The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-10-17
LOCAL NEW S.


the Smithsonian Institution to-day commencing at ten
o'clock, a m. large number Of teachers both male
and female, public and private-were in attendance.
The attendance Of the ladies much larger than usual
ranging from the stad matron Of fifty to the blooming
maiden of seventeen
The committee appointed at the last meeting to col
ct the school statistics of the city not being prepared to
report in full merely reported progress were increased
by the addition Of several members and are expected
TO report finally at the next regular meeting One or
two definite items of information already obtained were
however, reported by members of the committee
Mr. Richards stated that he had procured returns OF
562 children of school age in the I'd and Sd wards
f. G, H. 18TH and l4th streets and that out of these
274 attended private schools " the public schools 20
orphan asylum school, and the balance 96) school
at all He also stated that he had found thirty-nine
private Schools besides three orphan asyiums in the I'd
and Sd wards having from to two and three, and
some high five teachers each, and averaging from
40 TO so scholars
Mr. S. L. LOOMS stated that he had made thorough
of that part of the LIST ward lying south of Penn
syvania avenue, extending from 18th street to Rock
creek In this section he had found some of the first
families of the city There were about 500 children,
between the ages five and eighteen OF these 50 per
cent attended school, and AZ per cent did not %
cent attended the public schools and 80 per cent the
private OF the AT per cent who did not attend school,
20 per cent able to attend private schools but
considered by their parents too young to get the worth
of their money!, being mostly under ten) and 20 per
cent one-quarter of the whole number of children in
tho district not able to attend the private Schools
and could not get into the public He satisfied
that nearly the whole of this Al per cent of children
Of school would attend good public schools if they could
| have the privilege.
Mr. Richards said that it mistaken notion with
parents that child under ten years of age could not
get the worth of his money at school He considered
period from six to ten years of age the very best period
| in life for receiving school instruction.
The committee appointed to take into consideration
and report the subject of calling educational
vention for this and the neighborng cities made in
formal report, recommending that only District
vention be called and that teachers and other friends of
education from abroad be invited to attend To carry
out the recommendation of the committee Mr. Young
one of the committee and secretary of the association
drew up and offered the following resolution which
| unanimously adopted
Resolved That convention of the teachers and others
in the subject of education this city and Dis
tct be held at the Smithsonian Institution day
the month of December and that committee of three
be appointed by the chair to fix the day and make all
other necessary arrangements.
The chair appointed Messrs Young z Richards, and
| j. E. Thompson, to constitute this committee.
On motion of Mr.. Loomis, committee of three was
also appointed to provide gratutous entertainment for all
persons attending the convention from abroad. This
committee consists of Messrs Looms Mcleod and Mer-
chant
The committee appointed to invite Miss johnson to
favor the association with evenings entertainment of
her literary readings reported that they had met with
favorable response from that lady and that the entertain
ment would come off at the Smithsonian Institution
| next Tuesday afternoon at five o'clock
On notion the meeting adjourned to the next regular
monthly meeting, the first Saturday in November,
commencing at 10 o'clock, a m. st s4 M =, .saa 1
The Police BILL AND THE Board OF COMMON CouS-
cL.-The board of aldermen, with commendabe alac-
rity have passed bill increasing the police force
twenty-five men, to be placed under the direction
of the captain of the Auxiliary Guard for night
vice. This is move in the right direction. The,
public necessities cannot await the ardy process of
the preparation Of act satisfactory in all of its details
to the conflicting opinions and interests of the several
members of the two boards We have disposition to
exaggerate the evils under which community abors
but it is manifest that the elements rife in our COM
munity which, If unrestraned will subvert the founa-
tions OF law and order We trust that false notions
economy will restrain the members of the lower board
from fulfilling their duties in this matter and gratifying
the urgent demands OF public opinion. Our community
appreciates the fullest extent that other pros
perity and honor necessary besides these of mere
material character saas t., Eg| #.. gs.. .sa
1t demands that property life, and morals shall alike
be protected and preserved There is bond be-
tween them all Let then the board of council
promptly respond to the action of the board of aldermen
and to the public demand With this increase of force
the executive authority, with the exercise of proper
egy and discretion will be able to accomplish much and
it will at least show that the representatives of the ci
of Washington willing to do something towards
maintaining the peace and honor of the federal me-
tropolis. aBsl I.FaEHf ----.tgE .85tsEa}E x L
The RoBBERY CUSTOM HOUSE AT RIciIMoNp-
At the solicitation of Deputy Marshal Phillips we did
not in this mornings issue announce the arrest of R.
Fuller, alias Wheeler, for participation in the robbery
of the custom house at Richmond, Virginia This eve
ming however, have received full permission make
the publication. s' a@s '."s v"
Wheeler arrested in this city after he had taken
his seat in the omnibus for the southern boat He has
been committed to Jail to await further examination
telegraphic despatch received to-day by Deputy
Marshal Phillips from officers of this city who had been
sent the track of the fugitive, dated Richmond few
minutes before 3 o'clock stating that Somervile had
been arrested at that place. and part of the money re-
covered. J4g Us
The police have got the robbers into their hands
and il is to be hoped that they will receive the punish
ment they richly merit But little doubt is entertain
ed OF their guilt.
SIdNoR BLrz, after amusing very many of our citizens
with his ventroqual and slightofh hand performances