The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-30

The special committee appointed by III,
Chamber OF Commerce to represent III,
hoard OF directors in the fight against the
passage OF the Dolliver and Burlesor
public school bills, held its first meeting
at the headquarters Of the chamber yes.
terday afternoon. Twelve members OF
the committee were present and a Ions
and earnest discussion OF the school ques-
ton was had. especially with reference
to preserving the right of the people OF
he District in the management OF pub
lie education.
BY vote the committee directed the
chairman, Percivsl NJ. Brown. to request
hearing before the District committees
~ the Senate and House, 10 express the
views Of the chamber upon the proposed
legislation. II was also determined 20
print the report recently submitted to the
board of directors of the chamber ana
send a copy. with other data, to each
member OF the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives.
Speakers Protest Earnestly.
Request was made OF the reporters
present not 70 quote the several speakers
oy name. which was agreed to. The ex-
ression OF opinion was full, frank. and
earnest that the proposed legislation was
pernicious in principle. and that it would
not be tolerated in any other city IN this
land The idea was strongly expressed
that Congress seemed to be making an
experiment. upon the District OF Columbia
by foisting upon il system OF pubIic
education foreign TO all presidents in the
United States. and one which would re-
move all voice and effort Of the people I'm
he management Of the schools. placing
o. In the hands OF a single director or
commissioner whose power would be
4utocTatie and might be tyrannical high
handed, and intolerable
Big Patronage Under Bill.
Attention was specially called to the
Immense power of patronage contained In
the DolliveT bill. which the subcommittee
as decided 70 report to the District Com
nittee Of the Senate with its approval
he director Of schools, il was pointed
out would have sole power 10 appoint
superintendent and supervising principals
making six jobs with large salaries at
i2ched. He would have the appointment
OF about l5O0 teachers, and from past ex-
pertence, II was declared that the scbema
would result in making the District OF
Columbia a dumping-ground for teachers
and high-salaried officials of the schools
Tor all the States OF the Union. who
would know nothing Of local needs and
care less, because not responsible 10 any
power within the District which could
cali them % account
Under the system Fl was shown the
people of the District would be as power
less as the serfs of Russia under the
Bureaucracy OF the Cars government.
Danger Turks In Measure.
One speaker pointed out the special
danger lurking in this legislation by say
ing that il took bodily from the people
who paid taxes the right to say in some
manner how the revenue derived from
such taxes should be expended. he
said Congress seemed 10 be removing
from this municipality one after another
all the sources OF power and placing
them under the government of the United
states. In the past, il was said. the cit-
zens had stood supinely by and allowed
tlis 20 be done. Now here was another
}ttempt Of the same kind. and the speak /
'r declared that it was time for the peo-
pie Of the District 10 come forward and
protest against any further limitation OF
the rights and powers Of the municipality
n this fashion
The same speaker said he occupied no
nelligereut attitude toward Congress. but
ie did believe the Chamber OF Comnee-.r I
ne board Of Trade, the CitiTrz NJ ~.
cations, and all thely- EXPRESS N r,o,
district should ppr6yai OF these measure
-ls As~i speakers took advanced ground /
'pon the proposition declaring thar t5e
cessation proposed was revolutionary.
---u aH insult TO the intelligence OF the
community the
several suggestions offered.
IN the course OF the meeting various
lggesuons were made by way of organ
zng campaign of protest agsjne+ The
opposed legislation. One suggestion was
ne holding OF mass meeting at which
ne citizens could be gotten together en- I
lasse 10 voice a protest which uro,Jd {
ommand respect by virtue Of numbers
hclHer suggestion was that prominent
.uzens should take up the matter with p
4el friends IN both houses o. Congress q
nd, by furnishing facts and argument | ,
rive TO stop the passage Of the pro. r
osed legislation when it should reach =
ie maj stages on the floors OF the cham
All these suggestions We're seriously con-
dered, and may be carried out one after 7
lotner, The sense Of the meeting was n
n action immediate concentrated and +,
Ieetual. TO show to Congress thar at n
asst 30 per cent Of the people regarded
e proposed laws as a Usurpation Of their
shts under the Constitution. and tend-
2 TO produce a condition which wouId
intolerable among freemen.
ne action at the meeting was u0aut-
Gus, and While Il did not take in an
p plans and purposes Of the committee p,
Was thought 20 cover the first stems IN
taken ia the effort Of the public 10
slsJ The passage Of the legislation pro o
sed in Congress. Sc