Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-05-19

muhlcauon from the Mayor transmitting. IN
compliance with request OF this Board,
copies of all the correspondence had bv him in
relation 10 payments of monies to the Trustees
| Of Colored Schools The correspondence in
question embraced the following communica-
| lions
letter from Mr.. John r. Eiyans 70 tue
| Mayor, dated February Goth, 1868 skine the
| return 20 him of a check. dated January sth
| IsSs. IN favor of IS. j. Bowen by John r FL
/ vans" for s2l 90 81, with the understanding
\ that the said check shalt remain in my hands,
to be returned to you when notified by you that
/ any part thereof" Next comes commu-
nication from Mr. Elvans to the Mayor,
dated february 9Th, in which be ac-
| of the check on the Bank OF Washington
for s2lr "a. Dated January 4, 1868; adding
nFor the CUSTODY and responsibility Of which
check was held, under an agreement between
| A. G: Hall, Esq, Mr.. KimbaIl, and the Regis
ter Of the city, (the two former officially, and
the latter In private capaeity,) acting for the
eoloIed schools OF Washington, and assented to
| by the Mayor. Such agreement or understand
ing also provided that the said check should
not BE- presented for payment until the expira-
aTV t 81 nsa DAYS fsay not before pe6rn,
mus imposed upon me, by virtue of the discre-
| ton allowed me and in Difference to your
wishes, and as subsequent condition upon
| which You consented TO sign the check, re-
placed II In your hands, Tin your pri-
vate and unofficial capacity,) leaving the COR
strucnve possession and the full compliance
myself, and resolving the actual understand.
ing between yourself and myself into one of
personal honor. 1 made the request for the de-
llyery OF the check for the first time on yester-
day, 18th inst.,) at your Office, and i beg to
thank you for prompt compliance with the
terms OF our verbal ass urance as the one TO the
other. Permit me now to say that while am
in honor bound to comply with every under.
standing had by all parties to the question
which has been at issue, and will do so without
regard to fear or favor, 1 cannot refrain, and
70 frnV lr,r hat
check be drawn by the Mayor or countersigned
by the Register for any purpose until such
tine as the accumulation of funds in bank, de-
2oSited by the Collector or other officer having
SSarge of the collection of funds of the Cor.
poratlon, will have rendered available the
amount for which the check calls" Mr.. Ell
vans proceeds to give his reasons at length for
liking this request
Next comes a Communication from the Mayor,
da' March 10th, 1867, addressed to Messrs. 5.
j. Bowen, A. G. Hall, II. Jones, Trustees of
Colored Schools, returning their requsition for
SS-ig5.3l, the proporti NAL amount due Them
under act approved December Goth, 1867
The Mayor says: 81 shall be pleased to honor
in lieu of the one returned your rcquisition for
the sum OF 5000 to be paid under the act above
referred to-
The next document is a letter from the Mayor
TO Mr.. Elvans, dated March oath, 1868 in
which the Mayor says: sNear, if not over two
weeks since, approved the requisition for
and directed check to be drawn under the act
approved December 10Th, 1867, IN favor of the
Trustees of Colored Schools for 5000. This
check, / am however informed, the Register
persistently refuses 10 draw, therefore, write
10 you 10 say that the difficulty occasioned by
the Registers refusal to give the check as d.
reeted can be readily obviated, ard the Trus-
tees OF Colored Schools can obtain the money
necessary upon your returning as agreed upon
between us. the check you now hold"
MT. Elvans answers, same date:-"I am pre-
pared 10 receive the $500 which understand
you are ready to pay, and to hand you a check
for an endorsement of the amount thereon
Mr.. Elyans again beseeches full payment of the
check, speedily, as an act of Justice, saving
=. IL am in receipt OF an urgent appeal from the
Treasurer Of Colored Schools for funds. in
which the statement Is made (and have per-
sonal knowledge OF the correcrness) that some
OF the teachers VIII close their schools unless
they receive their money on the 3lst instant"
Mr.. Elyans adds. that in letter 10 the Trustees
of Colored Schools he was compelled 10 decline
their demand for the possession of the check
for 81, $50, saying, This refusal was based
upon what i considered to be a question a
honor as 10 strict compliance with an under
standing between the Mayor and myself
Mr.. ElvaDs proceeds 10 give his views at
length OF the situation, and his reported de-
mand flor payment of the check, sayng:
81 notified the Mayor to-day and on two
other occasions, that / would nv CONNER
ciai reputation with the Bark of Washington
20 obtain small portion of the check, thus
getting over the difficulty occasioned by the
refusal OF the Register TO sign new check if
he would consent. The only answer was Il
am willing TO give you $500, but II must be
on new check. on the Bank of Washington"
NOW, Mr.. Mayor, In view OF my earnest and
proper req nest, under date OF February 21th
ulumo, that TO checks be drawn on funds liz
bank until the particular check be made
available, in view of the further fact
that claims have been paid and are being paid
without regard TO he outstanding check in nv
hands, and that no efforts are being made 10
cancel ii: in view Of the fact of positive prom
lse OF the Mayor in presence of many vii.
nesses 10 have paid at least $500 on this ac-
count long since: in view of the fact that I
am being held to an agreement, the terms of
which require certain specific and reasonable
acnon on the part OF the Mayor, with which
he declines or negleCts TO comply, IN view of
the fact hat these colored schools. soon prob.
ably 10 be closed. are being excluded from their
Just dues ffroTn the course being now pursued)
for Ill time TO come, beg TO now formally no.
tlfy the Mayer that unless am placed IN nos
session OF AT least 5000 or account of the check
held by me in trust on or before 10 O'Clock
on the morning OF the Both instant, l will turn
over the said check TO the trustees of coIored
schools, to be used as they may determine
Il VIII deem myself relieved and exonera. ed
from any and all existing agreements"
To which the Mayor replies, March 18th,
giving his version OF the understanding. He
says;-l most positively and distinctIvely re-
fused 10 NIX any definite time for the payment
undertaking or promising only to pay il in he
sum OF S5,to1 at n time, and only as the exigen-
cies OF the Corporation would permit. What |
proposed and offered tc do will appear by my
letter to you of yesterday; and how far the
exigencies OF the Corporation will permit TO be
lone. you must know from the statement of
the Board OF Aldermen, as no one would tor a
moment suppose, that did the trustees OF the
colored schools so desire, the Register would 80
persistently refuse 10 give the warrant ALREADY
directed 10 be drawn. The pretence set up by
them that they caLnet get money TO paw salaries
II simply absurd. Permit me. in onciusiop 10
remind you that generously declining to avail
myself OF your proffer TO give boat to any
amount or of your affidavit TO that effect. and
relying implicitly on your own and the as
surances OF Mr. =. V. Noyes, that it would be
returned rs stipulated in your note Of February
26ih. the check was entrusted to you that
you might be enabled TO say 10 the trustees of
the colored schools that il was still in your
possession
Here follows letter from the Mayor same
date TO A. CT. Eall, Esq, Trustee CoIored
Schools. saying: Il again request that a
re4uisiiion may BE- drawn on this Corporation
as suggested in my letter 10 the Trustees of
Colored Schools OF March 10Th. do this that
II any reliance Is 10 BE- placed in the statement
OF MI. Elyans that teachers are suffering
for their salaries, the responsibility NAV rest
where II properly belongs"
This was followed the next day by another
note from the Mayor TO Mr.. Hall, in which he
asks TO be informed (Which of your Colored
Trustees declined or made any objection TO
receiving that check or warrant for 5000 ~
Mr.. Elyans presented some communications
which ne sand ought to make a part of the
record, and which he proceeded 20 read
Among them the note OF Mr.. Bowen to Mr.
Elvans, February nth, requesting the check
for S2l 81; Mr.. Elvans' answer of the next
day. declining 10 give up the check, because of
his agreement with the MayOr. another demand