The Morning herald., 1877-01-16

SPEAK, put am IN IaVOr OF education and
always was, our government only lives
through education. No man dare even ask
man to sell his vote where there is q
school: Ifyou want to buy votes, 90 where
their 10 no schools. I am In favor of no,
allowing man the right of suffrage unless
ne can read or write. Good schools are
attractiveto mechanics and others, in fact
good schools bring wealth.
mr.. Brock said, we will be about $40. .O0O
behind at the end Of this year. Why that Is
nothing. 1t cost $4,000 year In Phila-
de,phia to run one school, the Girls Normal
School.
Mr.. Roberts said he thought it very
grave question, and raised his voice with the
rest. We can't improve the schools with
less money. He did not think the City
Council had said anything against the Board.
some scurrllous newspapers may have
thrown out insinuations that we are not do
Ing right, but not the City Council.
Mr.. Eckel said ne thought the financial
ground had been pretty thoroughly cam
vassed, and the legal ground had been we'll
covered by his colleague from the Sixth
Ward. The oath taken by the members of
this Board 10 thousand times more binding
tnan that Of other bodies In the city.
ae thought members of the Council were
sincere in their efforts at retrenchment,
Mr.. Eckel then read from Section 4, Page
w OF the city charter defining the power of
the Board. He thought 1t was right to
retrench In many things, but we cannot
retrencil the increase Of population here !;
we have more by 200 than can be accom-
modated at our schools. Whose child will
we re1ecS The law says we must have a
seat Tor every child that comes tapping at
the door OF the school. It has been said
IN Council that Education leads to crime.
Council does not prove that fact. The mem.
bers Of the City Council must be educated.
they have retrenched, and have done so
when It was not expedient, and now we are
cut down to mere pittance. The people
want their children educated. The law
says every white child, but say eyery
child should be educated. I am In
favor of the Board levying
It's own tax, ifit was 50 we might get $780,
OoO, and not have any trouble. I have
property in this town.. and I think the
property ought to pay the school tax. It
would raise mine and I would pay it will
lingly. And talk about the fine schools,
and fountiDg silks, and rich mems children,
but would willingly pay ga head for
cuCH SCDOOl aS NO. l..
Mr.. Baird, in looking over the minutes
OF years past, ascertained the fact that in
1871 and 1872, the report was presented to
Council In December, and only once had 1t
been asked for as early as November.
Mr.. Fraim said that in 1874, committee
was appointed, which reported that Council
had collected $13, ,8l3.17. The Board asked
for it but could not get it. They have COL
lected the amount and spent it on streets and
alleys, and we have not got one cent of It. |
In 1875 they collected $500 more than we
asked, and we did not get that. We have
been treated with contempt by the City |
Council We must cut loose from them,
and the sooner we shake them off the better
it will be for us, and to this end now pro-
pose the following resolution:
Resolved, That the committee ap-
pointed on additional legislation take into
consideration the propriety of having the
charter aDnuled in such manner that the
board of education will be required to assess
and collect such sums of money as they
ieem proper to support the public schools
n this city, and report q: the next stated
Meeting of this Board.
Mr.. Zebley desired to say few words
before the resolution was passed, he did not
hlnk that any members OF Council had ever
aid that education led to crime, he did not
'elieve 1t, in fact he knew 1t was not 80.
Mr.. Baird said he had it from reliable J
ources that it was said In the Council
hamber. m..
The President said he heartily concurred
D the opinions of those who had spoken,
nd he was in favor of cutting loose from
,ouncil.
The President then appointed Mr.. Baird
nd James Morrow to fill vacancies on Coms '
littees caused by the death of Mr. Hilles 6
I'D the resignation of Mr.. Woolley.
A bill for gas Sl5.l2 was presented and
rdered paid. Adjourned.