Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-27
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Gen. Chipman's speech I'm the House.
Good Rsasoss BTs Goa <r<ss Shosid -1fd
the Free schools ia fhis Dtsfrfcf.

Gen. ChiIman, our Delegate IN Congress,
delivered an able speech in the House Of Repre-
seEtativos to-day in favor OF the bill approprist
ing zee zee acres al land scrip 10 endow the
public schools IN this District. lie opening
r,maTks were ~ follows:
| "Mr. speaker for the first time In the history
OF our govern ment, the people az the District at
Columbia axe permitted tO make known their
wants 20 the country through "A representative
chosen by the mselvcs. There are many qacs-
tions, of vital interest 10 the people whom rep
sent, which bOIe 20 bring Ia the attention OF
Congress tor favorable action. and ut the proper
tine ] shall address mNseit To them.
II las not seemed 20 me that Congress has in
late years cUmprehended the true relation
which The District If Columbia bears 20 the ma
ton. While Congress has foStered education.
internal improve ments. and almost every varie-
~ of local enterprise elsewhere in the country.
tie capital has received scarcely anv attention
not even 10 the extent Of providing for the
Nenieht discharge of public duties hy the OH
GERS of the government; while the splendid plans
and designs which where matnred by the found
ers Of oHr capital, looking "a its development
into IL exponent OF the advanced civilization
of this grea. people have languished and been
forgotten. Patriotism, national pride, every
cons deratioD must point 20 national capital
as the focal point OF America, which shall eXen-
pity, in every essential element, the American
character; and i'm this view the whole people arc
deeply concerned in its future.
MI. Speaker, the duty of Congress 20 take
nron itself in some fair proportion the cost OF
This great national work, it, duty 10 improve
our long- neglected harb0r, and, in brief, "a
work ont the problem OF making a capital CITY
which shall he commensurate with the needs
well a. the pride Of the greatest government aud
people on the globe, furnish theme upon
which hope TO treat in due time.
lrise now, sir; 10 speak briefly upon a meas
IRE pending before this House. which lies AT the
foundation of the suPerstructure we are 20 erect
at this seat OF government. I refer 20 the bili
donating public land scrip in AID Of free schools
in The District ~ Columbia.
/ POP u!ar education Is at once the glory and
/ safety Of this republic. No man will dispute
| now that this H. automatic. Our fathers Iaid
the foundation, and their children have steadily
| built upon IL until the free school has become
| as sacred as liberty itself. Wherever we nav
travel throughout tins broad land, from the
frozen regions OF Alaska TO the orange groves
and perpetual summer of Florida. with one
exception. we find the generous hand OF the
nation blessing, protecting and sustaining pop
ular education. Public lands, money, land
scrip, and aid OF various kinds have been given
upon the asking, with one only exception. aud.
Mr.. Speaker, with shame and in humiliation
speak II, that exception - at the heart OF the
nation, the seat Of its political power. Here.
where the magnificent donations TO popular
education have originated and passed into law;
here, where millions of treasure and millions OF
lands have been bestowed upon the great work
Of educating The youth Of the country; here. in
a territory conseerated sacredly to the whole
people, and over which the Constitution has
given exclusive jurisdiction 10 Congress; here.
where the children Of parents, coming from
every quarter of the Union, are 10 be reared and
educated; here, in this capital. struggling
10 tav under grieyOus taxation - establish com
mon schools without an acre OF land or a dollar
CT APPROPRIATION from the general government.
Sir, l shall not insult tie intelligence OF this
House by arguing ths' this exceptional and
anomalous condition OF IAIings should no longer
exist. lam here rather 90 point out The evil and
suggest a remedy, believing that G ,ngress will
no longer Discriminate against community, al
least as deserving a. any other in the country Of
the nations aid
General CLipman then proceeded TO present
sCme OF the consIde rations which. in his opinion.
De mand the passage OF the bill. After explain
ing It's provisions, he gave some statistcs showing
the condition OF our schools, the nTmber OF emil
drt n attending. the Number unable 20 attend.
nc, showing that many children are deprived
OF all means OF attending school. Reviewing al
length The public schools of s>hihg ton. George
towp and the Countrywide and cOloTe,i-he
asked:
Now, Mr.. Speaker. who Is responsible ior
these inadequate accommodations It may he
suggested that IL our facilities are now made
quate II Is the duty OF our people 10 make pro-
VISION al once Tor meeting present wants. |
shall now slow a. ] proceed that the condition
of things here a. 10 schools IL exceptional, and
that the general government, while not respDn-
siele altogether, probably. tor these inadequate
accom- mOdatious. still i properly char geabis
with the duty OF making some provision for them.
l now suggest only the TACT that our people are
pawn. larger per cent. of tax for school pur-
poses I; All probably any other city of our popu-
latior.
I submit, in this connection, = table showing
the expenses OF our schools aud their growth in
crease of expenses has more than kept pace with
the increase Of population, while the system has
advanced in efficiency a hundred fold. This
table, Mr.. Sneaker, presents an exhibit every
way Creditsble 10 people; but sir. IL has been
AT no little cost TO Our taxes have increased
steadily until we are now paying sixty cents GA
the hundred dollars of taxable real pro perty.
Now, sir. consider this tax with that paid bv
other cities: ''Chicago paws On the hundred dol
lars l6l cents, Boston Ia, Baltimore - Phila-
delpbia &c, Cincinnati 50, Saint Louis 80. Sas
Francisco 40"
In support of the bill he submitted further -
J. That the general government should assist in
the support of our public schools, for the reason
that .arge per cent. of the children here are
the Children OF parents in the service or the gov
ernment, whose domicile il elsewhere, whose
property interests are elsewhere. and who. in
meet cases, pay no taxes i'm support OF our
schools. Professor Barnard. in his special re-
pOit 20 Congress while Commissioner OF Educa-
ton, placed this per cent. as high as fifty. In
the report OF his successor, Mr.. Eaton, for 1850
the per cent. is put about third. In the re-
port OF our superintendent OF schools. Mr.. Will
son, he estimates this per cent. at twenty-eight
Ii may safely be assumed at twenty-five per
cent These children should be educated and
the whole OF the buxdon should not fall upon
the tax PAYERS OF the District. Our own chill
dTen are excluded from the schools by the pres
eEce of this class, and we here have an expiana-
ton, in part, of the large number of children
unable to obtain seats in the schools
,. large proportion OF our children are the
children OF our colorea citizens. who are peca-
iisrly the wards of the government.
:. The bill il in pursuance OF the policy al
ready wisely established by the government
The speaker enlarged upon these points, and
said further: Many special considerations en-
force the duty. The influence OF a model here
would be beneficial everywhere else in the
country. especially in the South, now struggling
for the establishments OF efficient school systems.
Government il the largest owner OF property
here.