Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-03-14
Education Bill.

the U. S., House of Representa-
tives is an important one. It's
a bold step towards establishing
the educational system of the
country. 1t provides that the
net proceeds of the sale of pub
lie land shall be set aside for edu-
cational purposes, and that the
money arising from the sale of
public lands shall be distributed
in the different States according
to the ratio ofilliteracy..
BY thisprovision, the South will
receive, according to population,
a much larger proportion of the
money than other portions ofthe
United States, owing to the free
dom of the negroes, who in the
main are unlettered. 1t also
provides that no money belong
ing to any State or Territory
shall be withheld, because the
laws of said State or Territory
provide for separate schools for
white and black children.
The following is synopsis
of the bill as it passed the
House on Thursday:
Section l provides that the
net proceeds Of the public lands
be forever set apart for the ed
ucation Of the people. Moth
ing i'll the act to limit the power
of Congress over the public
lands, or interfere with the
granting Of bounty lands, nor
with the homestead act. ,..
Section 2 provides that the
Secretary of the Interior shall
certify to the Secretary of the
Treasury each year the net cash
proceeds Of sales of public
lands. .r....
Section 3 provides the man
ner in which the funds are to
be invested. i. .
Section 4 provides for the APP
portionment of the fund to the
various States and Territories.
For the first ten years the dis
tribution will be made accor-
ding to the ratio of illiteracy of
the respective populations.
Section ) provides when and
under what circumstances the
distribution shall be made.
Section 6 provides that a GER
tain portion of the fund re-
ceived shall be expended at the
discretion of the Legislature for
the instruction of teachers for
common schools.
Section Z states the condi-
ton under which the State and
Territory shall be entitled to
receiveits share of every appor-
tionment after the first year.
Section s provides a Com
missioner of Education, who
shall decide which States and
Territories are entitled to re-
ceive apportionment and what
amount; but no money belong
ing to any State or Territory
under this act shall be withheld
for the reason that the laws
thereof provide for separate
schools for white and black
children, or refuse to organise
a system Of mixed schools.
Section 9 provides for the
distribution Of the fund by SUI
perintendent of Public Instruc-
ton in each State, Territory and
District. The amount so appor,
toned shall be applied solely to
the payment of teachers wa
ges.
Section 10proyides the man.
ncr i'll which the apportionment
shall be dawn from the United
States Treasury. .
Section IL provides penalties
for any misapplication or en-
beZzlement of the funds.
Section - provides that the
Circuit Courts of the United
States shall have exclusive jul
risdiction of all offenses against
the provisions of this act.
Section 13 provides that
nothing contained in this act
shall be so construed as to af-
feet in any manner existing laws
or any regulation in regard to
the adjustment and payment
to States upon their admission
into the Union of five per GEN.
tum of the net proceeds of sales
of public lands within their
respective limits.
IN, - =,