The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-11

suitable building, the present one being unsafe
gnd unit for schoohOuse; calls the attention OF
| The board to the bad condition of the Claiborne
School and the Bayou Road Schools. The Ram
part and the Barracks schools, as well as other
schools in the Second District, have lost many of
their best pupils in consequence OF the opening Of
the Catholic schools. The st. Philip School is in
| need of repairs, which the committee recommend
| to be made. The Second and Third District Girls
| High School the committee fnd in no manner suit
able for a schoohouse. The committee also re.
| port that on the 23d Of December Miss English Of
| the st. Philip Street School, was suspended for
| sixty days for violently whipping a small boy,
leaving marks upon his face. The report was
adopted, except that portion relating to school
| houses, which was referred to the committee on
| tcboolhouses.
The question Of reinstating Miss English coming
up, was after some discussion. lost.
Mr.. Bermudez presented a lengthy and interest
| ing report relative to the Normal School, which
provides for the revival of this institution. The
report was adopted as well as the rules and reso
| lutions accompanying it.
| On motion 1t was decided that notice in the
daily papers shall be given Of the revival of this
| school.
The committee on colored schools presented
their report.
Mr. Kelly asked that his name be stricken from
| the report he did not agree with
the portion recommending that the col
lored schools be closed until the Legislature can
grant relief or the council can provide means to
the board for the continuance Of said school.
| Mr.. Leefe also wished his name stricken of the
report, as he, too, did not agree with it.
Both gentlemen were allowed to withdraw their
names from the document which was referred
back to the committee.
A communication from Miss English. alluded TO
above, asking the leniency of the board in her
| favor, was referred to the committee on super
vision.
Mr. Macon sent his resignation as chairman of
| the committee ON text books, which was accepted
and Mr.. Ellison was appointed in his stead.
Mr. Kelly offered resolution to stop all ex
pendtures except such as may be absolutely
necessary. Postponed to next meeting.
Mr. Eugene Desdernier secretary of the board,
reports having paid over to the chairman of the
| committee on library the sum Of $l0S, received
from parents, non-residents, for the admission OF
their children into the public schools of the city.
resolution to appoint committee on printing
| composed of four, prevailed.
motion by Mr.. Cronan, to print the rules and
regulations Of the Normal School, waslreferred to
| the committee on printing, with power to act.
motion by Mr.. Kelly, thai when this board
sdjourns il adjourn to Wednesday next, at Six
| O'Clock.
A resolution by Mr.. Parham that, as matter of
courtesy, the press be notified when this board
| meets. was adopted.
Mr.. Kelly offered resolution that Mr. Dimitry,
the assistant superintendent of public schools
| give in writing his opinion, pending which the
( board adjourned to Wednesday next, at six
| o'clock.
| The DRAYMEN's MEETTSG.-The Draymen's
| meeting, which had been advertised several DAYS
! took place last evening in the Commercial Pa
vion on the levee, at the head of Poydras street.
| Mr.. Alexander Porteus, or Sandy Porteus, the
| name by which tie true hearted and generous
Scot, who is president of the Draymen's Associa.
tion is best known, was in The chair, and Mr.. John
| hsgnus oficiated as secretary.
Mr.. Porteus having called the meeting to order,
| explained the object for which it was convened.
| They had met, he observed, to see what could be
| done in regard TO the charge Of ten dollars for
license for two horse wagon, and five
| all for I.
| the present City Council for this year, more
| than was charged last year. II WAS need
| less for him TO say that draymen as well
as every other class Of people were sufferers by
the dullness of trade, for all knew how hard the
| times were, and it was for the meeting to deter
mine what steps should be taken to get an abate-
ment of the license tax. he would call upon tue
! Oldest New Orleans drayman present. Judge Mi
| chael Finch, to express his views.
| Judge Finch rising, in respone TO this summons,
| remarked that very little was needed to be said.
The hard times were pressing upon every body,
! draymen as well as other people, and the five or
ten dollars additional tax, that in former years
| would be trifng matter had now be-
come matter worthy of general con-
sideration. The draymen were willing to take
| their share of the public burdens 30 far as they
were able, but il should be considered that while
taxation on wagons was increased the income Of
the owners was becoming less and less
every day. There was much less for draymen
TO do than there had been last year or
the year before, and they could not ask higher
rates from the merchants. There were railroads
on all the great business streets, too, and they
were multiplying. Collisions between the cars
| and drays and wagons were unavoidable, and the
dfayman was always the sufferer for damages.
| Taking these things into consideration he thought
| it very unjust to make the licenses higher than
they had been. If any change had been made it
! should have been to make the licenses lower.
On motion of Mr.. P. Fitzimmons q committee
of three was appointed TO draft resolutions and
| prepare petition to the council. The
chair appointed as this committee Judge Fin ch
| and Messrs. DOminick Madden and Thos. Egan.
The committee having retired, the chair again
J addressed the meeting, dwelling upon matters
which he thought should be considered by the
council when they were fixing taxes. Draymen
had to be out every day, wet and dry. whether
they got load or not. They had to pay their
| drivers aud TO feed their stock, work or no work
Theirs was an uncertain income. Judge Finch
had spoken Of the railroads. Every drayman
/ knew how much they were losers by those rail-
roads. 1t was only few days ago that he (Mr.
! Porteus) himself, hauling load got stuck on the
track, and car coming along, the driver run into
him and the car was damaged. bill Of fifteen
| dollars was sent to him by the railroad company,
and although he knew it was unjust, rather than
| go into q lawsuit, and pay lawyer more than the
sum demanded, he submitted. Losses such as
these were often falling upon drsymen now
| Another trouble draynlen have they did not
have until this convention sort az the Me-
chanics' Institute got into power. The
convention policemen now make it business to
| go on the levee and take mp draymen for fast
| driving, TO get fines out of them. He saw dray
seized, in this wsy the other day, and he kne v
| hat the mule could not be whipped into trot.
But what remedy had the man? The fellow who
| arrested him would swear that the mule was going
| at 2:40, if it was necessary for him to swear il.
This drayman's association, Mr.. Porteus continued,
could make itself one of the most influential assO-
Citations in New Orleans. They were useful
J and necessary to carry the commerce OF
| New Orleans as the merchants themselves, and IL
! they would but work harmoniously they would
soon find their society in its sphere Influential
| as the Chamber of Commerce is, in its sphere.
! Mr.. Porteus continuing his suggestions
| when the committee returned, aud, through
Judge Finch reported the following petition and
| resolutions, which were unanimously adopted
PETITION.
To the Board Of Assistant Alder.
msn Of the City Of New Orleans:
! Genlemen-We, the undersigned petitioners,
| beg leave TO represent TO your honorable body
! the grievances we labor under by reason Of the
tax ordnance, passed and approved December