Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-01-20
Our Public schools.


trict, was held last evening, at the Rooms Of the
School Board, on 9Th street, for the purpose of
determining upon a memorial to be presented to
Congress asking aid for the public schools of the
District of Columbia.
Mr.. Newton, from the subcommittee ap-
pointed at the previous meeting to prepare q
memorial to Congress, submitted the same. 1t
sets forth that this District, being under the
direct control and special care OF Congress,
STANDS in a peculiar relation to the entire cOun-
Try, different from that held by any other
ton or city in the Union. Numbers of families
are necessarily drawn here for a temporary res
idence who do not become owners of taxable
property, and therefore do not contribute to the
maintenance of the public schools while their
children require the benefits of the same. A
large portion of these nOn-paying residents
are officers and employees OF the Govern
ment, who generally retain their Citizen
ship in the States from which they come.
In 1861 il was aseertained that thirty.four per
cent OF the pupils in the public schools of Wash
ington were children Of Government employees
and the proportion is now estimated to be still
larger. The census OF 1867 showed an increase
of the colOred population Of the city of Washing
ton since 1850 of 20 9e4, or nearly 200 per cent
In Georgetown the increase of the same class
wa 1r5i?, or about 20 per cent, while i'm the
county ~ was 2 Oh. or % per cent. This increase
consisted mostly of refugees, which, of course,
involved a corresponding augmentation of the
number of children of school age, while it added
httle TO the taxable property OF the District The
injustice ofrequiring the property-owners within
our limits to bear the whole pecuniary burden
OF educating the children of these two non-tax-
That the property of the General Government
IN this District, amounting, il is believed tn
over one-haif OF the entire valuation, being ex-
empt from all taxation, the sources of revenue
for municipal purposes, including schools are
by so much, less than are available in ordinary
communities OF equal wealth, where the entire
property is taxable for such purposes Were
the extensive possessions of the United States in
this District to contribute their proportionate
would be little or no need to CAN for other aid.
strong reason why such aid should be granted
n that Congress has granted such aid in a very
liberal manner to various States and Terrific
ries Of the Union, which can urge no suclftitle
TO consideration as this District presents A re-
cent statement from the General Land once
shows that Congress has granted for the sup-
Port of common schools in different States and
Territories 81 9S3 ,922 acres of land and another
statement from the same source shows that
SIX million acres more have been given in
script to various agricultural colleges in the
States, aggregating % $3.50 go acres in all This
land, at the usual presumption price of sl.25 per
acre, amounts in value to S92, i79, 9g25O The
District of Columbia, the special proteqe of the
nation, has thus far received not one acre In
CONCLUSION, the memorlalists suggest, as the
most desirable method of meeting the wants as
set forth, that an appropriation be voted from
the NATIONAL treasury, for the purpose of erect
ing me school houses now so urgently required,
an equal TO one-third Of all sums raised or An,
Propriated for school purposes for four success
sive years from July I, 1869, by the several
municipal authorities of the District and IN he
expended under such safeguards as Congress
NAV deem proper; also, that an appropriation
OF l,OcO,Cc0 acres of public lands be made the
for the public schools of this District. to he An
Yortioned in like manner.
Mr.. Richards submitted a bin which he had
prepared To be presented to Congress entitled:
"A bill TO grant 100000 acres of public lands
for the benefit of public schools in the District
OF Columbia, and also an appropriation for
erecting suitable and necessary schools build
mgs therein 1t provides that 4 900 900 acres
OF land be granted, to be divided between the
cities Of Washington and Georgetown and the
Washington. No
from the sale of such lands shall be invested in
the stocks Of the United States yielding not less
than i've per ceEtum, to constitute a perpetual
fund, the capital of which shall remain forever
nndiminished, and the interest of which shall be
invariably appropriated by said cities and
county to the support and maintenance Of public
schools in said city and county for the education
OF Children therein between the ages of five and
seventeen years; without distinction of color or
race OF the children attending them III any
portion of the fund, or the interest shall by any
action or contingency be diminished or lost Il
shall be replaced by the city or county to which
forever untiiminished, and NO PORTION Of
the fund or interest shall be applied towards the
purchase OF any site for the construction OF apy
sehOol-house or building. In order that said
cities may receive immediate aid necessary q,
provide suitable school buildings and other &C
commodauons Tor the large number Of children
OF school age now prevented from attepdiag
public schools because Of the lack Of such ace
Communications, the Treasurer Of the United
States shall pay to the treasurers Of sand Boards
Tor TIE purpose Of securing sites, erecting and
furnisbirg suitable buildings. a sum eon.i ~
one-hird part Of all moneys appropriated for
school purposes by said cities and county m
quarterly irstalments for four successive wears
from July LIST, 1869; the Secretary of the Int,
TiSr TO approve all plans for school buildings.
The memorial and bill were both approved
andft was ordered that they be laid before Con-
gress.
OPENING OF THE SHEPHERD BuILprSG-The
elegant and imposing new building of Messrs.
A n shepherd & Brothers, on Pennsylvania
avenue, between 9th and 10th streets, described
IN Yesterdays STAR, was thrown open to the
Pubiic Yesterday afternoon at 3 O'clock and
from That time 10 six, constant stream Of WISH
its shIoGgh, inspecting the building and
and W. s. shepherd, junior members of the
hIm, received the visitors on the first floor, who
after admiring Its handsome adOrnments, passed
to the second story, where Mr.. Alexander Il
Shepherd welcomed all heartily. Among those
present were quite a number of ladies and gem
uemen OF note, consisting of Senators, army and
navy ofhcers, business men and prominent citi-
zeDs, with heir families. After some time spent
m examining the elegant stock, the guests were
Escorted TO another portion Of the building.
where was to be found WOrmley with his able
corps of assistants in charge Of a table loaded
comprising fish, flesh and fowls, with salads and
sweets The supply was bountiful, and ample
Justice was done toit; By six o'clock the great
mass OF visitors had departed, but many others
came to view the handsome establishment by
gas light
gates To the Letter Carriers Convention after
= visiting the President yesterday and the Com
nittees on Post Ofhces and Posi- Roads resumed
their session at one O'Clock, when resolutions
we're adopted rendering the thanks of the con-
vention to the Representatives IN Congress for
the kind manner In Ehich they had received
them and the promises made; to the members of
the press for full and correct REPORTS; to Mr.
Seabourn, President OF the Convesrion and to
SnperiI teDdent Bell, and the letter carriers of
This city. Mr.. Sloan, Of Chicago, offered A
xssoluf,on, which was adopted, that they form
mseives INTO permanent organization, to be
Known Is the Letter Carrier National Protec
nse Mon and to be called together whenever
their president may deem 1t expedielf. Al
journed. "-
The SoCTABLR Of the Indiana Associatio,, last
evening. was q very pleasant affair and eniayed
by all Who participated i'm IL. Among the yisi
tors were Vice President Colfax, senator and
Mrs. Morton, Senator Pratt and lady, Hon.
Mtssrs Orth, Julian, Packard, Tynsr, Shsnks.
williams. CobuIn and ladies, Hon. w. H. III.
Terrell, Third Assistant Postmaster General.
and family; Mrs. Mary Z. Nealy and Mrs Du-
TOUR; Colonel w. X. Holloway, postmaster at
indianapolis and editor Of the Nate Journal: