Evening star., 1920-05-30


Medals for ognitfon OF Ian I
n.e.J services rendered dur
| ing the civil war. Such
a proposition is noted in The Star OF
May %, 1870, as follows:
| Mr.. Cameron today in the Senate
reported without amendment a joint
resolution appropriating the sum of
$4,000 for the purchase OF silver meS-
ais to be presented to each OF the
surviving officers and soldiers. and the
families of such as may be dead. of
the Pottsville National Light Infan-
try. the Pottsville Washington Artil-
lery, the Reading Ringgold Artillery.
the Lewistown Logan Guard and the
Allentown Allen Infantry. who were
| the first troops to reach this city for
it's defense on April Is. 1861; and also
to surviving officers and soldiers of
the 6th Massachusetts, Volunteers,
who were next to arrive in Washing
ton. on April 19. 1861. We hope Con-
gress will not overlook our District
volunteers. who preceded the military
organizations above named In coming
forward for the defense of the cap
lital."
1t is an interesting coincidence that
Just nifty years ago there was a lively
controversy be-
Superintendent and tween the board
School Trustees. then lnown ,s
school trustees-and the superintend-
ent of the schools. involving the pos
sibility OF his custer from that posi-
ton. The Star Of May "a, 1870, con-
tains the following news account of a
meeting Of the board:
"A special meeting OF the board of
school trustees was held yesterday
afternoon. called by the mayor for
the purpose of hearing the report of
the special committee appointed on
the resolutions introduced by Mr..
Champlin. containing charges against
Mr.. 2. Richards. superintendent of
schools. There were present Messrs.
J. 8. Brown. A. K. Browne. Champlin.
Moore. Vashon. Woodward and Will
Son. Mr.. A. K. Browne. the chairman
Of the committee. reported that the
superintendent had been requested to
present his answer to the committee
in writing on or before Tuesday last.
but he had received q reply from the
superintendent stating that 1t would
be impossible for him to prepare his
reply by the time indicated and re-
Questing to appear before the com
mittee in person: that upon consulta-
ltion with the other members OF the
committee they decided to adhere to
their original determination to re-
quire the superintendent to file his
answer in writing and had so inform
ed that gentleman. and he had tailed
| to present his answer to the commit
selves to submit a written report.
| Mr. Richards said that he was un-
able to prepare his reply in time for the
proposed Friday meeting Of the commit
tee, but could at this meeting read his
rough draft. and was now prepared to
make his defense at any time before
the committee
"Mr. Champlin said he believed that
the superintendent had had time to pre-
pare his reply for the committee, for
he had seen his horse and buggy pre-
| viousiy to the proposed meeting In front
Of The Star Office. and had also seen
him at the Republican Office. He would
1 not say L1aI lie NA-y VI bCcCulca hto ANPas
to those papers. but It looked very much
like 1t. One thing had already been
accomplished The superintendent had
ceased badgering and haranguing the
teachers and no now attempted to bad
ger ard harangue the trustees.
"Mr. Richards rose TO point OF or
der, that the remarks were unparlia-
mentary. Mr.. Champlin withdrew the
Questionable remarks. and continuing.
stated that he was willing to withdraw
one of the charges, because he did not
wish to put the teachers to trouble.
"Mr Richards said he was ready to
present his reply and would read 1t to
the board, who could .aen refer II or
not, as they pleased. The chair stated
that a committee had been appointed
| with the concurrence of the superinten-
dent, and it seemed that he had ignored
the committee. He suggested that the
board could take no action until the
Should they submit to a single individual
and permit the reply to be read, or
should they maintain their dignity and
hold him to his contract with the COM
mttee?
..Mr Richards asked permission TO
read his defense which would have been
read before the committee IL it had been
finished in time. He wanted his reply
to 20 on the proceedings of the boarc
and be published as part OF such pro-
ceedings as the charges had been. He
| asked the members OF the board to put
| themselves in his position and treat him
as they would wish him to treat them
had taken its original course no obJec-
| ton would have been raised.
| "Mr. Richards called on the board and
| the reporters to take notice that he had
offered to reply again and again and
! again that he had been refused a per-
sonaI interview, which proceeding was
unknown in Congress or elsewhere. The
committee had not given him IN oppor-
tunity to appear in person. Mr. A X
Browne said the committee had not GER
tainiy refused him such an opportunity;
they only desired him to file his written
defense first.
! 'Mr Woodward said that he had
opposed the reference. because he
wanted the board to act on thesreso-
luton direct. but the superintendent
had requested the reference. He had
heard that the superintendent intend
was not afraid. The superintendent
had time enough to furnish reports to
the newspapers. but not to furnish re-
ports to the board.
Mr. vashon, after expressing his
regrets that the spirit of discord had
crept in among them. said the super
intendent ought to be permitted to
read his reply. 50 II might go before
tho public. He moved that the vote
referring the matter to the special
committee be reconsidered. Mr..
Champlin moved TO lay that motion
on the table: carried: yeas, s: nays
Messrs. vashon and wilson,. Mr..
Vashon moved that the committee be
discharged. Mr.. Woodward moved a 3
a substitute that when the board ad-
| journed 1t be to meet on Saturday
next, before which time the superin-
tendent will have presented his writ
| ten disclaimer to the committee.