Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-01-21

UoNoREss--A meeting Of committee from
the boards Of public schools for this city,
Georgetown, and the county, and the oolorod
schools Of the District, was held wednesday
evening, at tho rooms OF the school board,
on Flfth street, for the purpose Of determin-
Ing upon a memorial to be presented 70 Com
gress asking aid for the public schools Of tho
District Of Columbia.
MI. Newton, from the sub-committeo an.
pointed at tho previous meeting TO prepare
memorial to Congress, submitted the namo.
Il sets forth that this District, being under
the direct control and special care Of Con-
gress, stands In q peculiar relation 70 the
entire country, different from that held BY
any other section or city In the Union. Num-
bers Of families are necessarily drawn here
for temporary residence who do not become
| owners Of taxable property, and therefore do
not contribute ID tho maintenance OF the
public schools, while their children require
the benefits Of the same. A large portion Of
these nou-paying resldents are officers and
employees OF the Government, who generally
retain their citizenship in the states from
which they come.
In 1857 Il was aseertalnod that Lhlrty.four
per cent. OF the pupils In the public schools
Of Washington were children OF Govern
ment employees, and the proportion IL now
estimated TO DO still larger. The census Of
1857 showed an increase Of the colored
population o. the city Of Waahlngton slnee
1850 OF SO,9Si, or nearly 200 per cent. In
was i,349, or about 20 per cent while In
the county II was 2,044, or 80 per cent.
This increase consisted mostly OF refugees,
/ which, Of course, involved a corresponding
augmentation OF the number OF children OF
school age, while Il added little 10 the tax
abs property OF the District. The injustice
OF requiring the property owners within our
limits to boar the whole pecunlAry burden
OF educating tho children OF these two non
tax-paying classes ia apparent, without ar
gument. That the property Of the General
Government IN this District, Amounting, u
II believed, to over one-half Of the entire
valuation, being exempt from all taxation,
the sources Of revenue for municipal pur-
poses, including schools, are, by 90 much,
less than are available In ordinary commu-
mites Of equal wealth, where the entire
property is taxable for such purposes.
Were the extensive possessions OF the
their proportionAte share 10 the support Of
public education, there would be little or no
need TO call for other aid. A strong reason
why such aid should be granted Ia that Con-
Rresa hAs granted such aid In o very liberal
manner to various States and Territories of
the Union, which can urge no such title to
consideration a. this District presents. A
recent statement from the General Land
ONCE shows that Congress has granted for
the support Of common schools In different
States aud Territories 67,o89, 922 acres OF
land; and another statement from the same
source shows that six million acres more
have been given IN script TO various agricul-
tural colleges In the States, aggregating u.s..
So, ga acres In ali. This land, at the usual
presumption price Of rs per acre, amounts
In value 10 so, Az, o02.50 The District OF
| roiun,bia the apaeiaf .,rolsas af Nha natiaa
has thus far received not ono acre. |s
In conclusion, the memorabilia 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 erecting tho school-houses now
so urgently required, an equal TO one third
OF all sums raised or appropriated for school
purposes for four successive years from July
l, 1869, by the several municipal authorities
OF the District, and to be expended undei
such safeguards as Congress may doen
proper also, that an appropriation OF 1000,
900 acres Of public lands be made, the pro
cecds thereof 10 constitute q permanent fund
for the public schools OF this District, 10 b,
apportloued In like mahner.
Mr.. Richards submitted 4 bill which ht
had prepared 70 be presented TO Congress
I entitled, "a bill TO grant 1,00o, 900 acres Of
public lands for the benefit OF public school
! preparation for erecting suitable and neces
} sary school buildings therein" II provides
I that l,0O0, 900 acres OF land be granted, C
: be divided between the clties OF Washington
: and Georgetown and the county Of Wash
I ington. The money realized from the sal
1 Of such lands shall DO invested in the stock
= Of the United States yielding not less thai
tlye per centum, TO constitute perpetua
fund, the capital OF which shall renal
b. forever undimlnlshed, and tho interest o
e which shall be invariably appropriated b.
!. said cities Npd county TO the support an
o maintenance Of public schools In said cit
7 and county for the education Of childre
Q therein between the ages Of and II year,
o without distinction Of color or race Of tn
!. children attending them. II any portion Q
g the fund or the interest shall By any action Q
a contingency DO diminished or lost, II aha
o be replaced by the city or county TO while
!, II belongs, so that the fund shall renal
1 forever Diminished, and no portion Of the fun
a or interest shall be applied towards the pui
d chase OF any site FOR the construction {
l. any school-h house or building. In order tbs
!. said cities may receive Immediate aid necei
n sary TO provide suitable school buildings an
other accommodations for the large numb'
:. Of children OF school age, now preVente
a from attending public schools because OF II
}. lack Of such accommodations, the TreaBurI
10 OF the United States shall pay TO the trea
. urers Of said boards, for the purpose Of q
10 curing sites, erecting and furnishing suitab
l. buildings, sum equal 10 one third part OF q
d moneys appropriated for school purposes
u said cities and county In quarterly inata
a ments for four successive years, from July
}. 1859 the Secretary Of the Intorlor 10 o.
u prove all plauS for school buildings.
d The memorial and bill were both d
proved, and II was ordered that they DO Ia
" haforA Cdn0FNan
|. RENOVATION or REV. BHILL MARTIN.
AZ tho meeting OF the congregation or u
a Rlftsenth-ttreet Presbyterian church, .
O Wednesday night, Rev. BsllA Martin, Il
At pastor, read the following letter announciT
o his withdrawal from the pulpit Of tn
a | church, .a.