NEGROES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The bill [H. R. 113] to render taxation for common school purposes uniform and to provide for the education of colored children, was read the second time with a committee amendment that colored children shall be admitted in the same room with white children, where no objection is made.
Mr. CARSON moved to amend the committee amendment by providing that the colored children shall be excluded whenever any objection is made.
Mr. CRAVENS did not like the amend-merit. It seems to be an outrage to tax the parents of black children, and yet allow them to be excluded by the objection of probably not more than two or three. He moved to lay the amendment on the table.
The motion was agreed to yeas 20, nays 18-as follows:
YEAS - Messrs. Andrews, Beardsley, Bellamy, Case, Church, Cravens, Eliott, Fisher, Fosdick, Gray, Hamilton, Hess, Hooper, Johnson of Spencer, Kinley, Reynolds, Robinson of Madison Robinson of Decatur, Scott and Wood-20.
NAYS-Messrs. Carson, Denbo, Gifford, Hanna, Henderson, Howk, Huey, Huffman, Humphreys, Jaquess, Johnson of Montgomery, Laselle, Lee, Morgan, Rice, Sherrod, Smith and Taggart-18.
Mr. SCOTT desired to see the bill perfected so that the schools for blacks shall be entirely separate from the schools of white children. He desired to avoid all trouble and neighborhood excitements on this question. Where you join the two schools together they will not harmonize in the section of country represented by him. The way is open, plain and direct to provide for separate schools. The change proposed in the amendment to the bill is a slight one; but when it comes to a neighborhood where there are but three or four colored children the question will come up and be decided whether the blacks shall attend the schools with the whites or not. Whereas, if there were colored schools organized separately, the blacks would not try to get in the white schools, and you would never hear of any trouble on that score. He would like to see the amendment laid on the table.
Mr. BELLAMY thought the amendment fair and reasonable. According to the bill whenever any one objects, even after the black children are admitted to the public school, the Trustee must exclude them.
Mr. SCOTT could not see where the power would come from to exclude black children after they get in the white school.
Mr. CRAVENS asked where the law can be found that will exclude the child of any citizen in the State from the public schools, without regard to race or color.
Mr. GRAY and Mr. BELLAMY thought that even after the blacks were in the school and objection should be made, the amendment would cause them to be excluded by the Trustee, on demand of any one.
Mr. MORGAN was willing to vote to tax his constituents so that colored children shall have the privilege of the school fund, but could not vote for any bill looking to the mixing of the races. He would do as much for the colored people, according his means and influence, as any one; would vote for no bill that would encourage hard feelings or disturbances of any kind. The races should be kept distinct. We are page: 115[View Page 115] disposed to give them all the rights the constitution and laws guarantee them, but not willing to take them into our houses or into our schools.
Mr. HAMILTON saw no injustice in the amendment, and hoped it would prevail.
Mr. KINLEY. It is unconstitutional and unjust to exclude the child of any citizen of the State from the public schools. He should vote for the amendment in order to get the bill a little more humane; but should vote against the bill on Constitutional grounds.
Mr. CARSON moved to lay the amendment on the table.
The motion was agree to by yeas 20, nays 18 - as follows -
YEAS-Messrs. Carson, Gifford, Gray, Hanna, Henderson, Howk, Huey, Huffman, Humph-rev Jaquess, Johnson of Spencer, Johnson of Montgomery, Lee, Montgomery, Morgan, Rice, Scott, Sherrod, Smith, Taggart.-20.
NAYS.-Messrs. Andrews, Beardsley, Bellamy, Case, Caven, Church, Cravens, Elliott, Fisher, Fosdick, Hamilton, Hess, Hooper, Kinley, Reynolds. Robinson of Madison, Robinson of Decatur, Wood.-18.
Mr. GRAY, when his name was called, in explanation of his vote, objected to the amendment, because it allowed any person in a school to object to a child's attendance because of its dark skin.
Mr. HANNA moved to amend by providing that of the moneys collected by taxation for school purposes in any township, no greater sum shall be expended in support of colored schools than shall have arisen from the assessment of the property of colored people.
Mr. ROBINSON, of Madison, moved to lay the amendment on the table.
The motion was agreed to by yeas 25, nays 14.The bill was then passed to the third reading.
The bill [H. R. 50] to amend the city and town incorporation act, coming up-
Mr. ELLIOTT desired to pass it now, so that cities and towns which have elections coming off soon may avail themselves of we benefit of this bill.
It being read the second time-
On motion by Mr. ELLIOTT the constitutional rule was dispensed with, the bill read the third time and finally passed by yeas 33, nays 5.
The bill [H. R. 132] to enable cities to aid the construction of railroads and water powers, was read the second time.
Mr. ROBINSON, of Madison, moved to amend by inserting the words "Hydraulic Companies" in the proper place.
The amendment was agreed to.
|The bill [H. R. 322]for the perfecting of railroad lines-was read by title and referred to a committee.
And then the Senate adjourned.
