Evening Star Newspaper, May 16, 1894, Page 9

THE EVENING STAR PUBLISHED DAILY ee SUNDAY. THE BUILD: rion Penayivaniss poe Cor. Lith ‘Sree, y ‘The Evening Star Newspaper Oompany, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres’t. pectin nm ns Dr New York Office, 49 Potter Building. preteen. br nisecnnatis ‘The Event BI a gr FS yes each. By mail—anywhere in the United + — 4 or Canada—postage prepaid—5O cents per eon: Bae Quintuple Sheet 0. $1.00 per year; (Earorcd’at the Post Office ‘ai Washington, D. C., 2 second-class mail matter.) ©All mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Part 2. Che ay ening Sia | Pages 9-12. WASHINGTON, D. ©., WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1894—-TWELVE- PAGES. Rates of ing made known on application AMUSEMENTS. EXCURSIONS, &o. ‘ZCADEMY. FRICES, 25, 50, 16 AND §1.| THE CALIFORNIA PIONEERS MAT. SAT.—Matinee prices, 25, 50 and 75e. HINRICHS’ # THIS (Wednesday) EVENING, CARMEN, Kronold, Syuneberg, With ‘turday “Faust;” Saturday night, “Rigoletto.” Grand Orchestva, “airection Gastay _Hinriche, rtolre cards to be obtained at the box office. Next Week—Fareweil to Hinrichs Opera Co. frie 1. RAND Albaugh’s OPERA HOUSE. EDW. H. a EVERY EVENING ry With SATURDAY MATINEE ONLY. | come OPERA (rakosenl ==. Presenting Lecocq’s Military Opera, the Little Duke SPECIAL—Miss EDAH CARR, the won- derful girl soprano, sings at every pe: formance this week only. SUMMER (CES: <D 5c. Next Week—The “Pirates of Pouzance.” my15 Everybody Will Be There! GRAND MILITARY and CIVIC CONCERT By the WORLD-RENOWNED BAND ef the U. S. MARINE CORPS Takes place at CONVENTION HALL, Sth and L sts., ‘This coming FRIDAY, MAY 18, 8 O'CLOCK. Admission, 25 Cents. TICKETS AT SMALL’S, 14TH AND G STS. RESIRVED SEATS, 50 CENTS, AT DROOP’S, v25 PA. AVE. Admission tickets may be exchanged for reserved seats upon payment of 25 cents ad- @itional at Droop’s, 925 Pa. ave. NEW NATIONAL THEATER. EVERY EVENING AND SATURDAY MATINEE RETURN OF THE FAVORITES, : Hopper his merry company, Grace Nellie Alted [ay 7 yn lass, Samuel Stanley, Klein, Louis Strader, Harry P. Stone, MAGNIFICENT, MIRTHFUL, MELODIC Panjandrum. EBy general demand, Me. Hopper will recite “Casey at the Bat" at each per! 3 Next Week—MISS MAaLOWE. my15-tt Gold Meda! Contest in Ora- tory and Concert, Under patronage of Mrs. Gen. Mrs. Sena- tor Teller, Mrs. Senator Cullom, Mrs. Senator Wilson, Mrs. Senator Dolph. Mrs. Representative Pickler, Mrs. Representative os et Gen. Greely, Commissioner jell, . & Me. . D. D., Hon. J. D. Taylor, Prof. BE. M. man. HALL, THURSDAY —— MAY 17, T8904. CONTESTANTS: ‘isses_ RUTH GARDNER, SALOME WINGATE, JOSIE RAL a . Mrs. SADIE POATES Mr. CARLE- ™. wumae Wi be Sersished the following e music wi rr th “talents Mrs. NELIIE WILSOS IN SHIR- FF. Mme. PAULINE MONTEGRIFFO MAINA, Mr. LIAM D. McFARLAND, 31 MAR- IANO MAINA, Miss BERTHA LU! and Prof. J.P. LAWRENCE. Admission, 50 and 25e.; reserved seats, T5c. Ticket; Metzerott’s. myl4-4t KERNAN'S LYCEUM THEATER. ALL THIS WEEK. Fields and Hanson’s DRAWING CARDS, Including FIELDS ard HANSON, monarchs of rousical comedy. 11_NOVELTY SPECIALTY ACTS—i1. Next Week—ALBINI'S LONDON EMPIRE EN- «ERTAINERS June =< Eugene Kernan's Big Benefit. myl4-6t Academy - [usic, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 28. GRADUATION AND COMMENCEMENT Martyn College, Presenting Comedy, Tragedy, Melodrama, Classic Jeenes, Gardens of Statuary, and an exquisitely de- Mgbtful entertainment. Reserved seats, 25 and 50 cents, at Metzerott’s, M10 F st. A few good seats le myl0 GENTLEMEN'S DRIVING _P. EAR Asaph Junction, Va. Information red ‘received daily. Trains leave B. and P. depot at 11:50 a.m, 1:30 p.m. 15 minutes to driving park. CALIFORNIA. TEXAS, MEXICO. Special semi-monthly Tourist Parties over the Southern Pacific Company's Sunset a Routes. Cheap rates. Apply to THE SOUTH PACIPIO CO., 343, Broadway, N.Y. 40 8 at. or a st., Balt! fa2-skwidst BANJO_ BANJO—A TRIAL LESSON FREE. Banjo quickly and correctly taught by note or simplitied method: only $7 per quarter. I guar- antee to teach the most unmusical person to play & perfect tune each lesson by my simple method er no charge. Panors open from 10 a.m. until GEORGE DRAEGER, 904 K st. nw. m N 3d = == FoR RENT—BY THE DAY, NIGHT, WEEK OR month, Odd Fellows’ Hall, on 7th’ st. between D and E sts. n.w.; larzest stazed hall in the ity; with ante rooms and supper room attached. Suitable for balls, concerts, fairs ai enter- tainme:ts of all kinds. Parties desiring ‘first. class, centrally located hall at moderate rental will find it to thetr advantage to call for terms en WALTER A. BROWN, 1423 Pa. ave. Great reduction in rent until’ fall. mb21-3m OCEAN TRAVEL TRAVELERS’ CHEQUES Of the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY ‘are good anywhere im the world at face value Without identification, Principal office of Company, © Broadway, New York. Guion Steamship Co.:, 104 Steamshi sail fortnightly between SEW. YoRK. AND LIVERPOOL VIA QUE Arizona, Saturda: myI6 nN Saturday,June 23 mona, Alaska, Jaska.” Saturday. June Saturday, July 7 Mabie, $50 and . according to loration, Second cabti $B. n.W., OF Pa. ave. mb17-3m&2d 0 TO $175; 2D CL. on apé-4m cal GOOK'S SUMMEK TOURS— Eleven parties for Europe, visiting prinetpal capitals and art centers First departure by S.S. Teutonte. M: Other dates, May 26, June 2, 13. 14. and 30. California. Yellowstone Park, &e., 62 days’ tour, will leave May 12. Vacation trips everywhere by all raflroad and steamship lines. tour. mni0-tf & Son, S15 15th ot. mw. HAVE THEIR annual reunion at Marshall Hall on FRIDAY, the 18th instant. They invite all their friends to In them on that occasion. Steamer Chas. W. yy leaves 7th st. wharf at 10:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. Tickets, $2.50, sumptu- lunch and fornia my15-8t ELECIKIC RAIL ROUTE TO MOUNT VERNON, Arlington, tbe principal streets, of -alex~ ddr; "past Ceciat “Church where W ped: "the Marshall Hl Col. Gen. Braddock’ ous entertainment, worsbiped ; louse. where Worth was killed; "s Washington and ot! his places, thence south, you traverse the bh ving & beautiful ‘view of Maryland and the River for ; you then enter the Washington estcte, 7,600 acres (with ancient and revolutionary s), which you rum through four miles to the gate of mansion and tomb. the ts in the morning and visit Mt. Vernon in the evening. Special service, 8:20 ‘The only route ; an opportunity of seeing giving all ts for the and takes but pours: a MOUNT VERNON. Home and Tomb of Washington. ‘The palatial steamer Charles Macalester ‘Will leave foot of 7th and M s.w. daily (except Sunday) at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ‘Returning reach the city at 2 and 5:30 p.m. FARE, ROUND TRIP, 50 CENTS. Admission to grounds and mansion, 25 cts. This is the only company permitted to sell tickets of admission to the grounds and mansion. Both tickets to be obtalred at wharf, and at the principal hotels. Elegant cafe on steamer. ps0 Marshall Hall. May Schedule. STR. CHAS. MACALESTER leaves for Marshall Hall at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; returning, reaches Washington at 2 and 5:30 p.m. STR. RIVER QUEEN leaves for all river land- ings at 9:30 a.m.; returning, reaches Washington at3 pm. and M s.w. Telephone call 825. my2-tt TALLY HO COACH LINE DAILY, 9:30 AM. 2 p.m. from 511 18th st.—Arlington, Cabin J.” B. and all points of interest. Fi Ft. Myer drill, 9 a.m. Trip, 50c.; 2e. fei9-3m* ooo —oooS>S= EDUCATIONAL. IN WASHINGTON. TASHINGTON HEIGHTS ENGLISH AND FRENCH ™ SCHOOL FOR GikLs. 1850 _Wyomis ave., cor. 19th st. apl3-2m Miss FRANCES MARTIN, Principal. PRACTICA’ WRITING. wa, isi, course of ive, lewsonm, begining and May 81, will ven SPENCEHIAN COLLEGE KALLS, Bankéof the Re- fue 7th st. cor. D ow., Mr. H. A. SPEN and C. SPENCER of W: Full business course, day or night, $25 The t; ogee and shorthand course, $: Estabiished 1876. Diplomas and posit graduates. Send for announcement. MOUNT VERNON SEMINARY, M and lith sts. Reeetieg sat Day Deion tee Seong Tales bal arcnatl modern and progressive in meth- iy ve in ods and spirit. Primary, secondary and colle Slate classes. Spring term February 1. MES. EEIADETH J. SOMMERS, $a9-tt Principal. MISS BALCH’S CIVIL SERVICE INSTITUTE AND Business College, 1207 10th n.w. Pupils red successfully for’ ctvil service, departmental and census examinations. Stenography taught. se2-tr WOOD'S COMMERCIAL COLLEGE AND SCHOOL ‘of Shorthand and Typewriting, 311 East Capitol a year. 15. tons for p4-4in' ot. ¥ le of good c! er of toth sexes Sacsees Faltens nome sessions. Rates reduced Call or ite for circular. ja24 WHITTINGHAM INST., TAKOMA PARK, D.C., & boarding and day school for yous sates end course Miss ROSS, Prin. Full ‘graduating Latin, modern languages, &c. mh19-3m MISS AMY C. LEAVITT, 1121 VERMONT AVE. N.W., IANO AND HARMONY. se21-tf LESSONS ON THE JANKO KEYROARD, LANGUAGES. THE BERLITZ SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES, 723 14th st. nw. Branches in the principal American and European cities. Open all summer. Also summer school at Asbury Park, MRS. ALICE SWAIN HUNTER, STUDIO 1316 _¥ ST.—VOCAL INSTRUCTIONS—ITALIAN METH- OD. Pupil of Leonce Prevost, Ettore Barilli. Madame Seller. ‘* Gunston Institute. Jal6-6mo air. and Mrs. B. R. MASON, COLUMBIA COLLEGE OF COMMERCE, 623 La. ave., bet. 6th and 7th sta. n.w. C. K. URNER, A.M., C.E., Prin. Highest attalntle rade of Instruction at modes attainable gras instruction at moder — Catalogue. fo26 ate cost. Tips, 25¢. BON MARCHE’S “Amnti-Tariti” S A Lt A Big Success! Join the Surging Crowd of Money Savers] Irresistible Bargains in Every De- partment. Importers and manufacturers unload to us at a heavy Spread the news to the four ends of the city. 40, 45 & 50¢. Ribbons For 21c. Yd. ‘This lot embraces about 800 pieces of Fine Pure Silk, Satin and Gros Grain Ribbons,-in every conceivable shade, 4, 98c. Wrappers For 49¢. A Wrapper manufacturer made up too many and we took his Stock at a big cash concession, hence 98c. Wrappers for 49c. 140 dozen Ladies’ Merrimac Print Wrappers, in light and dark colors, ruffie over shoulders, Watteau plaited back. Regular 98c. value. “Anti-tariff’’ Price, Only 2ic. yd. |Only 49c. each. $1.25 Sash 50, 68 & 75¢. Ribbons,61¢c yd Lawn Waists @0 pieces of Fine Sinch Pure Silk Striped Moire Sash Ribbon, white, cream, pink, light blue, brown and navy. Regular sell- Ing price, $1.25. “Anti-tariff’’ Price, Only 61c. yd. 59c. Gowns For 30¢. By taking the entire balance of @ lot—some 128 dozen or more—we are enabled to offer you 5c. Gowns for 39. These are made of fine muslin, tucked yoke, tucked back, embroidery around neck and sleeves. Worth “Anti-tariff” Price, Only 39c. each. 49c¢. Ostrich sale tomorrow a lot of Jetted Ostrich Tips, 3 tips and Jetted Aigrette, worth 49. “Anti-tariff’’ Price, “Job” In Buttons. 70 dozen Pearl Buttons, for misses’ and children’s dresses, with shanks and eyes to sew through, white and smoked. Regular price, 25e. dozen. “Anti-tariff’’ Price, Only 13¢. doz. For 39¢. Tomorrow we shall place on @ center table, second floor, 80 dozen Ladies’ Fine White Lawn Shirt Waists, sold same styles last season for 50c., 8c. and T5e. Anti-tariff’ Price, Only 39c. each. 12!c. Hdkfs. For 4c. each. Having telegraphed our ac- ceptance to the importer this morning we shall place on sale tomorrow 200 dozen Ladies’ Fine Mull = Handkerchiefs, colored borders and colored centers, large variety of attractive colorings. Regular price, 12%4c. “Anti-tariff’ Price, Only 4c. each. Notion Only 25¢. each.| Bargains. Bone Casing, per plece........5e. Belting, black and colors.15e. pe. Rubber and Stockinette Dress Shields, 3 sizes, only... 25c. quart bottles Bay Rum. -16e, 0c. bottles of Petroleum Ee eee . 10c, Large Cakes Glycerine Soap. » 10c, package Toilet Paper. $1 snd $1.25 Rubber Hot Water Bags............... Te. 15e. Nickel-plated Towel MACKS... 2. ccccesees oe 4 BON MARCHE, 214-316 7th Street. FRENCH TAUGHT TO BE SPOKEN AND UNDER- ‘stood; good pronunciation; correct lai be- ‘inners, advanced classes. and private leesons ROW" and during SUMMER: Mule. V. PRUD™ HOMME, 307 D st. o. my1-1m* WASHINGTON CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, 1225 10th st. n.w. Twenty-fifth year. Piano, organ, yoice, violin, Bute. cornet. &c. Free advantages to pupils. O. B. BULLARD, Director. ap28-Im* Norwood Institute, 14TH STREET AND MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, oc80 Mr. and Mrs. W. D. CABELL, Principala OUT OF WASHINGTON. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. Summer law lectures—1894—will begin Thurs- day, June 28, and continue nine weeks. Raleigh C. ‘Minor, ‘instructor in law in the university, will be associated with me. For circulars, giv- felt gertticnlars, sttress (. 0. Univestty M. lottesville, Va.) NB. R, Prot. Com. & Stat. Law, or RALEIGH C. MINOR, Instructor in Law. my16-w&s2w, je2-stw2w THE TRAINING SCHOOL OF THE KINDER- garten Association of Baltimore is ready to re- gelve applications for the year beginning October, 1894. Comprehensive and advanced courses for teachers. Superior advantages to those desiring | @ complete course. For particulars, apply to Miss | CAROLINE M. C. HART, Director of Train School. 2 Lafayette ave., or to Mrs. HENR’ . 2126 Oak st., Baltimore, Md. = LADIES’ GOODS. ACCORDION PLAITING (FRENCH PROCESS); skirts, 25e.; narrow ruffles, 10c. per yd.; the only plaiting establishment in Washington: _ ing: buttons. G. W. LUCAS, 918 9th st. ‘n.w. PINE WHITE AND BLACK LACES DONE UP IN first-class Parisian style; white aud satin dresses, laces and lace curtains’ a specialt, sonable. Call at MME. VIBOUD'S, M prices rea- successor to ANTON AND CAROLINE LERCH, 826 12TH AND 1206-1208 I st. nw. French dyeing and cleaning of every description; evening and party dresses made a specialty. Our patronage extends into | the most fashionable circles. az | | a 2% WaLKER sone, 204 10TH St Eve Building Papers, Moth-proof Goods, Fire Clay aud Tie Asbestos, Flue Lining, ~~ DISTRICT SCHOOLS Their Claims to Support From the National Government. MILLIONS GIVEN 10 THE STATES Mr. Dodge Answers Statements Made by Mr. Neil. THE DISTRIOT’S DUES Written for The Evening Star. In discussing the appropriation bill for the local government of the District of Co- | lumbia for the ensuing year Representative Neil of Arkansas is reported in the Con- gressional Record of March 10 as saying: “I know of no reason why the people who choose to reside in the District of Columbia, as citizens of the District, should be exempt from taxation similar to that which my constituents pay at home in Arkansas to their respective county collectors.” And again: “I do not believe that the people of this Union outside of the District of Columbia should be called upon to contribute one cent to educate anybody's children in the Dis- trict of Columbia. If I, as a member of Congress, should choose to bring my chil- dren here and place them in school, I ought to pay for it.” As Mr. Neil is a new member, and ob- | viously not as familiar with some facts as | he ought to be, I trust he will pardon the appearance of this letter, more especially as we citizens of the District have no repre- sentative in Congress (as members of the early Congress said we ought to and would have as soon as we had the requisite popu- lation), and hence can be heard in our own defense only through the press or publica- tions, or by the generosity of members who are better informed and appreciate the ob- ligations imposed upon them by law. I simply desire to give Mr. Neil, and all others who may think as he does, some facts and some reasons why the general government should contribute to the sup- port of the public schools of the District; and, in so doing, I will “naught extenuat nor aught set down in malice.” On the contrary, I would say, “Come, let us reason together,” and see what the facts are. From Mr. Neil's remarks one is led to suppose that he was not familiar with the pecuuar relation to the general government, nor with the history of what the govern- ment has done and is doing for the support of schools elsewhere throughout the coun- try. ‘Taxes Paid Here. In the first place he does not seem to know that we citizens of the District do pay taxes the same as citizens elsewhere, and at a higher rate in proportion to the actual value of our property than the cit- izens of any state or city in the Union. Not only that, but Congress determines how often the assessment shall be made, fixes the rate of taxation, and then, when we have paid our taxes, it seizes them and puts them into the United States treasury, from, which we cannot get one cent except as Congress, by the very bill you were dis- cussing, appropriates them as it chooses! As was well said by the then chairman of the Senate District committee, and _presi- dent pro tem. of the Senate, when discuss- ing a bill that imposed unjust burdens on the citizens of the District: “In response to another suggestion which has been made here, I will say that the gov- ernment of this District is an absolute des- potism. This is the only place on the con- tinent, at least under the American flag, where the people have no voice whatever in the administration of their own local af- fairs. They have nothing to say about the imposition of taxes; they have no voice in the selection of those who are to be placed over them for the administration of the | & total of.. fees Peet ecO1 . 7, p. 171.) Why, if Mr, Neil examined the of “Estimates of the Secretary of the Treas- ury,” prepared for the special information of Congress, or the reports of the District Commissioners, or even the report of the committee accompanying the very bill Mr. Neil was discussing, he would have seen that we citizens of the District this very year nearly $3,500,000 of taxes! Although far m being wealthy, I pay over $1,000 in taxes myself, and that, too, on property on which I am losing $250 per month, and en which = assessment _ increased over 50 r cent past year! PeThere is much more that might be said on this branch of the subject, but my pres- ent object is to enlighten Mr. Neil more particularly on the brunch relating to the schools, and on which, judging from his re- marks, he appears to be equally ill in- formed. National Aid to State Schools. The policy of providing means for a com- mon school education of all the children of the country dates back to an early day in our history. Even before the adoption of our Constitution, this idea was embodied in @ law that has remained in force to this day, the only change having been an en- largement of its scope and an increase of the fund for that purpose. Even before that, in the early colonial days of New Eng- land, special provision was made for schools. As stated in the His! of the Public Do- main of the United States, “every immi- grant ship had its schoolmaster on board, each settlement erected its school house, and the cultivation of the mind advanced with the cultivation of the soil from the which may be considered as for educational purposes, though not all the swamp lands have been devoted to that purpose by the states. To this must be added the $25,000 per state per annum for agricultural and mechanical colleges, and so much of the $28,101,645 in cash as was used by the sev- eral states for educational purposes, and which I have not the means at hand for ascertaining. Besides this there was paid to the states down Te aed og oe percentage of the public sol e several states, $7,333,069.76, of which amount your state, Arkansas, received $232,317.03; and of course the amount has considerably increased during the past twelve years. Wyoming and other new states recently admitted have been granted 2,000,000 acres for public schools alore. Some years ago it was publicly announced that the school lands of Nebraska would readily sell for $25,000,000, and those of Texas for much more; and only recently that state (which ‘|retained possession of her public lands until 1890, when she sold them to the general gov- ernment) has had erected a magnificent cap- ital building in exchange for 3,000,000 acres of her public lands, while the local govern- ment of the national capital occupies a rent- ed building, erected as a ware house for sash, doors and lumber, simply because Congress refuses to let it erect a building for its public offices out of its own rev- enues! Now, all this is in addition to the 160,- 000,000 acres granted for railroads, canals and other internal improvements in the several states and territories. Under the operation of these various acts Mr. Neil's state—Arkansas—had received Gown to 1883— ’ landing of the Mayflower through our colo- nial history.” Following out this idea of providing means for a common school education of all the people in their petition to the Con- tinental Congress in reference to the lands ceded by Virginia to the general govern- ment, Col. Timothy Pickering and Rufus Putnam of New England first suggested the idea of setting aside a portion of the public lands in each township for the sup- Port of common schools; and in accordance with that id under the lead of Washing- ton, Jefferson, e and Madison, there w: embodied in the ordinance of May 20, 1788, for “ascertaining the mode of disposing of the lands in the northwestern territory” the following: “There shall be reserved the lot No. 16 of every township for the maintainance of public schools within said townshi In the ordinance adopted July 13, 1787, was the following: “Art. 3, Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encour- This was subsequently modified by a re- Port made by Messrs. Carrington, King, Dane, Madison and Benson, July 23, 1787, as follow: “There shall be reserved the lot No. 16 of every township for the maintainance of public schools in said township.” This hog proer ap Sage that the {ae vern- ment was to aid in the support or t of religion, in accordance with the idea of the separation of the church and state, as subsequently embodied in the Constitution, and confined the grant entirely to the sup- port of public schools. By the act of 1787, in the “powers con- ferrcd upon the board of treasury to con- tract for the sale of western territory,” it was ordered “that not more than two com- plete townships be given perpetually for the purpose of a university, to be laid off by the purchaser or purchasers as near the center as may be, so that the same shall be of good land, to be applied to the intended object by the legislature of the state.” By the act of April 30, 1802, authorizing the formation of states in the eastern por- tion of the northwestern territory, Congress enacted the three following propositions, which were offered for the acceptance or re- jection of the convention to form the con- stitution of Ohio: “First. That the section No. 16 in every township, and where such lands had been sold, granted or disposed of, other lands equivalent thereto and most contiguous to the same, shall be granted to the inhab- itants of such township for schools.” (The second related to a saline reserva- ticn, and the third to a molety of the pro- ceeds of the sales of public lands, for the laying out of roads, &c.) By act of March 3, 1808, these provisions were extended to the Mississippi territory, and the title to all lands thus donated was vested in the respective states, instead of in the inhabitants of the townships in which they were located. in accordance with this idea, that the general government should aid in public education, Washington, both in his first message, and again in his message in 1706, urged the subject upon the attention of Con- gress, saying that “there was nothing more deserving of their patronage than the pro- motion of science and literature”—that “knowledge in every country is the surest basis of public happiness’’—that “‘in a coun- try in which the measures of government | receive their impressions so immediately from the sense of the community as in ours, it is proportionately essential”—and that “a ficurishing state of the arts and sciences contributed to national prosperity and rep- | utation.” And in his farewell address he adds ‘Promote then, as an object of pri- mary importance, institutions for the gen- etal diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.” And in like manner did Presidents Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and John Quin- cy Adams all advocate the same idea; and it was by the influence of such men that there was established in the early days of our government a permanent fund for the education of all the people. It was a noble act—one that will stand for all time as a grand monument to the farsighted states- manship of the men of that day. Speaking on this subject, Daniel Webster said; “I doubt whether one single law of any law given, ancient or modern, has pro- duced effects of more distinct, marked and lasting character than the ordinance of 17si"—that “it set forth and declared it to be a high and binding duty of govern- ment to support schools and advance the means of education.” In the act of 1848 for the organization of the territory of Oregon, Senator Stephen A. Douglas inserted a clause setting aside two sections in each township of the pub- lic lands instead of one, for public schools; and that has been applied to all the new states since admitted. Not only that, but there has been favor- bly reported by Mr. Neil's colleague, Hon. Cc. McRae, this session, House bill 120, which provides that each of the states which received but one section shall now | have the additional section in each town- ship, so that all may share alike. In addition, there are now pending in this Congress bills to give to Arizona 2,115 acres, to Montana lands in lien of those appropri- ated for other purposes, to Oklahoma City 160 acres for the public free schools of that city, and still another giving 40 acres for the location of the University of Oklahoma at Atchison City. In 1806 an act of Con- gress gave to Tennessee 100,000 acres for two colleges in that state, and various acts have been passed from time to time making special grants for local schools, especially in Oregon and at St. Louis, Mo., and vicin- ity. Only the day before Mr. Neil made the statement above quoted a bill was passed by the House granting to the state of Mis- sissippi a third township of public lands on the ground that one of the two originally granted inured to the benefit of a college in that state, and not to the state university; and I saw no notice of any opposition by ‘ou. 7 Jn SAdition to alt this, Congress, by act of 1836, distributed among the states, from the United States treasury, $28,101,645 in cash. By the act of July 2, 1862, Congress do- nated to the several states for agricultural and mechanical colleges 9,600,000 acres of the public lands; and by act of August 30, 1890, it donated to each state, for the same | purpose, the sum of $15,000 from the pro- ceeds of the public lands, said sum to be in- creased $1,000 per annum unti it amounted to $25,000 and to remain thereafter at that sum yearly. The money given to the states, as well as the swamp, overflowed and saline lands do- nated to them, they were at liberty to add to their school funds, as many of them did, in whole or in part. Under the operation of these several acts the states have received to June 30, 1893, in round numbers: For common schools.. For state universities abou For agricultural colleges. Of swamp lands, selected. Acres. Of saline lands... + 46,080 Of swamp lands. . _—s For common schools. - $86, For State University. 2 46,080 ‘A total Of...............20.soserene 9,431,093, And if the pending bill reported by Mr. McRae becomes a law, as it should and doubtless will be, Arkansas will receive 886,400 acres more for common schools. As Mr. Neil has in no manner indicated opposition to this policy as applied to the states and territories, I must infer that it meets with his approval. If it be right and proper as applied to the states and territo- ries, then why, I ask, is it hot equally right and proper to apply it to the District of Co- iumbia? If not, why not? If Arkansas, Why Not the District? Are we not, as citizens of the nation, sub- jected to all the duties and burdens borne by citizens of the states and territories? Why, then, should we not share equally | with them in the benefits, at least so iar as the public schools are concerned? As g matter of fact, the official records show that we paid our special war tax in full and at once, which Arkansas did not do—that we furnished more than two men for every one furnished by Arkansas {fn the effort to save the Union, and that we pay far more for the support of the United States government than does the entire state of Arkansas. During the past year we paid almost two and a fifth times as much as did the state of Arkansas—tne report of the commissioner of internal revenue being for Arkansas, $102,503.30, and for the District of Columbia, $233,798.08! Does Mr. Neil know what has been con- tributed by the general government for educational pi in the District of Co- lumbia? If not, let me tell him. Although the act of 1836 provided that the the money distributed, it never received a cent. It has never had an acre of the pub- lic lands, either for educational or any other purpose. When the Blair educational bill was pending in the Senate, and which included the District, the latter was ex- cluded by a special amendment; and when the act of 180), giving $25,000 per annum to the agricultural and mechanical schools in the states, was pending in the House they declined to include the District! In brief, the only thing the government has ever @one for edu@ation in the District prior to 1878 was to donate to the Georgetown Col- lege in 1833, and to the Columbian Univer- tity in 1836, city lots valued at $25,000 for each, but these were lots donated to the government by the original proprietors of the land—citizens of the District! The above facts, ali of which are matters of official record, ought to be a sufficient an- swer to the first part of your statement. As to the latter part, that Mr. Neil ought to pay for the education of his children if brought into the District, it is sufficient to say that no member or Senator does, or ever has, although many of them send their children to our schools, as is right and preper. More than that, if any child of Mr. Neil attends any public school, state university or any agricultural or mechanical college or school supported in whole or in part by the whether in Arkansas or clsewhere, the rest of the country contributes to its education. Now, why in Arkansas and not heré? Is not the national capital a part of the coun- try as well as Arkansas? The fact that Congress has deprived the citizens of the District of the last vestige of “home ruie,” to which both political parties solemniy pledged themselves in their national plat- forms, can afford no reason why the citi- zens of the District should be treated differ- ently from the citizens of the states and territories in the matter of public schools. The Claims of the District. But there are other, very many other,rea- sons why the general government should contribute to the support of public schools in the District. Let me state a few of them: First. Because, as already shown, we have no public school fund, and therefore the schools have to be supported and school houses erected entirely from the annual revenues of the District. nd. Because the United States prop- erty in the District, amounting to much more than the property of the citizens, is and always has been exempt from taxation, thereby reducing to that extent our means of raising revenue. The assessed value of United States property thus exempt is $188,- 058,139, while the total of taxable property is but $191,417,804, Third. Because Congress, by its laws, is constantly exempting still more from taxa- tion, thus continually decreasing our means of raising revenue. The total value of all property, public and private, as shown by the assessor's statement, being $402,575,792, of which there is subject to taxation but $191,417,804, or in the ratio of 49.55 per cent of non-taxable to 47.55 per cent taxable, the latter wholly the property of the citizens and the corporations chartered by Con- Fourth. Because the United States gov- ernment, in its effort to preserve the Union, brought here and left on our hands, In ad- dition to the large number already here, thousands of the manumitted slaves, whom the laws of yours and the other slave states made it a felony for any one to even teach them to read, and for whose education a law of Congress requires us, very Properly, to expend as much per capita as for our own children, although not one in a hun- dred of them contributes one cent to the District revenues. Fifth. Because Congress by its law tm- peses a penalty of $20 on each parent or gvardian who fails to send each child of schcol age to school twelve weeks each year, and at the same time refuses or ne- glects to appropriate from our own revenues sufficient to provide the necessary school facilities—so much so, that in 1886, after doubling them up into half day schools even up to the fourth grade, we had 5,000 more children on the school roll than there were school seats In the District! And at the same time, as Congress by its law seizes all our taxes and deposits them in the United States Treasury, we cannot build a school house or employ a teacher with our own taxes even! Sixth. Because the 17,000 employes of the United States government, together with the 356 members, eighty-eight Senators and all the other government officials, the great bulk of whom are non-residents, but few of whom own property or pay taxes in the District, send their children free to the pub- He scheols—those of them who have their families here—as is right and proper. Seventh. Because of all the children now on the school roll but 63.7 per cent were bern in the District, while 34.1 per cent were born in the states and territories, the remaining 2.2 per cent being born in foreign lands. Of those born in the states, thirty- three are from your own state, Arkansas. Eighth. Because Congress permits pupils from adjoining states to attend our schools without payment therefor. There are at the present time no less than 753 pupils from Maryland and Virginia in our public schools, the parents of 473 of whom are not in the government service. At the rate charged Ron-resident pupils, who attend the public District should have its pro rata share of | public lands or money donated to the states, | schools of Alexandria, Va., amount to $45,180 per annum—enough te buy a site, erect an eight-room brick school building, fit it up complete with the latest improvements and run the schoal for an entire term. Eighth. Because by imposing on the Dis- trict burdens that do not belong to it, the payment of debts created by officers of the United States government and in violation of the plain letter of the law of Congress by-requiring us to pay a million and a half for the fraudulent tunnel built by United States officers and wholly under the come trol of the United States—the half of $20,000 for investigating the fraud; the pur chase and support of a zoological park for the Smithsonian Institute, in which we have no interest or control. trict that there is not enough left to prow vide the proper school facilities, as many other things of pressing need. IR no excuse for Mr. Neil to say that he was not aware of these facts, because he our his is a member of the body that acts as town council, and as such member it is duty to know all about them. He has taken an oath to support the Constitution the laws, and so long as the law makes it his duty to act as a local legislator for the District it is his duty to so inform himself in regard to District affairs as to enable him to legislate intelligently and properly. It is no doubt true, as Randolph said im Congress in 1803, when discussing this very question of the absurdity of Congress at~ tempting to act as a town councj for the District, that: “To attempt to legislate for the District was, in effect, to constitute the chairmam of the committee or at any rate the com- mittee itself on the affairs of the terri the Solon or Lycurgus of the place.” Said he, “It is well known that the indolence of other members or their indifference, im separable from the situation in which they are placed, would prevent Congress from legislating with a full understanding of the objects before them.” But so long as Come gress insists upon continuing the presemt anomalous condition of affairs in the Dis- trict of Columbia the responsibility for whatever there may be wrong in its laws or its management rests entirely upon Con- gress and not upon its citizens, whom Con- gress has absolutely and wholly disfran- chised. Compared With Other Capitals. One would naturally suppose that every public man would take pride in having the national capital provided with the very best schools to be had, even if they had to be supported wholly from the national treasury. With all our wealth ard as a nation, we are tar behind BE capitals and cities in these respects, | well-informed man is there who has not | beard of the celebrated schools and educa- tional institutions of Berlin, Vienna, Paris and other snational capitals, supported in whole, or in large part, by the national goverfiments of those countries? Nor is this confi.ed to the capitals alone, for other cities are equally well provided. For in- stance, Birmingham, England, has its Mid- lend Institute, attended by 4,000 pupila, one-half of whom are artisans. It has an art school, an art museum, a reference | Mbrary of 10,000 volumes, a central library, one of the greatest in England; a Shakes- pearean Library, the finest in the worlds while Dresden, with a population but little greater than that of the District, has the Royal School of Technology, the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Royal Academy | of Arts and the Royal School of Veterinary Surgeons, all supported by the general gov- |ernment; while we have not so much as a single public library for the use of the populace, and for which we have plead in vain, lo, these many years. In conclusion, I ask Mr. Neil, as @ rea- sonable man, whether, in view of all the j facts, he does not think he was mistak }or misinformed on these subjects, whether we may not in future have his as- sistance in providing means for the support } of the common schools, at least? In aske | ing this, I am not asking him to help edue | cate my children, as has been asserted on | the floor of the House, for while I have but | one child in the public schools, I contribute about $200 per annum for the support of the | public schools and pay about $200 more to private schools and teachers for their edu- cation outside of the public schools, and my case is but an illustration of that of many of the citizens. If he says that it ts not right to tax the ‘public to teach the higher branches in the public schools, I answef that only last | year a resolution was adopted and an in- | vestigation had by a committee of the Sen- j ate, on complaint that our schools did not go far enough to prepare students for col- lege. Here, again, the whole matter is un- | der the control of Congress. If, by this statement, I can secure Mr. Neil's attention and that of other members to this subject, I shall bave accomplished ™y object; for an experience of more than thirty years, with intimate contact with | public men here, has convinced me that, as general rule, the members of both houses: ant to do what is right and proper, if j only their attention can be had to the sub- ject, and they be made to understand the | actual facts of the case. W. C. DODGE —__ TO BE MEMORABLE. H ben and the Chicago's Officers. The banquet which is to be tendered at London on May 24, the queen's birthday, to Admiral Erben, Capt. Mahan and the other officers of the United States cruiser Chicago, will be attended by Prince Louis of Battenberg, Lord Rosebery, Prime minister; Earl Spencer, first lord the admiralty; Lord George Hamilton, ex- first lord of the admiralty; Lord Brassey, Sir Chas. Dilke, Admiral Sir John E. Com- merell, Admiral Sir Wm. Dowell, Admiral Sir G. T. Phipps Hornby, Admiral the Hon, Sir Henry Keppel, and many other dis- tinguished naval men. The London Globe, referring to the ban- quet, says: “The welcome will be thor oughly national, and not only from their brother officers of the English navy, but from the country. It is many years since we have had the opportunity to shake hands with Brother Jonathan; yet no couns try should be closer to our affections an« sympathy. The occasion will be in t nature of a family gathering, and not least pleasant feature connected with will be the simultaneous visit of the Brite ish fleet to Boston, where our doubtless, will be accorded a similar. welcome.” ——+o+_____ PITTSBURG PREPARING. 5 Over 50,000 Will March im the G. A, R. Parade. Estimating, with the posts already heard from, it is considered certain that over fifty thousand veterans of the G. A. R. will parade at Pittsburg September 11 next, dur- ing the twenty-eighth national encamptmen. Pennsylvania will have fully 15,000 in line, Ohio six to seven thousand, New York two thousand to two thousand five hundred, and other states will be represented in propore tion. Pittsburg and Alleghany county will | alone have between four thousand and fout thousand five hundred. Free quarters have already been assigned for over eleven thousand comrades, most of whom are coming from far-distant points, and yet the encampment is four months away. ———__ e+ — An Important Arrest. It is stated at the pension bureau that the arrest of James Campbell, alias Fred- erick Douglass, for swindling Amelia Graham of Bengies, Md., out of $2 is an important one. Special Examiner George PD. Sidman, who made the arrest, states that Campbell has been working people through the south and west by represent- 1 examiner of the pen- ; onating a govel Sfticer, ‘und. being released on 's900 bond, escaped. The impostor files of the pen- sion bureau show that he has been known to the authorities under a number of aliases. He also represents himself a son of Hon. Frederick Douglass and in this and other ways plays upon colored people. He represents to these folks that |a pension has been allowed them, and in | giving tnem an alleged check he collects from them a fee of $2. pa - y of War Endicott expects to counrtntn Present Cleveland and family this summer at the Py farm at Dan