CITY OF BOSTON.

In Board of Aldermen, April 11, 1864.

ORDERED: That the Committee on Ordinances be instructed to report an Ordinance defining the duties and prerogatives of the Committee on Public Instruction.

Passed. Sent down for concurrence.

Concurred.

OTIS NORCROSS, Chairman.

In Common Council, April 14, 1864. GEORGE S. HALE, President.

Approved, April 15, 1864.

F. W. LINCOLN, JR., Mayor.

CITY OF BOSTON.

In Board of Aldermen, May 16, 1864.

THE Committee on Ordinances, to whom was referred an order instructing them to inquire into the expediency of reporting an Ordinance defining the duties and prerogatives of the Committee on Public Instruction, having carefully investigated the subject, respectfully beg leave to

REPORT: ·

That there has always been to a greater or less degree a conflict of jurisdiction between the Committee on Public Instruction and the Committee on Public Buildings, and that the line of demarcation has never been distinctly drawn between the respective proper functions of these two Committees. The Committee on Public Buildings have had distinct duties assigned them, and their course of action plainly marked out from the early institution of the City Government. On the other hand, the Committee on Public Instruction is a committee of more modern institution, and probably destined originally to serve as a medium of communication, in some respects, between the School Committee and the City Council. But their duties never having been strictly defined, have been of rather an anomalous nature, and have led to frequent differences of opinion and much discussion as to their respective rights, powers, and privileges between them and the Committee on Public Buildings.