Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-06-25


provided for in the annual tax bill, have here
tofore proved sufficient for its exigencies, it is,
In consequence OF want OF proper arrange.
heht or DIVISION OF time at which Its re-.
sources should be received and made avail
able, almost continually in an embarrassed
condition.
As now. the great bulk almost three ourths
OF its entire revenue) is payable and receivable
In one and the same quarter of the year. the
consequence being thai there is either a feast
or famine-a superabundance Of money during
the one quarter or the year, and little or none
This difficulty could be readily obviated BY
changing the time tor the payment of such Ii.
eenses as fall due and are payable during the
months OF November and January to some
other more tit ana convenient time, which
should Immediately be done.
In TINS connection l would renew to you the
suggestion made to your predecessors, to create
an additional officer OF the Corporation to ex-
anime and certify to the accounts of all Of
fcers OF the Corporation receiving its funds,
as well as to the correctness of all accounts
against the Corporation.
Ihls Is rendered necessary in consequence
OF the greatly increased demands on the time of
the Register, whose duty ithas heretofore been
SCHOOLS.
Though it is admitted that our Public School
system is 1ar from being perfect, vet under
the fostering care OF the gentlemen COMPOSING
lne ocnool board, 1t Is in promising condi.
ton, and gives to the community an ample re-
turn tor the money spent upon it.
The interests committed TO their charge have
been promoted by the assduous attention at
great cost of labor and time, by the gen tlemen
composing the Board OF Trustees of our Pub
lie Schools while the efforts Of the teachers in
the same direction have been increasing.
That you may properly appreciate the inter-
est manifested in this community in the cause
OF pubic education and what has been done
therefor, give some statistics and facts, for
which l am mainly indebted to the forth.
coming annual report Of the Trustees of Pub.
The first act OF the City Councils looking to
the organization OF a system Of public educa.
tion' was one empowering the Mayor to invest
any uneXpended balances remaining to the
credit of the school fund. Under the authority
so conferred, investments were from time
to time made in our own funded debt until
the Corporation has accumulated of its ow
stock, S5S,65 90 for the use OF the school fund.
the interest Of which has been regularly trans.
ferred to that fund, except for the years 1865
and 1866, when 1t was rein vested TINS addin o.
tc the permanent fund.
BY the act OF Con ress OF May 18th, 1S4s, the
Corporation was empowered to lay q special
tax for the support ofthe public schools, as well
citizen above the age Of 2l years and upwards
OF one hundred dollars per annum, the paw
ment OF which, as was the payment OF all
personal taxes, made condition precedent to
voting.
Under the Provisions OF this act of Congress
special tax Of ten cents on the one hun.
dred dollars OF property, was, by &C: Of the
levied for the support Of the public schools,
and annually continued, with the exception
OF the fiscal years 1865 and 1866 and in 1862 an
additional tax OF five cents on the one hundred
dollars of property for the erection of school
houses, which likewise has since been annu-
ally continued.
In 1862 this Corporation set aside, from the
taxes paid by the colored persons for the edu.
cation Of colored children, the same proportion
viz ten cents in the one hundred dollars
worth OF property, as was set aside from
inc taxes Paid 1y white persons for the edu-
This equitable provision for the education
OF colored children In our midst had been in
operation scarcely two years, when, from the
sity for making like provision for q new
and powerful element OF a political party be.
came apparent, and Congress passed an act
for the education OF colored children in this
city what, during the approaching fiscal year,
will exceed fifty per centum of the aggre.
gate OF taxes paid by the colored peoples while
that appropriated tor the education of white
children has never, as yet, exceeded ten per
centum OF the aggregate OF taxes paid by white
persons :
1t was not, too, until then, and after the
public mind had become much agitated on the
subject OF the education OF the colored race,
that the gentlemen substituted by Congress in
place OF the Board OF Trustees OF Public
schools of this city, to manage the fand for
education Of colored children, deemed the in.
terests and trusts committed to their charge
suficiently important to warrant the trouSle
or demanding and receiving what had been
previously set apart for that purpose.
Congress also, by another act, of January
sth, 1867 entitled San act to regulate the cleo
tive franchise in the District OF Columbia
not only deprived the public schools Of this
city OF the beneficial provision OF the school or
poll tax. and the corporation OF the power TO
enforce the collection Of any taxes on per-
sonal property, the payment of both which
were condition precedent TO voting, but like
Wise conferred on class OF strangers, totally
united by previous habits Of life, and With
out any comm unity Of interest or association
with It's people, the power to control and man.
this District.