Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-04-22
CONVERSATIONAL.

The bill submitted to the Congressional
Committee of Ways and Means by Gen.
Butler, to establish reciprocity with
Prince Edward Island, is a most important
one. 1t provides for very low duty upon
the products of that island, conditional up
on the fixing of small duties upon the
products and manufactures of the United
States seeking market there. 1t is under
stood that the authorities of Prince Edward
Island and also of New Foundland are in
favor of such an arrangement, which can
be effected, it is believed, by legislation,
and without treaty with any power.
The House committee on education have
reported bill to establish a system of ma
tional education. 1t authorizes the Presi-
dent, with the consent of the Senate, to APP
point a school superintendent for each
State, with inspectors and local superin-
tendents, and provides for the establish
ment and supervision of district schools.
The machinery of the bill is in the hands of
the Secretary of the Interior and Commits
sioner of Education, and an annual report
is to be laid before Congress by the last
named officer. The bill levies direct tax,
in accordance with the provisions of the
Constitution, and declares that the money
raised in each State under this act, shall be
expended therein for purposes of education.
The last section provides that the require
ments of all preceding sections shall be
considered satisfied with respect to any
| State, whenever it is proved to the satisiac-
| ton OF the President that there is establish
ed in said State systom ofcommon schools
which provides reasonably for all children
therein, who dwell where the population is
sufficiently dense to enable schools to be
maintained. The bill cannot be held as
applying to any Northern State, for the
reason that all of them have good common
school systems. Consideration of the bill
is postponed till next December, when the
committee will press it to vote. If Tenn
essee and other Southern States do not
fancy the payment of this direct tax and
governmental interference with education
al matters, their way of relief is to lose no
time in establishing good common school
system by State action.
Charles Sumner is turning his attention
to the suflerings of the brute creation and
has introduced resolution into the Senate
looking toward the enactment OF a law reg
ulating the transportation of cattle by rail-
road companies. There is need enough of
such law, as everybody knows, not only
because much unnecessary suffering is
caused to animals thus transported, but for
the reason that the meat from these animals
is thus rendered less fit for food. The
states have tried, some of them, to remedy
the evil complained of, but without much
success. If we can have national law, APP
plicable to all railroad companies, it may
do some good.
The record of finished business in the ma
tional legislature is meager. The discus
sion on the Georgia bill in the Senate, and
the consideration of the tariff in tho House
have formed the staple topics of discussion,
though the matter gave way on Tuesday
and Wednesday for the contested election
cases, many of which were awaiting action
The -polygamy bill of Mr.. Cullom has
been reported to the Senate, with amend
ments. The real business ofthe session, the
taxbill, the tariff, the funding bill, DC, have
not been materially advanced during the
week. Even the census bill, which should
have been completed a long time since, still
hangs between the two houses There is
disagreement between them, mainly in re-
gard to the patronage conferred and a
committee of conference alone can settle
the difficulty