The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-04-02
OUR CITY ELECTI0N---THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.

same season of the year, an attack is
made, either openly or covertly, to set
aside our excellent City Charter, and to
adopt in its stead what is known as the
New Charter. Last year, as on some
former occasions, the attempt was made
openly and honorably, in the Council, by
the passage of an order referring the
question of Old and New Charter to a
vote of the people. True, when the
friends of the New Charter saw the dis
favor with which the proposition was re-
ceived by the people, they gladly revoked
the order, to avoid an ignominious de-
feat
This year the plan of attack seems to
be different. Upon the election of
sufficient number of Councilmen of the
right stripe, the New Charter is to be
adopted by the Council without troubling
the people about their views or wishes
This is power which the Council unfor-
tunately possess, and it is, therefore, i'm
portant that voters should carefully ex-
anime and enquire into the views and
antecedents of persons aspiring to be
Councilmen. Remember that if the Old
Charter is once surrendered, it can never
be reclaimed There is way provided
by which we can part with the Old Char
ter, but there is no way by which we can
ever get it back.
The City of Evansville has perhaps
acted unwisely in some respects, and, it
may be, has paid about the usual price
for the experience gained-that is, she
has purchased it dearly; but she has
peeu 'emIuentiy fortunate IN retaining a
charter which has secured to her citizens
system of Public Schools, which is the
pride of the city, and the admiration of
every friend of education here and
wherever they are known.
These educational advantages are
afforded at very small cost to the City
Treasury. The amount appropriated by
the City for the support of Schools in
1861 was but $3.50, and in 1862 So, SOC,
being exactly six and half cents on
each one hundred dollars of the valuation
of the property of the City. A tax payer
assessed for one hundred dollars OF
property, real or personal, paid six and
one-half cents School tax; one assessed
for one thousand dollars of property paid
sixty-fve cents; and one assessed for ter
thousand dollars of property paid six dol
lars and fifty cents toward the support o.
Schools This, it must be allowed, is q
very light burden, and yet it is this in
significant addition to the revenue re-
ceived from the State and County, which
secures the efficiency of the Schools
Without this addition, the Schools could
be kept open, under the most favora
most SIX months, in the year, and with
such Schools it would be impossible tc
secure and retain competent corps OIL
teachers. Now, the adoption Of the New
Charter would save to the CITY this much
of expense-say $5,500-per annum. but
it would destroy the efficiency of the
Schools
A very large majority of the people of
Evansville are undoubtedly in favor of
supporting, fostering, and if possible still
further improving our schools. Former
tests have uniformly demonstrated this,
and there can be no doubt that, to prove
it again, nothing more is now wanting
than little vigilance on the part of the
friends of education Let them see to il
first and last, and all the time, that the
Council is composed of such persons as
will hold fast to the old charter. until
such legislation can be secured as will
make it possible, with the new charter, to
support and foster the schools, and thus
avoid the error and sad experience of the
people of other cities, who found, when
1T was too late to apply a remedy, that in
giving up their old charter they Invested
themselves of the power of providing for
the education of their children by means
of Public Schools, the only institution
ever devised, in any country, which is
alike for the benefit of the children of
the rich and the poor, of all classes and
every creed V
AWARDS For GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES
Awards were made yesterday by Quar-
termaster Ehrman, to the following per-