The Washington times., 1911-07-27
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ored schools" The Commissioners as.
sumed that the next estimates of the
board will need pairing at their hands.
On this point the letter sent by the
board says:
You cut three items for white
schools, per cent of the total for these
schools. You cut two items for colored
schools, per cent of the total. You
cut down onr estimates for white
schools by eliminating entirely two
items amounting to Is per cent of the
boards estimates for these schools. You
cut down our estimates for colored
schools by eliminating enirely five
items, amounting to more than one
schools.
Had you extended to the Board Of
Education opportunity to readtust our
well-proportioned estimates, bringing
ing them within such compass as to
bear a more modest relation to the ag-
gregate municipal estimates, the board
would have gladly saved you the en-
barrassment Of your leap In the dark.
So much for your unwtsdom."
Law Is Quoted.
Quoting the law which provides that
the Board of Education shall annually
transmit to the Commissioners the es-
Inmates for school purposes, the board
sarcastically asserts that the law Is
so explicit that the board assumed"
that the Commissioners would under
stand it,
The boards letter continues:
ITO tamper with those estimates, so
as to disfigure them, to destroy their
symmetry and proportion, to convert
the principles of equity to all classes In
the communicated and poor, white
and bIack-upon which our estimates
are based, into sham and mockery;
to substitute your estimates for ours
to do this Is quite different and is an
Illegal thing. The Board of Commits
discrimination which, next to dishon-
esty, is the greatest evil that can creep
into municipal administration.
Alleged Rebuke.
The board AYERS that Congress admin
istered a well-merited rebuke to the
Commissioners last year because of
their injustice to the colored race. The
rebuke, says the boards letter, was in
this wise:
when Congress passed the appro-
priation bill for 1912, with "a per cent of
the aggregate appropriation under the
signed to colored schools instead of the
IA or 10 per cent actually proposed by
the Commissioners, Congress admins
tered a well-merited rebuke 10 the dam
gerOus habit which seems to have taken
root in our municipal government-the
habit of substituting arbitrary interfer-
ence for the orderly processes of civil
procedure.
1t may be helpful to the Commits
s'oners to inquire whether 1t is not no
tOriOus that, whereas about one-third
of the officers. teachers, and other en-
n!oves Of the Board Of Education are
selected from the colored community. in
the swarm of persons occupying cleri-
cal positions or posts of greater re-
sponsibility under The control Of the
persons Of color. Next 10 dishonesty
the Board of Education would have
you inscribe upon the facade of the
Municipal Building in letters Of gold,
lest YOU forget. discrimination Is the
greatest evil that can creep into mu-
nicipal administration
Actions Defended.
''Thc Board CT Education seeks justi-
fication for fits vigorous policies in the
far-reaching improvement in the phys
iCal equipment and repair of our schools.
in the more wholesome discipline and
finer professional spirit which pervades
the whole CORDS, Of teachers and sup
crvisors. in the larger and richer service
OF our schools to the bo6ies and minds
and hearts Of our thousands Of pupils,
rich and Door. white and black
The board finds Its authority for Its
acts and policies In a conservative in
depreciation Of the letter and spirit of
the organic school law, which for the
public good. invests-it and not the Com
missinrers with the control Of the pub