The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-02

took seat beside Mr.. Binford ON the
platform, and Mr.. Ruffner continued the
reading of his report. The fourth resolu-
ton favors such united action on the part
of the special friends of primary ard of as
ricultural and other industrial education,
respectively, as would allow the various
state and territorial legislatures to employ
at discretion specified propositions Of such
donated funds for either or both of those
forms of education.
At this point the Secretary of the Interior
entered the hall, and Governor Shepherd
followed few moments after and by re-.
quest, both made short addresses.
The resolutions were then taken up, and
the first two were adopted. The third
elected considerable discussion, during
which General Eaton stated that General
Hawley, president of the Centennial COM
mission, and Judge Kelley, chairman of the
House Centennial committee, were pres
ent, and suggested that discussion be sus-
pended until these gentlemen could be
heard from.
GENERAL HAWLEY ON THE CENTEN-
NAL.
General Hawley and Judge Kelley were
then conducted to the platform and were
received with applause. Mr.. Binford in
troduced General Hawley, who explained
at length the preparations already made for
the celebration of the hundreth anniver-
sary of American independence. He
dwelt on the benefits to be derived not
only to this but to all other countries from
such grand exhibition as that which it is
proposed to hold in Philadelphia in 1876.
1t will be educational in its tendency.
There will be seen the industrial produce
tons of every nation under the sun, and
the wisest among US all will be able to
greatly enhance his fund of general knowl-
edge. He showed the eminent proprety
of the government taking the matter in
charge. His remarks were frequently in
terrupted with applause.
JUDGE KELLEY, OF PENNSYLVANIA,
was introduced, and delivered an eloquent
address on the desirableness of making
the Centennial grand success. He be-
lieved that the coming exhibition would
prove the grand social and international
event OF history. Great Britain will be
there, France will be there, Germany will
be there, the island Of the sea will be
there, and the exhibition will teach the
grandest lessons humanity may learn.
The resolution presented by Mr.. Ruffner,
from the committee on national aid, were
adopted, after some further discussion.
MIR. PHILBRICK
then read paper entitled "The SYSTEMS
of publishing instruction in Europe and
America compared"
The paper was very interesting one,
and at the close Of the reading Mr.. Phil.
brick was heartily applauded.
On behalf of President Gallaudet, of
the National Deaf Mute college, General
Eaton extended an invitation to the men,
bers of the department to visit the college
if they find opportunity.
The committee on statistical forms re-
ported progress, and asked to be allowed
to delay making report until the next
meeting of the department at Detroit in
August next. The report was received and
f the permission requested granted.
THE DUTY OF CONGRESS TO AID EDU-
CATION IN THIS DISTRICT.
The committee on the relation of the
national government to the District oil
Columbia in regard to educational matters,
submitted the following statement: We
find
!. That by reason of the location of the
national government in this District, and
it's exclusive jurisdiction, its population is
made up in great part of citizens of the
several states who are in government en-
ploy, very few of whom are tax payers,
J and consequently contribute nothing to the
support of the schools 1t will be found
upon examination that full one-third of the
children educated in the public schools oil
the District are the children of such gov.
eminent employees.
2. That the District of Columbia has
never received dollar of government aid,
either in money or land for educational
purposes.
8. The people of the District-tax. pay
ers-have been liberal in their contribu.
tons and have shown the most laudable
efforts to help themselves, and have of their
own resources brought their schools and
buildings to very creditabe standard.
4. That Congress has adopted a most
liberal policy of aid to education in the diff
ferent states and territories of the Union.
5. That since the war there has been a
great influx of colored people from the
South; all of these require education yet
few of them are taxpayers.
6. That the citizens of all parts of the
country cannot fail to feel deep interest
in the character of the educational institu-
tons at the capital, where the representa-
tives of all!nations reside. Therefore,
Resolved, That in the opinion of the con-
Aention it is the duty of Congress to fur
nish special aid to the school authorities,
establishing and suggesting, and supporting
a system of public education in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The resolutions were adopted, and the
convention directed hat copies be sent to
the House and Senate committees on edu.
cation and labor.
CLOSING PROCEEDINGS.
On motion of Mr.. Wickersham, the COM
missioner of education was requested to
publish the proceedings of the convention
in one of his circulars of information.
The committee on resolutions reported
resolutions, which were adopted, extending
the thanks of the convention to the Dis
trict authorities, to the board OF trustees
and superintendent of public schools of
Washington, to the officers of the Corcoran
Art gallery, to the proprietors of tt
Metropolitan hotel for courtesies received,
and to President White and Mr.. Philbrick
for their interesting addresses before the
convention; also, to General Eaton, COM
missioner of education, and Mr.. Binford,
president of the department, and to Mr.. A.
P. Marble, secretary.