The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-15

LOCAL MATTERS.
City CoUNc1I.-ADJoURNED MEETING
An adjourned meeting of the City Council
was held in their chamber yesterday after
noon. Present Messrs. Mscfarland (presi-
dent), Clopton, Crutchfeld, Saunders,
| Sharp, Yale, Taylor, Van Lew, Washburne,
Kent, Miller, Pelouze, Smith, and Hum
| phreys.
In the unavoidable absence of the cham
berlain and clerk, Mr.. Samuel Eaton was
! appointed clerk pro tenn.
The Poor.
Mr.. mcfarland called the attention of
the Council TO the number of suffering poor
in the city.
Mr.. Yale made some remarks in refer
| ence to the question, and stated that he
knew Of one instance of destitution in which
q woman was compelled to eat candle to
satisfy her hunger. He called attention to
meeting.
Mr.. Saunders offered the following reso-
luton as substitute for Mr.. Yale's resolu-
tion
"Resolued, That the Committee on the
| Alms-house be and are hereby authorized
| and requested to make some provision for
the poor outside of the alms-house, and tn of
an appropriation Of $4,000 be made for
| that purpose"
! Mr.. Washburne remarked that he had
some knowledge of the destitution of the
city, he having himself distributed $4,000
garments in the last three years. He was
J first in favor Of receiving assistance from
the Freedmen's Bureau, and then would
vote that an appropriation be made
| Mr.. Macfarland was opposed to SO large
an appropriation, and would offer the fol-
lowing as en- amendment to the substitute
"ReSoEued, That committee of three be
| appointed to confer with the Freedmer.'s
| Bureau on the extent Of the destitution now
prevailing in the city, with the view Of set
| Ting on some plan Of relief, and that the
sum of 81 900 be placed at the disposal of
the committee, to be wisely expended; and
| that the committee report the scheme on
| which it may deliberately agree" Adopt ed.
Public Schools.
Mr.. Washburne then offered the following
| ordinance in reference to the establishment
of free schools:
an Ordinance to establish system Of
|
al. BE IL ordained By the Council of The
city of Richmond, That for the purpose OF
establishing system Of public schools in
the city Of Richmond there shall be a
Board of Education, composed Of five me m
bers, one of whom shall be the Mayor of
said city, &c oticio, who shall be the Pre- 81
| dent of the said Board another of whom
shall be the Superintendent of Schools, er
| oHcio, who shall be elected as hereinafter
! provided, and shall be the Secretary of the
! said Board and the remaining three shall
be citizens Of Richmond, who shall be an
nually elected by the Council at their stated
meeting in July, or as soon thereafter as
practicable, and shall continue in office for
one year and until their successors shall be
elected and qualified.
"2. There shall be annually elected by
the Council at their stated meeting in July,
or as soon thereafter as practicable, SD
perintendent of schools, whose term OF
office shall continue for one year, and until
his successor shall be elected and qualified.
"3. The duties Of the superintendent Of
schools shall be specified by the Board OF
| Education. He shall serve for the present
year without salary, and in future years
his salary shall be provided for by the
Council.
"a. 1t shall be the duty Of the Board Of
Education to provide for the accommoda-
ton and instruction of the children Of the
city Of Richmond in public schools to OBJ
tain suitable school-rooms examine and
select teachers fix, subject to the approval
of the Council, the salaries of the teachers !;
make and enforce such rules and regula-
tions for the schools as they may deem ad-
visable from time to time and to have
general direction and responsibility in mat
ters pertaining to public schools.
I" THE Board of Education shall have
power to establish rules and regulations for
its own government. A majority Of such
Board shall constitute q quorum for the
transaction Of business.
"The Board of Education ehall report to
the Council annually, in April, the number
OF schools, teachers, and pupils, giving full
account Of receipts and disbursements,
with general information in regard to the
conduct and progress of the pupils, and
such other additional information as may
interest the public.
"5. The Council shall annually, ut the
stated meeting in July, or as soon there
after as practicable, appropriate speclhc
sum for the support of public schools, which
sum the Board of Education shall be autho-
rized to expend on the part of the city for
the current school year provided that the
sum appropriated for the present year shall
not exceed $4,000.
"6. All ordinances or parts of ordinances
which are inconsistent herewith are hereby
repealed"
In support of the ordinance Mr.. Wash
burne proceeded to show how necessary
was some such system as he proposed,
and how economically it could be esta-
blished. He spokez of the great igno-
rance among the people of the State,
and of this city in particular, declaring
that at least fifteen per cent. of the adults
in this State could neither read nor write.
The societies at the North which have been
advancing the cause Of education in the
South have declared their inability of much
longer assisting in this matter. About
5000 pupils in this oity have been taught
by the teachers provided by these northern
societies, and Of this number 1920 were
whites. These societies are willing to Co
operate with the oity in any measure look
ing to the education of the children of our