Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-12
An Appeal for Share Of the Pub
lie Lands.
none EVER GIVEN TO THE DISTRICT
Mr. Dodge's Plea for a Part in
the Distribution.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

and Mir. L. c. Battles appeared before the
House committee public lands this
morning as q delegation representing the
school interests of Washington to ask the
committee to include the District Of Column
bia in a pending bill to equalize the distri-
button of public school land funds among
the states.
Mr.. Dodge said he did not advocate any
one of the particular bills, but wanted the
Districts interests taken care of in one of
the bills He said the citizens want a por-
ton of the funds set aside to found man
ual training school where the 10000 idle
boys of the town may be trained. Most
Of these boys are colored and are not now
permitted to learn trade.
Trades Unions Don't Recognize Color
ed People.
How does that happen?" asked men,
Der of the committee.
Because the trades unions of this city
90 not recognize colored people, and they
are not permitted to become apprentices"
answered Mr.. Dodge.
THAT is a remarkable state Of affairs
said the interrogation.
We'll, that Is the condition, however re-
markabie,' rejoined Mr.. Dodge.
Proceeding. Mr.. Dodge said there have
nearly loo,0ooGo0 acres of land for pub
lie school purI oses. in addition to large
areas for universities. agricultural purposes,
etc. In addition to this large sums in cash
have been distributed for these purposes.
In all of this distribution the District of
Columbia has been excluded from partc-
patton. The District has never received the
equivalent of an acre of this public land.
History of the Public Schools.
Mr.. Dodge then passed into a lengthy re-
view of the history of public schools in
Washington.
Mr.. Dodge said the original charter did
rot authorize any schools The charter of
1904, however, did authorize schools for
those whose parents or guardians were I'M
able TO defray the expenses of their educa-
ton, and provided that they should be sup
ported to the extent of $1,000 per annum.
the funds to be derived from the tax of
slaves and dogs, licenses for hacks car
r!aSes saloons, etc. In 1904 it was pro-
posed to raise a school fund of $4,000 by 4
lottery to establish two schools, one in the
east and one in the west district Annual
appropriations were made of 1850 for the
western school and $3.50 for the eastern
school. In 1918 this arrangement was
char ged so as to provide for the education
of poor children only, and the fund for that
purpose was limited to $1,000 a year.
BY 1875 $1,000 had been raised by lot
teries authorized by Congress, and that
sum was solemnly pledged to sustain two
charity schools. one in each district The
mayor was required to invest this money
IN stock, the interest only to be used In
1853 thes fund, with interest, amounted to
$500 That fund subsequently was under
the control of Congress, and it was with
that and the small addition appropriated by
Congress that the Central High School
building was constructed in 1852.
Mayor SeatOn's interest
to
interest in the matter and urged that public
schools should be provided for all children
He stated in his message in 1872 that there
were accommodations for but 1000 of the
300 school children. Public sentiment,
however. was opposed to his plan, and in
1873 he modified his recommendation by
suggesting that they use the interest on the
lottery funu and admit other than the poor
children on payment of fifty cents per
month. In 1871 his idea of adopting what
he termed the New England system of free
g hoo!s was accepted by the council, and an
act passed to provide schools for all on the
payment of % cents per month, the poor
children being excepted from that tax.
That system continued from 1915 to 1913,
when an act was passed authorizing
school tax.
In 1858 another act was passed provid-
ing for a general system of public schools
10 be supported from the city revenues,
which system has been continued ever
since.
Education of ColOred Children.
Referring to the history of the educa-
ton of colored children, Mr. Dodge said
that no provision was made for this class
until 1862 AS early as 1914 efforts were
made by benevolent persons to establish
schools for the free colored, but very few
were accommodated, and in 1880 the few
schools that existed were closed by a mob.
In 1886 John F. Cook established a school
for co,ored children and had 100 scholars
Mr. Dodge said he thought he was the
father of the present John F.. Cook super
lntendcnt of colored schools. In 1852 Miss
Miner established a school for colorcd girls
the school being supported by private funds
donated by herself and others, mainly
northern people.
In 1862 and subsequently Congress legis-
lated on the subject, SO that now and for
many years past the coloEsd children are
in all respects on par with the whites. so
far as the public funds are concerned Mr..
Dodge said il IS remarkable fact that the
first school house il the District was built
by three colored men, who were born and
reared as slaves i'll Maryland and Virginia,
George Bell, Nicholas Franklin and Moses
Liverpool. 1t was built in 1907, where
Providence Hospital now stands. At tina
time the population of the District consist
ed of 414S whites, 1,D04 slaves and 494 free
colored people. AS the AIS whites had
built but two school houses, it will be seen
that the 1911 free colored We're much better
provided for by the liberality of those three
eX-haves than were the white children at
that time.
Want the District Recognized
I'VE are satisfied with the present condi-
ton of the general school fund.-" said Mr.
Dodge. but what we want is that what
ever legislation this committee may rec
ommend as to the equalization of the
school fund, the District of Columbia shall
be recognized and provided for
Mr.. Dodge said it was truly remarka Bile
that in all the legislation of the past the
District had been omitted from sharing the
benefits conferred upon the public school
funds of the states. Mr.. Dodge said the
District had contributed by it's internal
revenue taxes to the support of the general
government. and in many cases paid more
than some of the states.
Mr.. Dodge said that 35 per cent of the