Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-01
The Color.d Public school Interests.

connecticut avenue, near L. street, for the
purpose OF considering the public school in
Ierests. Mr.. Joseph Jackson called the
meeting 70 order &c. l.. Joy. secretary, and
after prayer by Rev. Henry Pinkuey, stated
Of a mum Der Of citizens To consider matters
of importance to the education of the colored
youth or the District.
The officers were at this point elected for
the evening and Mr.. Jackson, the president,
said that he had deferred calling the meeting.
but when ne had learned that Mr.. Lynch, of
Mississippi, had offered q bill providing for
q separate school board for colOred children,
and also learned by a letter from the Presi
dent of the Board Of Public School Trustees
of the District that they 1.-THE trustees) had
not recommended the passage of such bill,
he Uhe speaker) realized that it was then
time that the colored people took some ac-
tion to show TO Congress and the District
Commissioners that a half dozen men form
ing Themselves into
STAR CHAMBER ARRANGEMENT
Who shopId hsye heen cnnsnI,eS a. me pop'e
Mr.. Joy, the secretary, read the bill in
question, and also letter of Mr.. w. w.
Trustees, stating that he had no recollection
OF the board having taken no action on the
subject of the bill.
MIR. W. p. Ryder, of the school board, was
called on, and stated that he had heard of
the bill q few weeks since, and the subject
had never been before the general or the sub
be ard to his recollection.
Mr. o. T. Branson moved the appointment
of committee To draft resolutions, which
motion was adopted, and Messrs. Benjamin
c. Freeman, TaZewell Robinson, aud James
III. Payne were appointed the committee,
and subsequently presented report.
Mr.. Cornelius Clark said that he was proud
thai the time had come when they could say
To the people OF the country that they wanted
one common system of public instruction,
and they did not want any clique or star
chamber faction TO attempt TO govern them,
nor did they want separate board. zap
plause
Mr. Garden Snowden said that they should
remember the civil rights bill had become a
law and protest against this bill. Congress
should be informed that the coIored popula-
ton were not represented by the trustees.
This was the day of retreuchmeut, aud yet
under this bill the superintendent will receive
Mr. Wm, Beckett, of South Washington.
was introduced. and said that he had heard
that IL was known
WHO DRAFTED THE BILL
and handed IL TO Mr.. Lynch. He asked who
II was? No answer being made, Mr. b
charged that the party was a coward or he
would come out and own it.
Mr. Jerome A. johnson was the next
speaker, and stating that be approved the
call for the meeting, said that although he
was not the author of the bill in question, he
bad as secretary OF a private meeting held
some weeks since drawn up the bill and
placed IL in the hands of Mr.. Lynch. He
claimed that the meeting should not con-
denim the bill, for they will place themselves
in a false light; that the bill In question did
not contemplate a separate board.
Mr.. Edward Ball Inquired as to who were
present at the private meeting: and what
Mr. Beckett said that they had smugglei
the bill in Congress, and their action was an
attempt 10 put the people
UNDKR THE OLD SLAVE GOD.
Mr.. o. L. Cant remarked that petitions
were usually based on a claim, but there was
no claim about this matter.
Al this point, points of order and various
motions were made as to whether Johnson
should be allowed to proceed, and it took
some time to restore order.
Mr.. johnson resumed, and stated that
when The cClOred school trustees found 1t
necessary to increase accommodations for
the coloTed youth, AMI they asked authority
to purchase site and build house. the
Commissioners, under the opinion Of the
attorney of the District, had decided that
neither they nor the trustees had the right
10 make any purchase. The old board for
cOlOred schools had the right, and when the
Commissioners had thus decided schools
were being erected for white children. To
correct this condition of affairs the bill was
drawn.
Mr.. Sandy Lacey said that the colored
schools were In a better condition now than
ever before.
MIR. Freeman asked who were in the meet
ing who proposed TO represent the people.
MIR. JohnSon.-"l will tell you when l get
to that point"
Mr.. Freeman.-That you'll never get TO.
WHERE THE BILL EMANATED.
Mr.. Johnson.-This bill emanated from
the Eub-board of cOlOred schools. Mr. Ryder
says he knows nothing about 1t, and there
fore Messrs. Ferguson, Brooks and Johnson
fatheIed IL. Mr.. Lynch had offered the bill,
but any other member would have presented
1t for him.
After further debate the report of the com
mittee was adopted, as follows:
RESOLUTIONS:
Whereas bill has been introduced in the
House Of Representatives by the Hon. j. X.
Lynch, (No. 1872 making a change In our
puolic school board; and whereas we believe
that this bill was gotten up in secret by par
ties who have not the true interest of our
schools at heart, but have only their selfish
motives 10 crafty
Resolued, That we, the colored citizens in
mass meeting assembled, comprising the
5ih, 9Th and 7th legislative districts of the LIST
ward OF this city, approve the action of the
Hon. Commissioners in consolidating the
school boards, and believe that their object
was to protect the taxpayers of this city,
and that our children should have the same
high order of qualification in their teachers
as are enjoyed by our white citizens, and we
most respectfully request the Commission
eTs TO remove the discording element that
they will see TO IL that our children have
teachers OF education and refinement and
such qualifications for training the youth
as are enjoyed in the white schools OF this
city.
Resolred, That a committee of three be ap-
Pointed to lay these resolutions before the
House Committee OF the District, the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia, and
TO furnish the Board of School Trustees with
copy, and that they respectfully request
the Hon. Mr.. Lynch TO withdraw said bill.
Mr.. Maruen charged that the bill was
drawn up by Syphax and a man down town;
ex. trustees.
Mr.. c. Freeman said that the best way to
break down prejudice was to
AMALGAMATE THE SCHOOLS,
and TO have separate boards was not in their
interest.
Mr.. S. LACY am opposed to the black
trustees.
Mr.. &. II. Shorter said that the consolida-
ton of the matter had done good, and In his
opinion the time was coming when white
children ard colored will sit together in the
schools. The only objection he had 10 the
consolidation was that the colOred were not
sandwiched among the whites.
Mr.. f.. Ball moved that the committee to
be appointed request other districts TO APP
point similar committees to act with them.
MessTs. w. Il. Walker, GCrden, Snowden
and Chas. ii. Shorter were appointed the
committee, and after a few other remarks
tie meeting, at midnight, adjourned.
THE TURNPIKE EvIL-EuLtor Stdr:-Your
manly expose of the turnpike evil Is heart
lily endorsed by your many readers and a
suffering community. But as regards the
Alexandria and Washington turnpike you
appear not TO understand the whole of this
abominable quagmire fraud. In the first