is planned for this one. 1t is under
stood that the sanction of individual board
members to allow the circulation of this
petition had been obtained before it was
started.
Legislative COMMITTEES to Report.
At the meeting of the board of educa-
ton this afternoon 1t is expected the leg
islative committee will make report.
That committee which is headed by Mrs
Ellen Spencer Mussey, has given hearings
to teachers and officers of the schools re-
garding suggestions for changes in the pres
ent school law to secure better results
without changing any of its general fea-
lures. The committee met recently to
discuss the various suggestions and to
adopt definite plan for changes regarded
as necessary. Its report is expected to be
ready for presentation to the entire board
today for it's approval
President Oyster stated this morning
that he has received request from the
committee in charge of the Washington's s
birthday celebration at Alexandria. Va.
February -. to allow the cadets of the
local schools to parade in the Virginia city
that day This matter Is expected to
come up before the board meeting this
afternoon. The cadets participated in
the similar celebration held two years ago
Map ofh a pynectod