Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-11
OPPOSE SCHOOL BILL
Protest Against Measure Ad-
vocated by Senator DoIIiver.
HOME GOVERNMENT PLEA
Northeast Citizens Association De-
mands Hearing.
CROSSTOWN RAILWAY PROJECT
Resolution Adopted Asking for the
Cooperation of Association
Members in It's Behalf.
;ROSSTOWN RAILWAY PROJECT

"A vigorous protest through the medium
of a written document representing re-
port by the committee on schools and
followed by discussion. was started last
night by the Northeast Washington Citi-
Zens' Association against any change in
the present mode of conducting the pub
lie schools of the District and con-
sumed major portion Of the time of the
session at the Northeast Temple, 18th and
III streets northeast. The protest was
against any change whatever in the
present school system. and especially
against the Dolliver bill pending in Con
gress
When the school committees repor,
was called by President Evan H. Tucker
Mr.. +. ID. Foster. the chairman. who had
been gathering statistics relative to the
school conditions, and who had, he said
thoroughly looked into the question. read
the committees report. branding the pro-
visions for school government as pro-
v1ded by the Dolliver bill as an expert
ment. pure and simple. and declaring
that but one city of over 10000 inhabi-
tants in America had a similar plan, and
that only In the early experimental stage.
lie pleaded for the continuance of the
present system and said that the citi-
zens of the District of Columbia have the
right to give it fair trial before it can
be properly rejected. Mr. Foster during
the reading of his report commented upon
the evident desire on the part of some
members of the present Congress to de-
prive the citizens of the District of all
semblance of home government. He also
declared the refusal of the Senate Dis
trict committee to hear local committees
in reference to school legislation was high
handed disregard of the inherent rights Of
American citizens. The closing of the
continuance of the present school system.
Mr.. Tucker Indignant
In the discussion which followed the
reading of the report President Tucker of
the association said:
'The refusal of the Senate committee
to give an open hearing to the committee
from the Board of Trade was uncalled
for. and a Sigh, which will be remem-
bered by citizens interested in public af-
fairs for many months to come. We are
being deprived of everything. and now
comes the DOllver bill to take out of our
hands that one great thing which more
than anything else affects our very fire.
sides.
Are we Porto Ricans Filipinos. Alas
kans or Hawaiians? 1t seems that we are.
ling our schools? Cannot we have at least
a semblance Of self-government? We are
certainly entitled to it. The House COM
mittee. however. will hear citizens of the
District upon the school subject If the
Senate will not. / have had assurances
to that effect
Others who participated in the discus
sion of the Deliver bill We're William T.
FrizZell, John Fleming and James Wood.
The board of education came in for mild
censure for the creation Of present condi-
tons.
1t was finally decided to forward a copy
of the school committees report to the
board of education and it was decided
that a copy be placed in the hands of a
senator opposed to the Dollver bill and
pressure brought to bear with a view OF
having the bill sent back to the commit
tee for further consideration and a public
hearing At the suggestion of Messrs.
Foster and FrizZell copy of the report
will in all probability he handed to Sen
ator Tillman of South Carolina. No copy
however. will be given 10 memDer OF the
Senate committee.
In answer to a general question as to
who was the father of the Dolliver bill
Mr.. Foster. the chairman of the school
committee. said:
senator Dolliver has fathered the OBJ
noxious bill in question. although he is not
responsible for it. understand it is Sena-
tor Gallngers bill
The Committees Report.
Following is the report in part of the
committee on schools:
1.-The committee on schools believes the
best interests of the schools demand that
the present law be allowed to remain un-
changed, and so give the schools a period
of rest and freedom from agitation.
"The committee does not believe that
Congress will still further curtail what
little-local control the citizens of the Dis
trict have over their own affairs, by en-
acting the Dolliver bill. which places the
public schools under the management OF
a director of education. to be appointed
by the commissioner of education. Such
a plan would apply as we'll to Boston
New York or Chicago as to the city OF
Washington. How long would either OF
those cities stand for such proposition
"Washington has as good a system OF
public schools has any city in the
country-this system having been built
up under local control Tor over one hun
drets years-the present trouble being
caused mainly by the introduction Of q
man, as manager of the schools. who was
a stranger to the city and to the system
He may have been one of the best edu
miliar with the schools here he could dc
neither himself nor them justice.
Senator Dolliver Quoted.
I'm discussing his bill before the Sen
ate subcommittee, Senator Dolliver said
L find that nearly everywhere the ole
lete.' but he failed to mention a single