The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-01-10


CLAIMS.
By reference to the Adjutant Gen
erals Report, it will be seen that
there are claims for reimbursement,
now pending in the Treasury De-
partment at Washington, on account
Of expenses incurred by the State of
Ohio during the war of the rebellion,
amounting to $1I7,747 "a, of which
claims TO the amount of $49,512 70
were prepared and presented during
the year 1872.
The following is general state
ment of our war account with the
United States:
Total presented for pay
r69si %spf paid. sas.iii Il 'ss 70
Awaiting settlement...... n7,747 "a
Balance suspended and
fe1ecSed. .....s.s.s................. S254,9Il 81
Great labor is required in prepar-
ing these claims for settlement, and
there is necessarily much delay, as
all accounts at Washington are ex-
amined in their order, and so many
items require explanation from State
officers acquainted the facts concern
ing them. Commendable progress
has been made during the last year,
and we hope for an early adjustment
of all pending war claims.
TWO PER CENT. CLAIMS.
There is now due from the Gener-
eral Government, as we maintain, to
to the States Of Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois, very large sum of money,
on account of the five per cent
granted by Congress to the several
States, upon the sale of public lands.
This five per cent has been paid in
full to all the States entitled to it,
except Ohio, Indiana and Illinois,
which States have received only
three per cent. A memorial was
addressed to the Senate and House
of Representatives at Washington in
January, 1872, by the Governors of
the three States named, and the sub
ject will be pressed for final action
at the present session Of Congress.
It is believed this claim is so palpa-
bly, just that its payment will be di-
rected. The House Of Represents
tives, by decided vote, has already
taken action to this effect, and we
only wait the concurrence of the
Senate Certainly, after the settle
ment of similar claims with other
States, a refusal in our case, would
be an unjust discrimination against
US, which we have no reason to ex-
pect.
SCHOOL LAWS.
The necessity for codifying and re-
vising the school laws of the State,
has been long felt and is now most
urgent. The public sentiment of the
prominent teachers of Ohio seems to
have approved the bill (before
amendment) reported by the House
Committee on Common Schools, at
the session of last winter.
Your attention is especially inYit-
ed to the following subjects:
First. Normal instruction.
Second. County Superintendcy.
Third. Township organization as
a modification of the district svs-
tenn.
1 have mentioned normal instruc-
tion first for the reason that l believe
it to be most important. We cannot
have good schools without good
teachers, and we cannot have com
petent teachers unless they are prop
erly instructed in their duties.
County superintendency might, and
undoubtedly would, somewhat assist
but the fact is, the lack Of competent
superintendents is quite as great as
the scarcity of good teachers. We
want normal schools to instruct both,
and these schools the State ought
to supply. Until we have them, a
large portion of the enormous sums
expended for educational purposes
will be thrown away. It's undoubt-
edly true that the schools in our
large towns and cities, compare ia
vorably with those of other States,
but even these ought to be improv-
ed. 1t is certainly true that our
country scools are inferior in many
respects. An effort should be made
to elevate the standard of these
schools, so that all the children of
our State may enjoy equal adyan-
tages. It should be a subject of in
quiry, as to what constitutes the diff
ference between the city and the
country schools, and there should be
such legislation as win give the great
est possible advantage, to the great
est extent of our youth. In my
Judgment our first necessity is nor
NAL schools, permanently located,
created, supported and regulated by
the State; these, fer the present at
least, to be supplemented with nor
NAL instruction upon the institute
system, reaching into every county.
and under the control of State
Board. Reasonable expense incur
red in promoting the intelligence Of
the people, will be found judicious
and economical. Common school
education is the basis of our prosper
ity, and it should be made as com
plete and excellent as possible. 1
have no doubt that with normal
schools to educate teachers and su-
perintendants, we should reap from
the money now expended, double
the benefit we at present enjoy. I'm
til we have such intentions, our
schools will always be inferior. Ire
spectfully urge this subject upon
your attention, and take pleasure in
referring to the very able report Of
the State School Commissioners,
which will soon be laid before you.
The Ohio and Miami Universities,
at Athens and Oxford, are now in a
very feeble condition, and unless
something is speedily done for item
by the State their doors must soon
be closed, While considering the