Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-07-20
TUy COyOpvO cru0nr

tne Tine mas arrived wneu these schools should
be IN corporated with our other public schools,
placed under the same management, be con.
Quoted on the same system, and share impair.
tally ia all respects in tue same advantages.
The Board OF Trustees Of Public schools should
consist of both white and colored members in
due Proportions, and no difference should be
allowed in the qualifications OF teachers on
account OF the color Of the pupils. The exI-
gency which required the temporary creation
Of separate board OF trustees for colored
schools has now happily passed a way. IL Is
much 10 be regretted that the action Of Con.
gress at It's last session, providing for the ter
minatIon of this separate system, should have
been defeated by the veto Of Andrew Johnson,
through the Influence and misguided Efforts of
intended.
The distinction OF color is no longer recog-
niZed in our charter, nor a. the oilloL.box,
In the courts Of justice, the lecture rom, the
nall of public amUsements, the public con-
vey ance, nor in the CITY Councis. II should
be eliminated as speedily as possible from
our school system. The breaking down OF all
caste distinctions Is one OF the great missions
OF the American people, and the sooner all
classes conquer their prejudic5s' aud &C.
cept The sltua'i1n, the better tor all con-
cerned. All children should be educated .ts
the children Of American citiz-ns, the future
soveTeigns of the Republic, and should De
tauRht 10 ignore all class distinction. No
where can tcis be done so sffac.nalIy "a in tn.
common sch )oi by the daily exercises OF the
schOol-Ioom, where merit and achievement
only give precedence. And, on the other hant,
iarlties CT race and caste be 50 surely per-
petGated and intensified rs by the keepiE =
up Of separate systems OF educ atom IN our
schools
That all right.m inded citizens should agree
and co. operate il this important mater - emil
nen,iy d. sirable. Tn. character or al oar
schools should be. and by proper efior:> mi ht
be, 50 elevated that 10 CONTAMINATION" but
only the i'm pTovement of all classes would re-
suit from such ASSOCIATION Blu. n view OF The
differences OF opinion and the butter, foolish
prrludices which have existed, and 10 some ex.
tent still exist, II is a question how soon and
how far the mIngipg of races in tn same
school can re effected without causing the
withdrawal of some ofthOse who most need ed :.
ucaiion. In my judgement, this may D. safely
lett 10 the ise discretion or a board Ottrustees
cons tItuted as 1 have already Suggested, aud
having at heart the best interests OF all classes.
Experience has already shown that tn dii-
cuities in the way are not grei, as many
imagine. Whit" parents OF re:pectabiiit; and
culture have urged the admission o: their
children into colored schools pisre superior
teachers hare ben employed. for tn. sake OF tue
higher advantages there afforded. II IS b.
levsd tuat were all the schools placed under
one coard properly constituted, and were a
part of the schools designated as OMEN I, both
classes, care being taken to provide teachers
OF the highest qualifications. Numbers OF white
as we'll as OF colored ci'izens would, volunta-
rI'y and as matter Of principe. place their
children in such schools, at least until the
experiment should be fallly tested And il is
further believed that the results would De such
NE
the withdrawal OF any cons iderahle hummer n.
children from school, the barrier OF caste would
quietly melt away. and all the schools be-
speedily thrown open to ali who need them.
Then would our school sy stem b. established
en- The basis of . broad and mpai tai national-
iy, which knows not race Tor coIJr, bu. oaly
Americans and children of a common Parent
i therefore recommend that measures be
taken TO represent tAis matter before Congress
At lis Lext session, with view to obtaining
such action as shall place all orr schools
under one management, with discretionary
power as 10 n. minglIng OF the Glasses hereto
tore separated. This subject cannot longer
be evadeo, as bill is pending in Con gress
with every probability OF It's becoming a law
which con templates and requires that all the
schools Of this District shall b. open tor the
reception and instruction of pupils without
distinction OF class.
The coloTed schools, and the expenses at.
tending their support, have grown TO q magni-
tude not anticipated a. their beginning. TEE
revenue at first amounted to little over 500
per annum. Their board of trustees have been
paid out OF the city treasury about Si0,GUu the
past year, and the amount Will be largely in.
creased the coming year. THIS is the only
revenue for the support of these schools. and
TIE Corporation has no voice in their govern.
ment, Is no. consulted regard TO the appoint
ment OF IT ustees or teachers nor the trustees
accountable FOR their action or for the disburse.
ment OF this large sum 10 the Government or
the Corporation. Indeed, the case now
stands, they might appropriate the money to
any other use, and there is o law authorizing
the city or any other power to compel them 10
account for IT, II this separate system is to be
continued, recommend that Congress be ap.
piled TO for the passage OF an act requiring
the trustees TO enter into bond in a sufficient
sum, with security satisfactory 10 the Mayor.
for the proper application OF the fInd>, and
also requiring them TO make an annual report
10 the CITY authorizes, giving detailed state
ment OF their operations.
OFFICERS or THR CORPORATION
As a general rule, the officers Of the Corpo-
ration have performed their duties faithfully,
and with satisfaction to the peOpe. THAI,
with rare exceptions, all have done the best
they could for the interest of the city am fully
convinced. Where such has been the case !,
would appear InvidiOus TO discriminate; bu,,
as the boOkkeeper and clerk TO the Mayor have
been under my own eye, and l have been per-
sonally cogniZant of their fidelity, ability and
the very heavy labors required OF them 1 take
the liberty to state that. in my opinion, they
are Inadequately paid for their services and 1
therefore recommend that their salaries be in.
creased-that OF the bookkeeper 70 S2,V01, aLo
that OF the clerk 10 81 ,50U per annum. l very
much doubt whether any other clerks in this
city perform as arduous and responsible duties
as they for anything like the compensation
they receive.
ASYLUM AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Il, For detailed statement OF the expenses Of
the asy lum, and OF the Fire Department, beg
leave to refer 10 the reports OF the commits.
sioners thereof, which are herewith trans
mitted.
The United States Government having with.
drawn the three steam iire.engines In use here
since the war, a necessity exists for supplying
Their places by the Corporation. Arrange.
ments have already been made Tor the purchase
OF two engines, and l recommend that au.
thority be given for purchasing another with.
out de lay. Proper protection TO property rem
ders this absolutely necessary. The Govern.
ment having very large amount OF properly
here requiring protection from fire should IN
conn justice, pay It's portion OF the expense
OF procuring the proper engines and maintain
III Fire Dtraf tment IL the city.
HOUSE OF INDUSTRY, ETC.
i ask the attention OF the Councils 10 The
necessity OF establishing house OF correction
and industry for juvenile offenders, and home
for the aged and fIiendiess in our midst No
other city IN the United States. so tar as know
and believe, having population so large as
this, mas so little accommodation for the Door
and unfortunate. school ship m oore ed in orr
river might, like those in Boston, serve to re.
claim vicious and unruly boys, who, by a
proper course OF training and study, would
become qualified for seamen on Government
vessels or merchant ships, or for any other re-
spectacle occupation. 1t is a disgrace to our
city that We have no refuge for these elias ses
except our poor house and Jail, where they are
brought in contact with hardened villains aud
become as wicked as they. Ii the city would
take the lead In this matter, and commence the
erection OF proper buildings, have no doubt
that Congress would, a. 1t Justly should lend
toward completing the work Let the CoupcIIs
make the experiment; CONGRESS will do its
share II we show a determ nation to do what
we ought for ourselves.
A NEW JAIL AND POLICE COURT.
beg leave again to call the attention of the
Councils to the absolute necessity OF erecting
new jail in this District, such as is provided