Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-09-12
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER Il.
REPo2T o. TIE COMMITTEE ON EDUCA-
TION,

The report OF the committee on educa-
ton was submitted by its chairman, ex-
Gov. VIM. q. Ritch, to the constitutional
convention this morning and will prob
ably come up for debate and adoption to-
morrow or Saturday. The committee
consists OF ex-Gov. Ritch, chairman Col,
A. J. Fountain, Mr.. Jefferson Reynolds,
Mr.. Aniceto Abeytia and Hon. Frank
Springer. The report as presented was
unanimously adopted by the committee.
It is provided for therein that there
shall be, at least three months in each
year, q public school kept open in every
school district; that in every school dis
let special taxes may be levied to carry
on the public schools for nine months !;
that the territorial tax for the public
schoo! fund Shall be 81, mills on the dol
lar; that in each public school district an
additional tax OF 21a mills may be levied ;
that the board upon educational affairs is
to have charge of all school funds and
lands, and shall consist OF the governor,
the attorney general, the secretary Of state
and the state superintendent of instruc-
ton, that school funds shall only be in
vested in United States or state bonds or
bonds OF school districts, not to exceed
the sum OF 81 900 for any one district,
and provided the district contains 49,, 900
worth Of taxable property. Tile clause
US 10 religious teaching reads as follows !:
Sec. l2.-Neither the legislature, nor
any county, city, town, township, pre-
cinct school district, or other public cor
p)ration shall ever make any approprla-
ton, or pay from any public fund or
moneys whatever, anything ill aid OF any
church or sertatiun society, or for any
sectarian purpose, or to help support or
sustain any 5, hool, a ademy, seminary,
college, university or other literary or
scientific institution controlled by any
church or sertarian denomination what
soever; nor shall any grant or donation
of land, money or other personal proper
ty ever he naie 10y the state, or any such
public corporation, to any church or Tor
ANY scCtaian purpose. No seclarlan ten
ct, creed ur church doctrine shall ever
be taught in the public schools. This sc =
tiOn is hereby declared to he irrevocabIe
without the consent OF the United States
and the people uf this state.
Tie report further provides that all
public schools of any description 5hal he
under tie complete control OF the state
and that the En- slish language shall be
taught.
The report has been carefully prepared
and, with but one exception, We think
ought to he aiopted in full. The point
to which we object is as follows: Public
school funds should only be allowed to he
invested in either United States bonds or
bonds Of the state OF New Mexico. We
tliuk this would be wholesome restrc-
ton.
The provisions in the report are as lib
eral, rosressive, advanced, and carefully
and intelligently drawn as any like pro-
visions in tie constitution OF any state
in the union. Ii adopted, and we believe
the report will be adopted, the direct lie
will be given to those slandercrs and
liars WHO have slandered this territory
and lied about her people, and to the
Democratic Doodle sheets, ri"gstors and
Losses who are doing everything i'll their
power to injure New Mexico by opposing
statehood and calunlniating her citizens.
Gentlemen OF The committee, you have
done we'll and the people are grateful to
you. Now, gentlemen OF the convention,
adopt the report, and the people of New
Mexico will have more than abundant
cause TO be grateful 10 you and to bless
you forever.