Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-09-30
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

Enron REPUBLICAN, Having read with
considerable interest the proceedings OF the
Board Of Trustees Of Coloted Schools as pub.
lished from time TO time In your valuable Jour.
nal, felt impelled from n conviction Of duty to
pay them visit In their oticlAl capacity. To
this end visited their neat office In the Sumner
school building, on Thursday evening OF the
VAst week, and there found the three wise men =,
Messrs. Gray, johnson and Wormley, In coun.
ell; business was conducted and dlspatc In y
cOmmondablo manner But what struck me
more than anything else was the apparent in.
difference In which the new member, Mr., John
The upiustihSblS incrpaSo Of Inc nav Of several
Of the attaches Of the board, particularly amer
having his attention called by Mr.. johnson to
disburslnK Of the school funds. The reason |
express surprise, and instance MIR. Gray, 10
based upon the fact OF the careful manner 10
which he conducts his private business, which is
oTabls Secretary Of the Interior appointed him
in preference to other equally worthy gentle.
men who were named for the position. As q
taxpayer hardly think It too much to ask Of
Mr.. Gray that he will at least be as careful Of
the public funds as he ls In managing
his private affairs In order to ascertain
I made some Inquiries as TO the extent, so far;
| Of their financial management, and md that
they have inside Of month created two new
| Offices, TO wit: CLERK to treasurer at salary Of
| o., 400 Now, under the law governing the white
public schools OF Washington Numbering over
i3O sehools) the treasurer receives only $500 and
| is compelled 10 give bond to the amount Vi $40,
900, which Is not tho case with the treasurer Of
the coloTed schools; and furthermore, the secre.
tAry Of tho board Of trustees Of public schools
(White) receives 800 per Annum for his service,
| making In all 1000 performing actually more
| service for that amount than that which the
clerk the colored board receives IL 100 for.
| The same Is equally true In the other respects.
For instance take tho SiRecuTe created for Or. A.
/ 7. Augusta, as teacher Of anatomy, botany, &C,
In the preparatory high school, studies which
rarely ever are introduced outside Of q sophmOre
class In college. l am looking with considerable
interest TO SOC what the liberal board will value
his services at. In speaking Of the high school,
clRlly speaking, In that difectiOn how tue board
osn explain raising tho pay Of n teacher, WhU
has charge Of one room only, from 400 to &l 500,
| aud thOse In charge OF some nine and others as
/ high as Twelve schools, embracing sohOlaFship
/ numbering from 400 TO 600, only $500, Is mys.
| terry yet TO DO explained. Without VontuTlBg yet
TO express an opinion l cannot refrain fTOm 40 y
Ing that 1t smAcks very much OF fayOritisnl.
| Upon further inquiry learned that tho Increase
so far Is almost sufficient TO keep all the schools
| 10 fuel the entire school year. Upon Mr.. John.
| son calling attention TO tho amount necessary to
/ deirRy the expenses Of the preparatory high
| school as contemplated by the board,
i Mr.. WoTmlSy replied that the expenses could
| be met by deduotlng from the teachers pay the
/ sS Increase OF last year. Now, while l favor
| economy, desire TO DO just, and therefore dis.
tanco from Ovsr.Workod teachers In order 10
| pay q high salary to arlstOcratlo pTotonslO
| Towards tho members OF tho board entertain
| tho klndest feelings, and my connection In other
| places with similar duties enables mo TO have a
/ feeling In common with them, and my sole
object In calling attention to the things enumor-
whom am rdeDSUd with By TSSo th"9 We s% HTo
asa people, on trial aud while cont ending for
| the more important positions In life, II bohOOySs
US to demonstrate the fact, practically, that we
| are equal TO the situation.
| COLoRED CITIZEN.