National Republican., 1875-12-06

the school rsssnuss: anf that sbout thirty per
cent. or the enrolment In the vhits schools is
competed Of children whose parents or guardians
whom little is rsceived for the support Of the pub
The spportionment Of the school fund between
the white and coloIed schools as provided BY Law.
10 satsfactory 70 all glasses Of citizens Of the Dts
trict, and ought not 20 Be disturbed. In harmony
sional appropriation Of t2 S4e for the use Of the
coiored schools, being The proporttonate amount
s az IN n ,s ~. ~ ~ S 2,
Of the new school building IN the city Of George
toun-the appropriation % De. made on the Ike
terms with those for the Georgetown school, and
to be expended In the erection OF school building
for colored school children in Georgetown.
As neither the Commissioners nor the school
trustees are authorized BY law to purchase sites
for school purposes, We suggest that such lszisla
ton be had as VIII give the District government.
make such purchases; aud, In this conaection,
recommend that like authority be given the Dis
triet government to purchase such real estate as
houses for the Metropolitan police, Tor Police
Court, and for the use Of the FIRE department with
power 70 sell the Central guard house and lot,
Louisiana avenue. and the poles station-houss
corner OF and Ninth streets, and expsnd the
proceeds in the purchase Of real estate used aud
held for school and hre department purposes
which Is not suitable to their wants and all other
real estate owned by the District not needed for
supportos the public schools for the school year
ending August 81, 1876, was e3l0, 466s, and IN
cluoing the payments OF debts due on account Of
mated exrense for the nscai year ending June 20.
1871, is $3.50, zoo
FIRE DEPARTMENT..
The report OF the fire commissioners, with its
accompanying reports Of the chief engineer and
the superintendent OF the hre-alarm telegraph,
presents q satisfactory statement of the transac-
tions Of the FIRE department for the past year. and
We are eratIhsd to know Of the satisfaction Of
the department with the new hre-alarm eele-
graph, which went into operation last September.
II will De remembered that both Houses Of Con-
Rrete, at its last session. passed bill recognizing
the importance Of q new frC- Alarm telegraph, and
appropriatDg the sum Of So 500 in aid OF ils con-
siruction, on condition Of the District government
expending Ike sum therefor. Ths bill failed
to become law in not having been enrolled
for the immediate construction Of the telegraph
was such that We did n0t feel at liberty TO delay
L until the meeting Of the next Congress. The
The whole cost (t75.0G0) has been paid out Of the
District treasury, which We hope may be relm-
bursed by Congress in the one half, $780, which
It would have contributed bad the bill iS passed
become law abd We respectfuIIy ask an appro-
priation Of that amount.
We invite the attention of Congress to the re-
commendatton OF the hre commissioners for the
orgsnizstion Of two additional engine companies,
with tne necessary apparatus, and for an sddi-
not n,.nsred 10 msSs an ~ s %
tion OF the tull amount asked for, we venture to
recommend that q sufficient sum be appropriated,
which, with the aid Of the District, will enable
the department to purchase two engines and or
ganise one engine and one hook-and. ladder CON-
pany.
METROPOLITAN POLICE.
Under the act OF NJ arch & 1875, authorizing the
Commissioners of the District or their successors
in Office to reduce, adjust and eqaaliEe the pay or
salaries Of all officers or employees payable from
the funds OF the District government, 10 whole or
In part, the Commissioners, among other things,
have reduced the pay Of the members OF the
Metropolitan police department ten dollars per
moDth-the increase Of their pay granted them
by the late Corporation OF the city Of Washing
ton, April Is. ISL and by act OF the Legislative
August is, ISL. This reduction AMOUNTS 70
sSo12o per annum. and restores the orig nal
status Of the pay ofthe Metropolitan police, the
United States paying two thirds and the District
Of Columbia eihird.
WASHINGTON AsYLuN
The report OF the commissioner Of the WASH
ington asylum shows the number Of fnMates Of
the almsLouse and Of prisoners In the vorknouse
ments in and connected with the asylum during
the same period. The condition Of the institution
not be said however, to be creditsble 70 the Dis
trict, with all It's improvements and It's excellent
management, resulting from the fact Of It's con-
tfnued common use for both psupers and erini-
mails. This should not be. Steps have been taken
BY the District Commissioners TO remedy this
compel them to seek the shelter Of the asylum,
It's exclusive occupation They hope, on the com
pletion Of the new Government jail, the District
prisoners then In the asylum may be removed
there, and thereafter Iisach criminals will be
incarcerated in that prison. The asylum needs
some additional improvements for the proper and
humane accommodation Of the pauper inmates,
which the District government viii eheerfuily
make.
pleted securing TO the sick improved accommoda-
tons from those heretofore furnished by the esy-
lum. The District authorities are indebted TO
the commissioner and intendant OF the asylum for
these improvements, as we'll as for the excellent
condition OF the Institution.
We invite the attention of Congress TO the sug-
o. n "a M for ha
tion OF the public charities Of the District to the
end Of having them put under the control Of .
commission, 70 which shall be intrussed the dis
burssment Of all moneys, whether appropriated
by Congress or contributed by the District, for
the support Of such charities, and who shall ac-
count ior the came to the District authorities un-
der such regulations as shall be prescribed by
law.
HOARD OF HEALTH.
Under the Intelligent administration OF the
Board Of Health the sapitary condition Of the Dis
that Of the most favored cities CT the country 10
addition 10 its other Important duties the board,
under the order Of the Commissioners. have taken
the exclusive charge Of the collection aud re-
moval Of all garbage from the cities OF washing
ton and Georgetown and their immediate SUI
burbs; the care Of the sick poor Of the District,
furnishing them with medicines and medical at
tendance; the burial or deceased psupsrs, and
All of WhicS n Is d doing win commsadabie scono
my and 1t considerably reduced cost from that
for Ike work heretofore.
their acknowledgements to the officers Of the
District government for the intelligence aud A.
deity with which they have discharged their re-
spective duties, and express the hope that Con-
gress as the Legislature Of the District OF Ceum-
Bis, may enact such laws and make such appro-
priations in iis aid ~ will permanently advance
It's material and moral interests
Very respectfully, .DENNIsoN,
]. II. KKrcHAN,
). L. PHELPS,
Commissioners of the District Of Columbia