The daily gazette., 1883-01-27
DOING MUCH BETTER.
ATTENDING TO BUSINESS LIKE
BUSINESS MEN.
COUNCIL AND THE COLOR LINE
Mr.. Quinn Suggests Two Amendments 10
the Charter and They are Adopted
President Conrad Explains His Position.

which relates to the telegraph, telephone,
| and electric light poles, etc. The amend
ment, which was adopted and the section
passed, provided that proper guarantee lie
given by the companies erecting and using
the poles for any damage that might be oc-
casioned by them.
Section l2S and 100, in reference to steam
power or heating pipes under the streets,
| and to public parks, respectively, were
adopted, and section 131, regulating street
railways, was read.
Mr.. Quinn thought restriction should be
placed upon the railroad companies, placing
the maximum speed on going through the
city at six miles per hour.
Mr. Talley said the matter was already
regulated by ordinance.
Mr.. Quinn insisted tAat the restriction
was In the old charter, but Mr.. Turner cor
| rected the gentleman.
Mr. McKenna said the ordinance had
been repeatedly disobeyed and wanted to
know II 1t couldn't be enforced. Some one
| ought TO inform on the railroad companies.
Every member of Council had seen the
trains running at high rate of speed.
Mr.. Quinn did not consider it the duty of
Councilmen to turn informers. as that be-
longed to the police force.
Section 1S2, giving the city power to re-
move Objectionable railroad tracks, was
passed, as was also section 1888, concerning
pumps. Sections t34 and 1876, on party
walls; 1856 on fences; 1877 on regulation Of
street drainage and 1SS on power to change
| and divert runs and water courses, were
| quickly adopted.
Section 139, on the removal of nuisances,
being read, Mr.. McKenna remarked that no
reference had been made to non-residents
| owning property in the city. Mr.. Turner,
in response to question from the chair,
n oaI6 ho a. T.
reach non-residents. The Board of Health,
however, was considering the matter Mr..
Bailey saw no difficulty In dealing with
| non-residents, and the section was adopted.
The charter of the Board of Education,
section 140 was passed, and 141, specifying
| the qualifications for member of the Board
| taken up.
Mr.. Quinn moved that the words "said
! member must be freeholder," be stricken
! out. He did not see why a man of good
moral character should be debarred from
membership of the board because he did not
hold property. There were plenty of men
of intelligence in the city who had raised
large families, and many of them were bet
ter qualified to be members of the Board
than some men who had been born with
| silver spoons In their mouth. 1t was an in
| suit to men of intelligence to prescribe a
freehold qualification. There were plenty
of men who held no property who were well
qualified by education and experience to be-
come members, and for his part he would
sooner trust his child (if he had one) to a
man not worth brick than to some men
who hold lot of property.
Mr.. Bailey seconded the motion and sug-
gested TO strike out the words "be free
holders IN said CITY,"
Mr.. Turner said the members of Council
were freeholders, and he thought the Board
of Education should be the same. The
qualification had been inserted to create
regular standard, although he did not think
the Board was up to the standard 1t was
when he was member of 1t.
Mr.. Bailey again spoke in favor of the
amendment and added that he never did like
the word freeholder, although it was we'll
enough for members of Council.
Mr.. Quinn's amendment was then ac-
cepted and the section approved as amended.
Section l42, an the penalties for Illegal
voting at the Board elections, passed with
out comment, but section 143, on the provi-
sion of proper school accommodation,
brought up the 'col0r" difficulty and gave
rise to sonie discussion.
Mr.. Talley moved that the words "ten
members shall form quorum" be altered
to read "twelye members" Carried.
Mr.. Quinn moved to strike out the word
"white" In speaking of the children and
/ minors for whom school accommodation
was to be provided. he made the motion
as matter of justice, and thought it time
the color line was wiped out. The sugges-
tion, he said, might be considered as coming
with bad grace from a radical Democrat,
| and an Irishman at that, but it would only
be justice to large number of property
holders.
Mr.. Tally laughingly remarked that he
4 Iu1f brrf h.. Tai
could be considered Democrat.
President Conrad, calling Mr.. Eastburn
TO the chair took the floor, and explained
his position In the premises. Without
| knowing that this matter would be brought
up In this shape the provisions for the
education of colored children In this city had
| been called to his notice by a member OF
the Legislature at Dover, and now mem
bers of the Assembly were casting about for
means Of settling the question In this city,
and were no doubt trying to find out why
the present difference should be made. For
/ the past ten years colored childred had been
| furnished equally with white childred with
educational facilities at the citys expense.
| He had no wish to be misunderstood and
misrepresented, as he had been, about
| the mixed schools question. He had
been In favor of putting the
children ON an equal basis anG
thought the Legislature ought to provide
| for the payment Of equal taxes by the
colored and the white citizens. Collectors
at present did not collect q school tax from
| colored people; the money was provided and
| was appropriated through the agency OF the
association for the education Of colored
children. 1t was very roundabout way
and it seemed TO him to simplify the matter
| by putting the school tax on white and
colored people alike, and that out of the
common fund the education of the white
and eolored children should be maintained.
| He supported. the movement on the distinct
understanding that separate schools should
be provided. There should be no mixing Of
the children.
Mr.. McKepna was afraid, II the word
''white" was stricken out, and the idea of
equal taxation adopted that the blacks
would all be wanting to get their children
| into the white schools.
Mr.. Bailey pointed out that the dlstinc-
| tion between white and colored persons in-
| piled by the insertion of "white" In the
section was unconstitutional and legal de-
cisions had been rendered 70 that eject IN
many States.
Mr.. Quinn didn't care for opinions of legal
men. 1t was only matter of justice.
Mr.. Mention moved to defer aetion to allow
the revisers to insert an amendment.
| Mr.. Patterson agreed with Mr.. Conrad, ,
AID Mr., Turner thought the matter could
be fixed In a few minutes. After some talk
Mt. Quinn's amendment was passed. He
then remarked that he did not believe that
thNre was a single black man in Whining
| to1 who wanted to force his childrea into