The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-23
MR. AYERS Talks

IIcNt.
MR.. AYERS TALKS.
Mr.. Ayers advocated the amendment Of
fered by Mr.. Esgleston. Public schools
should afford facilities for children to
learn how to equip themselves fol-. teach
ing without having TO go to some eXpen-
sive normal or, training schools. Chair
man McllWaine said he had expected
some such complaint from the South
west. OF all sections of the State, its
proportion of lliteracy was the greatest
and it needed primary schools. There
was not the least difficulty, however,
about the higher grades, for the State
taxes, it had been estimated, would run
the schools for nearly four months and
it would require but u very small Part Of
the local taxes to supplement it, and
then all the local taxes could be devoted
to such higher schools as the local
boards should direct.
Mr.. Flood advocated the Eggleston
amendment and said it was not fair for
the white people of one section OF the
State to bear forever the burden of edu-
eating negroes to the deprivation of
their own children.
They were perfectly willing to give
the negroes primary education, but, I'M
til their own children were provided for,
they did not propose any further to edu-
cate the negroes in high schools.
Mr.. Pollard moved to strike out four
months and insert five months.
WE'RE NOT. GETTING IT.
Mr.. Egsleslon said that Chairman Nc
1lwaine in his statistics forgot to men
ton that the children who We're not
getting primary education did SO frora
choice. The schools were already in
their reach and their attendance would
not cost a dollar more. If they did
not attend a two-months' or four
months school they would not attend a
twelve-months' school.
Referring to the present law, he said
in Rockingham or Wise counties. where
-property-owners were taxed one dollar
for local school purposes they got one
dollars worth of schooling for their
children III counties with a large ne
gro population out of one dollar in local
taxes they had to give one half, and Of
ten two-thirds. of 1t to the negroes before
their own children could get a copper's
benefit Owing to this fact, while peo-
pie in the black belt had no encourage
ment whatever to supplement the State
taxes by local contributions. He wished
TO know by whose authority the words
shall be in the committees report had
been changed into shall have been" in
tho cfSnal renort.
The ch ir mn unc "a tn it was thought
the change was made by consent of the
committee. This having been a mistake
the words "Shall be- would be considered
as the report of the committee.
Chairman MrIlwaine spoke in favor of
Mr.. POllard's anne niment to REQUIRE prim-
airy schools to be held for five months
before local taxes should be distributed in
the discretion of the local authorities.
MOULD DOWN WHITE CHILDREN
Mr.. Flood said he was willing to help
educate the negroes, but when provision
was sought to be inserted in the Const-
tuition which would doom the white chill
dren of his community to ignorance for
ali time, he most earnestly and seriously
protested against it. He declared that
the proposition of Chairman NIcIlwaine
and Mr. Pollard was putting the white
people in a morsdeporabie condition than
did the Underwood Constitution. Com
ing from white Democrats. the thought
even was monstrous
Mr. w. A. Anderson said the section
left the discretion for local schools abso-
lutelv with the local authorities, and it
was only most excellent restriction that
primary schools should first be conducted
for four months for the children Of the
colored race as well as the white.
Gentlemen opposing this provision were
fighting u phantom Of their own imag-
nation.
GENERAL PRINCIPLE
Mr.. Meredith strongly supported Mr..
EggleSton's amendment He said he did
SO because the recommendation applied
a general principle TO be carried out in
all sections of 4 State. when the con-
d;tions and necessities Of different local
tiles were entirely different was unfair
II the negro burden Of education was to
be borne, it should be done, by the State
at large, and not made to bear entirely
In the application of local taxation upon.
the shoulders of residents of such com
raunites alone. He was willing he said,
for one, 10 bear his share OF it. He be-
iieved in a general system of State tax
alton. but he thought local affairs should
be regula ted by the local authorities in
their own discretion
HIS QUESTION.
He asked Mr.. kcezell if he or Major
Anderson would be willing to tax them
selves one dollar when seventy-f;ve cents 4
of it had to be given t. the son OF his
scolored cook and only twenty-five cents