New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-14

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duty, and will leave the question with the
Senate. SO far as printing is concerned, l
think it entirely unnecessary, as there is
only one change intended in the present
law. In order to test the sense of the Sen.
ate on this subject, move the adoption of
the first section. Carried
The second section was read.
Mr.. McMillen-I understand that this bill
was before the Senate previously, and was
referred to the standing Committee on Edu-
cation. | would ask the chairman OF that
committee for information in relation to the
financial condition of the school board; how
much is required for the present year: what
was the deficiency last year, and what
amount of money it will be necessary to
raise from the people of New Orleans to
meet the demands of last year, and the ex-
penses of this year! This information IS
not before the Senate in any official shape
1t is not contained III the report
Of the Superintendent, submitted to US
today for the first time. and we hear moth
ing from the Committee on Education.
WHY is it that the committee should recon-
mend that this tax of five sixteenths of one
per cent should he levied upon the people of
New Orleansl 1t will amount to at least
five hundred thousand dollars. Now, how
much of that amount is necessary Tor school
purposes in the city of New Orleans! III 1t
is not necessary to raise SO large sum,
it would be wise ON our part to diminish
the taxation. If it is necessary to raise
more. let us increase it. Let us ascertain, if
we can. how much money we desire to
raise, and then, in a proper bill, fix the taxa
ton for that purpose. | desire to say. by
way OF parenthesis, that l am the friend of
public education and have advocated the
passage of laws securing its benefits to The
people of the State ever since | have been
connected with the law-making body. am
in favor of the passage of such measures
as will guarantee to the children OF the
State the benefits of public education; but
| do not favor the enactment OF laws under
which heavy taxation is to be levied and
large sums OF money collected for the pur-
pose of paying large salaried officers. l
think our common school system is detec-
tive in that respect-that there are too
many officers under it who draw large sal
aries without rendering adequate services
therefor. | think the money raised should
go directly to the education of the children
of the State. | ask, how can we act intel
lisently upon this measure when we have
no information from the Superintendent
nor from the Board of School Directors as
to the condition of our public schools here !
Mr.. Campbeil-If the gentleman will ex
anime the report of the Superintendent, he
will find full information i'll regard to the
condition of the public schools of the city.
Mr.. McMillen-I read the following EEK
PLANTATION" attached to the report of the Su-
perintendent, Just after the title page
This report is presented to the members
of the General Assembly at this time'-and
remember that it was only presented to us
this morning for the first without
the tabular statements showing the APP
portionment of the school fund as required
by law; without the report Of proceedings
of the State Board of Education: rithOut the
fabnlar statements connected tr'h tie public
schools Of .Ner Orledns: without the report
of the Louisiana State University: and
without certain valuable documents con-
nented with other matters. These will all
appear when the State Printer has com
pleted them, which will be III a few DAYS
more" In CHANGING casually over this
volumnous report, find some portions OF
of it filed with the addresses Of Mr..
Thomas w. Conway, State superintendent,
and others, but no information whatever is
vOuchsared us for our guidance in the de-
termination of this important question.
Mr.. Campbell-I would call the attention
of the Senator to the fact that from page
seventy three of the Superintendent report
onward, there are Iorty or fifty pages
tabular statements of eXpendi
lures, etc.
MT. NC MliltI-l TAKE IulS
statement in the beginning TO be true. This
report should have been presented on the
first day of the session. In that respect the
of Public Education has
been derelict in the performance of his duty,
and has violated the plain letter of the stat
ute on that subject.
Mr.. Ray--This appears to be only an
epitome of his report. [Laughter.J
MIR. McMillen-Two hundred and ninety
eight pages contain only an epitome of his
report. There is nothing before us which
could better tell us how defective our pres
pnt system of education Is than this report.
repeat, that before | can vote advsedly
upon this matter, | would like to be in
formed how much money is necessary to
carry on the common schools of the city of
New Orlenns for this year.
Mr.. CAMPBELL would ask the Senator
if he is willing that the children of the city
should be deprived of instruction, and the
teachers of their pay, until Mr.. Conway can
make his full report!
Mr.. McMillen-I am willing that the
schools should be closed until we get some
upon which to act. If they are
)ut of coal, they had better close until they
ian get some: and if they can not pay their
,eachers, and can pay officers who receive
arge salaries, we should place man at the
lead of them who is competent to fill it,
md who will obey the laws placed upon the
statute books for his guidance. Let him
rive us the information we need aud pre-
'ume every Senator will be ready and will
ng to enact such laws as the interests of
,ur common schools demand. have much
more to say on this subject, but do not de-
lire to take up the valuable time of
he Senate. l desire to do everything /
IAN to promote the welfare of the
children of the State; but when | cast my
7Ote for. the passage of a law levying a tax
If five sixteenths of one per cent upon the
property of the people of New Orleans, |
want to know what it is for, what is going
o be done with the money derived from it,
who is going to expend it, and what the
necessities OF the public schools are. Let |
Is have some official inforInation-some-
hing to base our action upon-something
lpon which we can act properly and intelli- |
gently. | ask for delay until we can get |
his information | have appealed to the |
chairman of the Committee on Education, |
md he sits silent in his seat If that com
nittee had any information upon which |
hey based their favorable report ON this bill, |
would like to have it, but until | am en- |
ightened on the subject | shall vote for
Mr. Backman-It strikes me that we had |
letter wait until we receive Information |
rom all the schools as to their condition, |
nd also such information from the Com |
nittee on Public Education as will author |
re the passage of a general law on the sub |
pct Before this bill could pass the Gen |
raj Assembly and receive the signature of |
he Governor we might pass general school
aw. giving the relief asked for. l do not |
hink we should pass a special law of this |
ind, but should adopt one general in its |
haracter. therefore move that this bill |
e recommitted to the Committee on Pub |
c Education.
Mr.. Hunsaker-I am in favor of public
choOls, and shall at all times cast my vote
n their favor. am friendly with the State
nd city school boards. and regard this mat