Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-01

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

az
schools of WashiI gton asking a donation OF
c;ty lots for educational purposes, submitted
snort accompanied by bill for the benefit
If public schools in the city of Washington, as
follows: " =.
n whom was referred "the memorial Of the
BOARD of Trustees of Public Schools Of Wash
ington City, d. c., praying a donation Of city
lots for educational purposes, or that portion
IS the proceeds of sales Of lots heretofore
made may be invested for that purpose"
have had the same under consideration, and
beg leave to report r..
That there remains unsold one hundred and
ninety lots in the city of w ashington, valued
AT sI5,6l5, but they stand pledged for an
Indebtedness equal in amount to their entire
value. (See appendix A and b. The first
prayer Of the memorialists cannot, therefore,
With propriety be granted.
The sales of lots heretofore made, have pro-
duced, as near as can now be ascertained, the
net sum of S707, 100 60. Of this sum $685.
6ss 81 has been paid into the hands Of va
rious Commissioners Of Public Building, and
by them expended in the erection of the Cap
itol, Presidents house, Treasury and W ar OIL
ces and in building wnarves and bridges,
repairing and opening streets. avenues, dc
sc. (See appendix Al The remaining ST.
564 4s was paid into the Treasury, and has
been applied under the twelfth section of the
O.,
ter, (see appendix c. to opening, repairing
and keeping in order the streets, avenues,
foot ways, dc, in the city of Washington.
IL thus appears that there remains unex
pended no part Of the fund arising from the
sale of lots heretofore made In this city. The
second prayer of the memorialists must con-
sequently be denied.
Your committee appreciate the importance
of education every where and have, there
fore entered upon the investigation of the
subject, 30 far as it is embraced in the memo
rial, with q sincere desire to recommend some
scheme that should advance the educational
interests and prospects of this metropolis.
It has been ascertained that there was in
attendance last year on the public schools in
this city 2,170 scholars, consisting of nearly
equal numbers of boys and girls. The num-
Der of schools was p, teachers 30-females 80,
males 5. 1t is estimated that the city requires
accommodation for double the number Of pu-
pills now at school, and with sufficient pecu-
mary aid to enable the commissioners to build
houses and employ teachers, 4, 900 children
would be put to school the present year. Only
about one-half that apply can now be received.
See appendix ID
The sum expended last year was $25, 291 .66.
The fund raised as follows Six per cent on
the permanent school fund. $1,000. The
poll Tor vOting) tax of one dollar on each vote
$3.50. Appropriation from the city treasury
S16,761.
This sum is exclusive of the expenditures
for houses. Since l845, when the present
school system went into operation, the city
has expended 500, 900 in the purchase and
erection Of school houses. The deficiency of
houses is still very great, and is in fact the
chief source Of embarrassment in the present
system.
Your committee have found the schools in
Washington in the main well conducted, and
on q plan which gives satisfaction to the al
most entire community.
With these facts before us, and with the full
conviction that the present school fund is al
together insufficient to meet the demands upon
il, your committee have felt it to be their
duty TO ascertain if some proper plan could
not be devised for increasing the fund. They
have found o healthy state of public opinion
in Washington city on this subject-the large st
property holders coming forward and freely
eonsenting to, and even urging, a tax for
school purposes A tax of this kind must ne
csssarily fall, in great degree, on those who
have only q contingent or resulting interest in
keeping up free schools. The rich can and
will educate their own children. 1t must be
the poor, who pay no taxes, who derive the
frt and immediate advantages from public
schools
The assessed value of real estate in this city
IL So, 56s, 70s. 1t is proposed TO levy a sps-
cial school tax Of a mill on the dollar upon
this property. This would raise fraction
over twenty five thousand dollars annually.
Your committee has no means of ascertain =
ing accurately the value of Government pro-
perty within the city limits; but it is be-
Eeved to be nearly or quite equal to the
value Of the private property within the same
limits. Your committee do not propose tax
on Government property. But they have
thought. if private persons having only a re-
mote interest in the education of the poor, are
willing TO submit to tax on their property for
educational purposes, the Government, which
has an equal or q greater interest in the same
subject, might make its contribution to that
object
II is fair to say that citizens of Washington
have the same interest in whatever belongs
t. the Government az citizens Of equal fortune
In the States, and that they contribute pro
rata to the contents of the treasury. 1t fol-
lows that In proportion to their numbers and
wealth, they contribute as much of what may
be expected by the Government for schools
here as any like number Of persons Of like
count OF their chosen proximity to the schools,
they pay special tax for that special advan-
tags, it would seem that they have obtained
no special favor.
1t may be said that Congress has no more
night to appropriate money for schools in this
District than it has to make like appropria-
tons for like purposes in the States Your
power in this connection or to draw the lines
Eaieh mark the jurisdiction of Congress in the
District and in the States. Nor will your COM
mittee dwell on the fact, that in all new States
especially, Congress has made the most munif-
cent land grants to schools and colleges. If it
shall be assumed that Congress is as much re-
strioted In the District in the States. then VIC
say Congress owns one hslfthe taxable prop
erty In State, and means to hold it in per-
petulty, it ought to submit to taxation on that
property for the support Of schools, or else
contribute from the general funds a sum equal
TO the amount paid by private persons in the
States for that object.
In accordance with the views here expressed.
your committee report the following bill:
BILL for the benefit Of public schools in N.
city Of Washington.
b. az snaetsd, &c, That the corporate au
thorities Of the city of Washington, in the
District of Columbia, may, with the consent
Of the owners Of real estate in said city. lew
Especial tax Of ten cent. on each one hun