New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-07
The ColOred schools.

An unfortunate difference of opinion exists
between the officers of the oolored schools and
the authorities of the District of Columbia in
relation to the payment of the money allotted
oy Congress for the support of these schools.
La TIE event of protracted discussion of the
merits OF either side ia the controversy, our
schools must come to a stand stil--a consum.
nation mary, with whom We converse, seem
to think is desired BY one of the parties to the
controversy. We know nothing to Justify the
suspicion, but we do know that the education
OF our children is a matter in which every col.
ored person in the District of Columbia Is 40
deeply interested that they cannot look with
complacency upon the withholding of the
means of educating their children, no matter
how much it is covered up with attempts at
legal justification.
Our schools are open to US by laws of Con-
gress without those laws, we should to day
be without the facilities for instructing our
children as we can gain no admission into the
schools regulated by the laws of the District.
The government of the District of Columbia
having made no provision for the education of
OF our children. is compelled by law Of Con-
gress to turn over to Board Of Trustees for
Colored Schools, appointed by the Secretary of
the Interior, certain percentage of the taxes
for school purposes collected 10 the Cities of
Washington and Georgetown. A controversy
now arises because of the fact that the Auditor
refuses to audit the claim of the Board of
Trustees for Colored Schools because the Trea
surcr Of the Board does not comply with his
demand calling for presentation of vouchers
showing how the moneyis to be expended. The
iilegaiity of this demand was exposed a few
weeks ago by the Treasurer OF the )ard of
Trustees for Colored Schools in letter to Gov
ernor Cooke published in our columns, still the
Auditor persists in bis refusal We can see no
reason why the laws of Congress on the subject
cannot be complied with, especially as the Dis
trict government has done nothing for the edu.
cation of the colored children in our midst, and
we fear, in the event of the education of our
children being left to the control of the District
of Columbia alone, technicalities akin to those
urged by the Auditor Of the District govern
ment would be raised and accepted as binding,
TO the total desruc lion OF our school privileges.
We do not believe the position assumed by the
Auditor correct one, aud the only effect it is
now having is the endangering of our school
facilities. Congress meant when it passed the
act giving us schools that Washington and
Georgetown should pay over the money for the
support of those schools to the gentlemen ap.
pointed under the provision of that act to super
wise such schools, and that act means the same to.
day-there can be no question about that. The
act expressly states how much is to be paid
over; it requires no vouchers, nor have any
vouchers heretofore been required, not even by
the rebel powers that we're it has been left to
Republican offce-holder to make this illegal
demand. much a, We dislike to chronicle it.
We hope the Legislature, fortunately now in
session, will pass an act directing the Auditor
to pay over the money to the Trustees in com
pliance with the act of Congress.