Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-02
The House Committees Reinsurance

1esterdayS action by the House
District committee in tabling the
Commissioners bills for the transfer
to them OF the power OF appointment
over the schools and the Public
Library is most gratifying to Wash
ington. 1t puts quietus on PROPOSE
tons that have greatly disturbed the
teachers. the schools and the whole
community and have evoked the most
emphatic protests from all sides. The
committee, after painstaking
search for reasons ior the new
method OF school and library admin
istration. found none. and. on the
contrary, found abundant reasons
why the existing practice should con-
time.
This decision by the District COM
Inittec is vindication OF the citi-
zen board plan of local school and
library management. 1t denies the
commissioners proposition that it is
to the interest OF the District that
all power should be concentrated in
them. 1t declares that the present
method is satisfactory and that
change would be hazardous and prob
ably harmful.
The schools and the Public Library
which Is declared by the law Great
ing It TO be the supplement OF the
schools, were put in the same cate
CORY in the Commissioners project.
They asked as to the schools that
they should have the power to ap-
point not only the trustees. but the
superintendent and the teachers. As
to the library they asked that they
should name the trustees-as at pres
ent-the librarian and the whole IL
brary force. II the Commissioners
were given the power to name the
teachers they should be given the
power to appoint the library assist
ants. On the other hand, if they
should not have the power to name
the teachers they should not be en-
powered to name the library helpers.
II has been shown to the satisfaction
of the District committee that there
was no good reason for either
change.
There were positive reasons WHY
the existing system should continue,
reasons that appealed to the commit
tee SO strongly as to lead to its unan-
inious decision to table the two prop
ositions. Both the schools and the
library have been and are now great
ly aided by the interest and the en-
thusiasm OF the citizens who are
designated TO act as administrators.
The library's growth in size and use
fitness has been due in large measure
to participation in the immediate man
agement OF representatives of the
people. The present system is more
efhcient enthusiastically than the
proposed new plan could possibly
be. 1t is, furthermore, in conformity
with the prevailing practice else
where, whereas the Commissioners
plan is not in such conformity. But
even ii there were a different system
elsewhere, the participation OF citizens
in the administration of such local
institutions as the schools and Pub
lic Library should not be abandoned
here, where the conditions are pecul-
lar, and where the reasons for the
existence OF these citizen boards are
stronger than anywhere else in the
United States.
The system Of utilizing citizen
boards for the performance of mu-
nicipal functions should be retained
in the general interest of the COM
immunity. which is without representa-
ton in its national or municipal gov
eminent. Instead of curtailing the
powers of these citizen bodies. rem
dering them impotent, mere figure
heads for the academic discussion OF
policies. they should be preserved
with the fullest powers compatible
with their legal relation TO the mu-
nicipal heads, for the fostering of
public spirit and civic loyalty by Civ
ing 10 the people maximum of in
direc. participation in their own nlu-
nicipai government and affairs.
The satisfaction OF the community
over this gratifying response OF the
House District committee to the pro-
test against the proposed changes is
the greater because of the fine spirit
shown by the committee in examining
the questions thus brought before il.
A hearty and genuine interest in the
District welfare has been manifested
IN this connection which promise
well for the future treatment o.
Washington in the House.