New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-11

children OF the 11h0ie people 6nau De edu-
Gated; and when we reflect that in many
parishes there are no schools at all,
or they are held at very long in
tervals, and that no good system OF en-
ploying teachers, or of examining them,
or of providing for school houses exists;
with nothing in fact belonging to q good
school system, and that 1t will be necessary
for the Superintendent to go over the en-
tire State and see that measures are set on
foot to establish these schools in the man
ner and spirit which the constitution in
tends. submit to Senators that they will
be derelict in their duty more than any other
duty to be performed in these legislative
halls if they do not by law provide gener.
GUS and complete system for carrying out
the provisions Of the constitution in this
regard.
Again, SIR another important fact has
been brought to my notice. The State Su-
perintendent is in receipt of complaints
that the school fund of this State has been
embezzled and misapplied for ten years
past; that not onetenth part of the funds
In some parishes appropriated for such pur.
poses has been used for its legitimate OBJ
ject.
Mr.. Campbell read from late school re-
port in which the Superintendent states,
after calling on the Legislature for better
facilities, that if his duties are to Ebe
properly performed. proper supervision
exercised over the schools of the State, ETC.,
additional appropriations are necessary.
Mr.. Campbell resumed: l am informed
that the Superintendent of that year was
compelled to expend out of his own salary,
Sl7O0 in the discharge of his duties.
When a school law is properly framed,
it will be nee ssary in establishing the
schools, for the Superintendent TO
occupy his time in visiting these schools
throughout the State. And when COM
plants comes to his knowledge of the i'm
proper employment of the public school
fund of the State, it will be necessary either
for him or an assistant to go at once to the
spot and examine into the alleged misem-
pIoyment or embezzlement of these funds.
1t will be necessary that his office shall be
constantly open here that his books shall
be properly kept up, and ready for examine
tion at any time as those of other States
officers. An extended argument on this
subject is unnecessary. ALI | pretend to do
is to give the fact, which to my mindNimper
atively show, that the Superintendent should
at once have the assistants and room for
which be asks. .-e
Mr.. Braughn: hope, sir, that the Sen
ators, before making up their minds how to
vote on this subject, will take the trouble
to investigate the matter. 1t seems to me
sir, that the introduction of this bill at this
period of our legislation comes in very
question able shape, and it seems to me
with very bad taste on the part of the
gentleman who has recently been
elected Superintendent of Public Schools
and who am informed, is the father of this
bill.
|, sir having resided within the limits of
the State of Louisiana for twenty one
years, during which l have enjoyed the
| benefits of the system of public instruction,
and during which time have been a CON
slant observer of the workings of that in
stitution, certainly pretend to know as
much concerning it as the author of this
| bill now the Superintendent, or as the
gentleman who has advocated its passage.
| Since 1887, sir, no higher salary was ever
allowed the Superintendent of Public In
struction than $500; and we have had gen.
tlemen occupying the position who not on.
| ly were as competent as the one who now
has the office, but they were gentlemen, sir,
| who reflected honor upon the State of
Louisiana. The incumbents of that
office since that period have been
such men as Robert G. Nicholas,
| who afterward was an ornament to the
| United States Senate; Alexander Dimitry,
| whose reputation is worldwide as scholar
and scientific man; Mr.. Segar, who en-
| joyed the reputation of scholar through
| out the length and breadth of this land; and
more recently the office has been occupied
| by Mr.. Lusher, who discharged the
duties without single complaint
ever having been made against
him. And, sir, all these gentlemen were
willing, for fair and modest compensation,
to discharge the duties fairly and fully.
They also went to the forty-seven different
country parishes, and there looked to the
interests Of public education. They did not
ask for a secretary or an assistant secretary,
but were perfectly satisfied with the com
pensation paid them by the State, and with
the occupancy of room in the State
House.
Now, sir, it is on all sides. admitted that
| 4
ent of Public Education will have more
labor to perform, because a large number
of colored children will have access to these
schools; in view of which fact, have nc
doubt 1t was, the late Constitutional Con
vention raised the salary of the Superin-
tendent from $500 to $4,000; and / believe
i sir, that salary is fair and suth
cient one-that it is an adequate
remuneration for the services of the gem
tleman who has been elected superintend-
ent; and If he gives us quid pro quo for
the amount of money the State of Louisi
ana pays him l shall be perfectly satisfied.
Now, sir, it is urged upon the Senate that
the emoluments of the office should be
raised to $9300, and that he be permitted to
rent house in the city of New Orleans for
the use of himself and clerks. And, sir,
this bill is introduced before a new system
is founded and the duties of his Office are
definitely ascertained and laid out by law.
|
modest and decidedly more proper on the
part of that gentleman if he had waited
until the Legislature of the State had def
nitely settled the duties which it expected
him to perform. .
Then, sir, with some propriety he might
have come to US and said; "Gentlemen, the
work which you expect from me is so great
that / require assistants who have to be
paid, and q house for the safe keeping OF
my records But before anything of that
sort is done; before he knows what he will
have to do; before he knows what clerks or
assistants may be necessary, he comes
to us and says:
'Gentlemen, l thank you for the position
you have gwen me, but $4,000 is not enough.
require $930O." Not satisfied with secre.
tary and assistant secretary, he also asks
i for o house.
i Now, sir, the superintendents we have
had before were satisfied with small room
in the State-house and never pretended they
did not have room in which to keep their
blanks, books, paper, etc. But this gentle
man desires o house, which | suppose he
will use as a headquarters for his family as
well as dep0sitary of the records of the
Superintendent Of Public Instruction. l
say, sir, that this bill is ill-timed; / say 1t
is an immodest demand, and that it is an
attempt on the part of newly-made citizen
ol this State to gorge himself upon the
moneys which the State of Louisiana
has to give for educational purposes.
And ] say, sir, If this bill is passed,
it will be an addition to those bills
1 which have already passed this House,
i putting money .tenfold, a, hundred fold,
and / may say thousand fold into the
pockets Of those who do not expect to give
the State anything for 1t. say, sir, this is
/ not the time 70 act upon this bill, because