Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-01

The District Commissioners approved
today the Peters bill. now before Con-
gress, providing for directors of educa-
tion and of charities In the District OF
Columbia and doing away with the board
of education and the board of charities
rs now constituted.
The Commissioners declare in q letter
to Representative Samuel w. Smith.
chairman OF the House District commit
tee, that it needs no argument to DEM
onstrate the disadvantages of the exist
ing divided jurisdiction and responsibility
and the economy and efficiency that
would result from placing the whole
school administration under one head.
Relative to the abolishing Of the board OF
charities, they say that while they appre-
ciate the voluntary public services rem
dered by members of the board and think
that it has been one of great benefit to
the District of Columbia. at the same
time they believe that the administrative
duties and executive control OF charities
and correctional matters can with ad-
vantage to the public service be trans
ferred to a single executive who would
report directly to the Commissioners.
Salary of Director, $1,000.
The bill fixes the salary of the directo,
pf education at sI,coo per annum and that
OF the director of charities at $1,000
The board of Commissioners" 1t is de-
clared. is the executive authority Of the
District of Columbia. and the Commits
sioners believe that the control Of the
expenditure of all appropriations made
by Congress for any purpose of the Dis
trict should be vested in them.
In no other way. they say, can there
be proper coordination among the vari.
Gus functions of municipal government
They also inclose a draft of a section ia
be added to the bill 70 provide for ad-
visoTy boards. II Congress shall deem
such boards necessary. The section fol-
lows:
Text of the Section.
The Commissioners OF the District OF
Columbia are hereby authorized to an.
point a board Of education and a board
ef charities and corrections. to consist OF
I've persons each. 70 serve without com.
pensation and for such terms as ssiu
Commissioners shall designate.
The duties of the board of education
shall be 70 advise the Commissioners or
all questions of general policy relating I,
Abe public schools Of the District of Co
lumbia; TO inspect public schools an,
school buildings; to consider courses o
study; to suggest to the said Commits
kioners desirable changes and improve
! ments. and, also. 10 perform such othe
duties OF an advisory nature as may b.
assigned TO them by said Commissioners
The duties of the board of charitie
and corrections shall be TO visit and in
epect all institutions, societies or asso
citations OF a charitable. eleemosynary
correctional or reformatory characte
which are supported. in whole or In part
by appropriations OF Congress made TO
the care or treatment of residents of tn
District Of Columbia. and to advise tn
said Commissioners as TO any improve
ments In methods in the care of patient
or the expenditure of funds or in method
of accounting for same as they may deer
necessary in order more fully to carry ou
the obje@ts of said appropriations and
also, TO give such additional advisory as
tistance to said Commissioners as may b
called for under such rules and regula
ttons as the said Commissioners ma
prescribe.
Objects of the Bill.
In their letter 70 Representative smit
the Commissioners say:
The object of the bill is to abolish tn
board of education of the District {
NoiuHDld. created Dy act OF Congress ar
proved June 20. 1893. and to confer tn
powers and duties Of said board upon
director of education 10 be appointed b
the Commissioners of the District {
Columbia, and also to abolish the boar
of charities of the District Of Columbi,
created by act OF Congress approved Juu
8. 1900, and to transfer the powers an
duties of that board to director Of char
isies. to be appointed by the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia TIL
compensation of the director OF edueatio
is fixed at $1,000 per annum and that I
the director OF charities at 5000 per a,
rum. The proposed change is to take q
feet July 1, 1910, and thereafter the cor
troll over all matters OF education an
charities In to be vested In the Commi
siorars Of the District Of Columbia ar
pla . under the direct supervision of II
6ireo.or of education and the director ,
charities, respectively.
The subject matter Of this bill is of e.
treme Importance and requires the mo,
careful consideration.
For the purpose of this report the Con
(Conunued on Fourth Paga)