National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-31
EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT.

Two years ago Hon. N. p. Chapman,
Delegate in Congress from this District, in
a speech to the House upon the endowment
of the public schools, made apparent the
fact that this collection district had paid
into the Treasury of the United States since
the imposition Of the internal revenue tax
q, 344 ,695. The revenues from the other
ten Territories during the same period were
only 50, 252, 675. And yet these latter ten
Territories had received endowments for
educational purposes amounting 10 nearly
thirty-five million acres of land, while this
Territory of the District of Columbia had
not received one single rood. While Gov
eminent employees and even members of
Congress resident here have all the benefits
and privileges -four public schools, whether
they pay any taxes on real estate or not,
Congress has not up to this time seen fit to
endow those institutions with any grants
from the public domain. All the new
States and Territories have received NUM-
ficent endowments for school purposes ex-
cepting only the new and most populous
Territory of the District of Columbia Our
public schools cost US in 1860 $32, 900. In
1870 the expenditures for school purposes
were $40, 900; in 1871 they were $373, OOtl,
and in 1872 but little short of half million.
Such tax as this bears particularly hard
upon the real estate interests of the District.
The propriety Of aid from the &c neral
Government to the educational interests of
this District, as well as the palpable neglect
which they have suffered from Congress
hitherto, has attracted the carnc st attention
of the President and the Commissioner of
Education, and they have frequently in
vited Congress to devote to the subject
careful consideration. BY reference to the
proceedings of the National Educational
Association yesterday it will be observed,
with much qualification, that this question
was forcibly and succintly stated by q CON-
mittee of that highly intelligent body, and
it was resolved to be the duty of Congress
to furnish special aid to system of public
education in the District of Columbia. This
expression Of opinion, coming from repre-
sentatives of public instruction from the va
rious sections of the country assembled in
national convention, is worthy of the at
tention of Congress. The representatives
of the people should remember that nearly
all of them have immediate constituents
residing in this District enjoying the bene-
fits of the Government. They have protec-
ton to person and personal property, with
out any direct taxation, in addition to
free participation in all the educa-
tional privileges of our system. 1t can
not be denied that 3 portion Of the bur-
dens resulting from these advantages should
be recompensed in some way by the General
Government 1t is the fashion just now to
vilify our District authorities, and 1t is .
matter of regret that many persons join In
the calumnies who are among the heaviest
recipients of their bounties. While their
lives and properly are protected BY the
care and vigilance of the minister Of the
law, and their children are educsted at the
public expense. they are enjoyed In the
circulation Of FLANDERS concerning the gov
eminent Of the basest sort. There are
many psrsons In this capital who are mad