Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-11-24


prlVate INDIVIDUALS. This contract rende-S
necessary the use of meters. and the ap point
ment OF superintendent to inspect saih m sters,
ara 10 attend TO the lighting, extugulsning,
and repair of the Corporation lamps, and the
bill reported by Mr.. Fenwick is TO fulfil these
requirements. The bill provides for an officer
OF me Corporation known as Inspector OF Cor
pOraton Meters and Street fiaslight Superin-
tenden mt, whose duties shall be TO keep under
his control the key of the meters, and from
time TO time inspect the meters to determine
the quantity of gas consumed by each burner,
in order to settle the bills eQuitably; to light
and extin guish ala the lamps under the control
of the Corporation at the times required by act
of Congress of July -, 1865. and to repair and
keep in order said lamps; also to employ a
sufficient number Of reliable men to assist
him in the performance Of his duties
The said officer to receive SI,5OO per
ann1m, and his assistants SOU each
Mr.. CLARK, from Schools Committee, called up
the special order, being the bill making appro
priation for the support of the Public Schools
me city of Washington for the fiscal year
enonng June 81, 1869, and to provide for the
payment Oh the proportionate part of money
required by the act of Congress approved JuIy
~, FOO, TO be paid TO the Trustees of Public
schools, when he proceeded at great length to
advocate the adoption Of the amendment re.
ported by the School Committee, and to set forth
the advantages of education Of the children of
tne poor. Inc amendment proposed by the
committee was 10 strike out from the second Sec
lon OF the bill appropriating S4G,igJ.6l 10 be
paid TO the Trustees of Coored Schools all that
part AFTER the words general fund and insert
A "
much thereof as may be necessary 10 paw the
said Trustees of Public Schools, sum eduiya.
lent to 3o.i per cent. of the entire expenditure
Tor school purposes for the current fiscal year,
said division OF school money being in accord
ance with the decree of the Supreme Court of
the District of Columbia, and the proportion
| the colored children bear to the whole lumber
| of children, white and colored, of school age
| as reported ny the census of Iss7.''l
Mr.. Meore claimed to be a laws abiding man,
| but when his task-masters set him task he
WOulU perform no more than the letter the
| law required. He argued that there was no
census since 1850, and that the bill as originally
brought in, appropriating SiO,i9O.62 for the
trustees of Colored Schools, was In strict ac-
cordance with law, and that the increase in the
amount OF S3O,2S5.O6 was nothing more nor less
IMAM s. gratuIty-an exaction beyond the law
which ought not TO meet with favor. The in
lux OF coiored population here during the war
had increased the number of colored children,
and 1t was as little as Congress could do to
provide for them. The enumeration of inhab-
tants OF last year (lS61) was not a Gems US under
the law, and could net be used in making the
aPportionment of the school fund.
Mr.. clark commended that according 10 the
decision OF the court, the amendment was a
proper one.
MIR. Moore said the decision of the court must
be in accordance with the acts of Congress-
which were very plain.
Mr.. Fenwick would Lot deprive any colored
child OF an education In a school for his own
color. which would make him a better citizen,
but there was no census in 1S67, and the amend
ment went beyond the law.
Mr.. Crocker said gentlemen expressed them
selves as overlooking with kindness for the
colored children, but AT the same time opposed
any provision by which they might share the
school fund equally with the white children.
1t was the idea of equality in the amendment
which sta tiles and amazes gentlemen. and vet
they claim that they like to see the colored peo-
pie advanced. He commended that the intention
of the act of Con gress was clear that the coored
children should have fair proportionate share
OF the schooi fund, according to the last cen.
sus, and a census was taken last year, under an
act passed by this Corporation. and approved
by the Mayor. The bill providing for taking
lhat census was In accordance with the charter
aud the acts OF Congress. Let us be lust, and
IN apportioDing this fund don't go back seven
or elght years to find the proportion, when a
care ana accurate enumeration OF inhabi-
tants was taken only last year. He spoke of
the enterprise, prosperity, and advancemen of |
the colored race in this District since the war
IN contrast with their condition, owing to
prejudice, previous to the war, and thought
the anxiety 10 improve themselves should be |
encouraged by liberal legislation Of this Cor.
pOratiOn.
Mr.. Fenwick replied and defended the city
from the charge OF depressing colored men |
previous to the war.
Mr.. Cook favored the amendment, and |
SAID that before the war there Were |
15.uUO eolOred people here of whom II 600 We're
free. They were taxed on about two and half |
millions dollars worth of property. but the |
taxes went to educate white children, and tin. |
coiOred people received no aid from the Cor
poration IN the education OF their children.
MIR. Moore said 1T was all n mistake, THAT |
was the mlldest term he could use,) as TO he |
eolored people being taxed on millions of prop
erty- White men from the North wanting the |
colored men 10 elevate them ~ place, were
very certain that race had b-rn wronged here.
They went to work TO ascertain what amount
of properly colored people Were taxed on here, |
and II was found TO be about hall a millioa.
There was no census last year. No census |
could De taken here except by Congress: the |
Corporation was not empowered TO take a |
census, and the enumeration last year only 1
comprised the school children, and was &c.
cOrding TO no meaning attached to il, in law or |
literature a census, which was an Ell umeration |
OF the inhabitants-all the inhabiants-of a l
territory. We were bound by the census of /
1850 until that of $50 j. taken.
MR.. Crocker dlssehted from these views as TO l
ment was rejected by the following vote: |
Yeas-Messrs. Baker, Clark, Cook, Croker, |
knight, and Richards, 6. Nays-Messrs. Fen. |
wick, Larman, Lloyd. McCathran, Moore
Morsell. and Talbert,
Mt. Crocker moved that the further onsider- |
alton Of the bill be postponed one week; agreed |
to: Yeas-Messrs Baker, Clark, Cook, Croker,
knight, Larman. and Richards. Nays
Messrs. FenwIck, Lloyd, McCathran, Moore, |
Morsell, and Taleert-6.
Mr.. CIocker. from Finance Committee, re-
ported back Council bill defining the duties of
the Superintendent and Inspector Of Sewers,
CarTiageways, &c, with certain amendments
one which takes from his supervision the fix
ing OF grades, and another providing for his
examining the Surveyors books without pay
ment of the usual fees, which amendments were
agreed to, and the bill was passed. Also, re-
ported fayOrably on bill for binding the CUrpo-
ration laws; passed. Also, reported Joint reso-
luton for appointment OF a committee, consist
ing Of the Mayor and two members of each
Board, 10 audit the claims against the Corpo-
ration contracted on and prior to June 3 tn,
le6c, with several amendments, which were
agreed to- and the resolution was passed.
MI Richards presented communication
from the Surveyor in reference to grades IN
the First Ward; referred. Also, bill authorIz-
ing the Mayor 10 have a sea- wall built on the
Potomac from the north side OF U street south
10 the south side OF street south: passed. MIR.
Baker, from Drainage Committee, reported
bill 10 lay water mains IN l. street south and
New jersey avenue; passed. Also, bill
thorlZlng the Mayor To appoint asuperintenE-
ent OF lamp-lghters, and a suffice nj number
of lamp-lighters 10 carry the contract with the
Gas LIg ht Com pany into effect: referred 10 Gas
Committee. Mr.. Clark, from Health Commit
tee, reporled bill TO pay VIM. NJ. Slowen for
medicines furnished the poor in the First
Ward: passed. Mr. Larman. from Claims
Committee. reported favOrably on bills for re.
lief of Margaret German and VIM. Dobson;
passed. MIR. MOrsell, from the Committee on
Unfinished Business, reported favorably on
bill for relief OF Chas. 5. Hill; passed. Mr.. Fem
wick introduced a Joint resolution declaring il
lawful 10 keep more than two cows for the six
months next ensuing, provided they not
allowed 10 become nuisance; referred. Sew
eral bills from the Board of Common Council
we've referred. Adjourned.
COMMON CoUNCIL.-President Fowler in the
chair, and ali the members present except Mr.
Dalton.