Evening star., 1916-01-15

briefly to the war now in progress IN
Europe. He concluded by saying that
the United States was at the present
time going through most serious
period, more SO today than year ago.
The association declared unalterable
opposition to the suggestion that is
now being made to abolish the present
school board of the District of Co
lumbia and vest the powers in the Dis
trict Commissioners.
Views of Member.
Jesse l.. Ergood, in addressing the
association, said:
I'VE believe that the members of this
board are administering the affairs of
our schools in wise and judicious
manner, through the medium of which
the taxpayers of the District of Co
lumbia are kept in touch with its man
agement. They know the people and
the people know them. and we believe
that the present system should not be
abolished We feel it would be mis-
take and would operate geratly to the
injury of the school system to place
the control of the schools in the hands
of the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia, as has been suggested.
Our school board renders valuable
service gratuitously. 1t is composed of
men acquainted with our local affairs.
and they are close to the people. and we
feel that we are under an obligation
to them for past services. which have
been periodically performed, and we
believe that a continuation of the pres
ent system will be a credit to the
people of Washington and beneficial to
our schools"
George Francis Williams also spoke
on the school question along similar
lines. feeling that any change would
be detrimental to the present system.
Thanks to Postmaster Chance.
Postmaster Merritt o. Chance was
voted thanks and appreciation for the
able manner in which the mail was de-
livered during the Christmas holidays.
H. B. Landgraf. In resolution. urged
that the mail be delivered at an earlier
hour in Holmes subdivision. 14th street
and Colorado avenue.
That a more adequate relief should
be afforded the members of the police
and fire departments of the District
was the opinion of the association,
when it unanimously voted in favor of
II. r. bill No. $3.50, introduced by Rep
manent pension fund. President Smith
of the Policemen's Association and c.
H. Bradley of the same organization
spoke on the subject.
G. c. Lancaster introduced a resolu-
tion. which was adopted, expressing
thanks to Senator Gallinger for intro
ducing Senate bill No. 1885 to prevent
the collection of assessments for bene-
fits for widening and extension of
streets until the streets have been i'm
proved for travel and public use.
Resolutions deploring the death of
William NJ. Clayton and Dr. II. l.. Il.
j Johnson, former members of the asso-
citation. were adopted and copies of the
resolution ordered sent to their widows.
Maj. Raymond w. Pullman. superin-
tendent of police. was warmly COM
mended in a resolution for his earnest
efforts to enforce the traffic regulations
relative to the speed and general man
agement of automobiles. motor trucks,
and particularly in reference to heavy
motor trucks and buses. The association
favored special restrictions which shall
reasonably and wisely regulate the use
use of the streets by motor trucks and
buses for the purpose of more fully
and satisfactorily safeguarding other
vehicular traffic of a lighter nature