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

Mr.. Pinchback-The gentleman tMr.
Coupland), by his course recently, in keep
ing away from the Senate Chamber and
creating confusion in our proceedings, has
prevented me from becoming acquainted
with the dOings of the school board lately.
would ask the gentleman (Mr. Coupland)
to take into consideration the fact
that the school board has carried
on these schools for whole year
without any funds of it's own. We have
borrowed wherever we could until we have
entirely exhausted our credit. simply de-
sire to call the attention of Senators to
these important details before the questions
of postponement and printing are voted
upon. 1t there are any defects in the bill
we can remedy them now as well as we can
next Tuesday. 1t is'a matter which, in my
opinion, requires and should receive prompt
attention. If it should be adopted it will
not remain on the statute books more than
twenty days when you will pass general
bill in reference to public education; but in
the mean time you afford us the relief We
SO much need. Having called the atten-
ton OF Senators to these facts, | am per-
fectly willing to rest the question here.
Mr.. Ingraham said he was in favor of the
immediate consideration Of the bill, and
therefore, moved to lay on the table the
motion to print and postpone. Carried.
The bill was taken up section by section.
The first section was read.
MIR. Lewis--It is utterly impossible for me
to hear the bill read on account of the inccs-
SAINT ia king going on around me. The motion
which has lust been tabled only asked for "A
| delay of Two days in the consideration OF
this measure, in order that it might be
| printed, and thoroughly understood by the
Senate. My hearing is not AS acute as 1t
has been, and when bill is read from the
Secretary's desk it is impossible for me to
hear it well enough to enable me to vote
upon it Understandings. All have read
| of this bill have no objection to, but there
are many things have not heard and IN
casting my vote for them, l might be sup
porting something directly antagonistic to
my views. think the proposition made
a fair one. In my opinion, there is much
less harm to be apprehended from the chill
dren losing two days from school than from
our passing hastily measure which may
hereafter prove to be an improper one. On
the one hand the children would only lose
two DAYS schooling, while, on the other,
the people might groan for years under the
weight of bad law before it would be re-
pealed. think we have had enough incon-
siderate legislation, and it is time we should
understand thoroughly every measure upon
which we are called to vote.
Mr. Pinchbacl-The Senator fMr. Lewis)
errs when he says the postponement of this
bill will only delay it two days. 1t has to
be enrolled, signed by the President of the
Senate, sent back to the House of Repre-
sentatives for the signature of the Speaker
and transmitted TO his excellency, who, it
seems, is pretty busy at present, and may
not give it his attention tor four or five
days more.
Mr.. Lewis-The same routine will have to
be gone through with anyhow, and there
will be only delay of two days after all.
Tuesday is the very first day upon which it
can be considered, as we can not have the
printed copies ready before Monday. If
there are any objectionable features in the
bill we viii all be able to detect them then,
and make the proper amendments.
Mr.. Campbell agree with the Senator
from Natchitoches tAlr. Lewis) in regard to
the importance of thoroughly understand
ing this bill, and would suggest that we
employ several hours to-day in its cOnsid
Grafton. The Senator from Carroll (Mr.
McMillen) and the Senator from Natchi
toches Mr.. Lewis) can understand it as
well after fifteen minutes investig cation as
they could if they had two days to devote
to it. 1t is a crying shame that the schools
are not furnished with fuel, and we should
afford the necessary relief as soon as pos
sible.
Mr.. Ingraham-I desire to call the atten
ton of the Senate to the report OF the
State Superintendent of Public Education.
page 272. In speaking of the management
of the public schools of New Orleans he
demonstrates clearly the Importance OF
immediate action upon this bill. He says:
at was expected by all interested that the
provision Of the amendment by which the
City Council of New Orleans was to levy a
special tax would be effective, and that the
new board would have ample resources
with which to administer the schools on a
liberal and comprehensive basis. The
Council declined to levy the tax. and was
sustained by the courts, owing to the action
OF the Legislature in the State revenue law,
subsequent to the passage of the amend
ment to the school law limiting the city of
New Orleans to a certain amount of taxa
ton, as it had already exceeded the limit
prescribed If | understand the matter
correctly, the entire amount of taxes col
lected was only enough to pay the interest
on the bonds of the city, and, cOnse-
guently, there was nothing left for the
public schools, which had heretofore been
carried on by the money raised from
the school tax. The city authorities should
be authorized to levy tax sufficient to
pay the outstanding Indebtedness of the
school board and to carry on the schools
until the General Assembly shall have
acted upon the new school law. | know a
school teacher here, the widow of gen
tleman who served in the United States
army for five years, who has not money
enough to pay her car fare to the school |
house, and is obliged to walk great dis
lance daily, subject to all the changes in
the weather. might cite several cases of
the same grievous character if l thought it |
necessary. Unless we act upon this matter |
the delay will large V increase !
the distress of the teachers and pupils, |
and, | fear, seriously impair the usefulness
OF our public schools.
Mr.. Pinch back-Inasmuch as / left the |
Chair for the purpose of calling the atten |
ton of The Senate to the necessity of pass
ing this bill, deem it proper to state that |
have no more interest in it than any other |
Senator. 1t is a measure which, in my |
Judgment, the public interest requires |
should be acted On without delay. If the |
majority differ with me, of course we will |
have to abide by it. / was satisfied, from
The hasty manner in which the bill was |
being disposed of, that the Senate did not |
reason took the floor. We do not ask for
the imposition of any extra tax: we do not |
wish to increase the burden of tax
alton borne by the people; we simply |
wish to correct a conflict between two laws
passed by the General Assembly. The tax
of tive-sixteenths of one per cent could not
be collected, on account of the clause in the
revenue law which limited to two per cent
the taxation on property in the city of New
Orleans.
Mr. McMilen-When is it supposed that
this tax of fve-sixteenths of one per cent
will be levied
Mr. Plnchback-The object of this bill,
as | said before, is to enable the proper au-
thorities to go on the market and obtain
money to meet the immediate and pressing
necessities of the public schools.
Mr. McMillen-How much does it take to
run the public schools OF New Orleans