Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-07
An EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

We have received from Hon. Ed. l. Col
laday a bill introduced by hin on 29th
January, read twice and referred to Com
miltee on Education and Labor, Z" To
equalize the distribution of the public lands
of the United States, to provide system
Of free schools for all the children in the
respective States and Territories" The
following is a synopsis of its provisions:
Section provides for the appropriation
of two hundred millions of acres of the
public lands to be dedicated for ever to the
purpose of founding system of free school
education in the States and Terri
tories, including the District of Columbia.
Sec. 2. provides that the land so appro-
p7;ated shall be equally and ratably divided
between the States and Territories upon
the basis of the last census, each State and
Territory receiving its share according to
its population, the division TO be pro rata.
Out Of the shares so allotted, each State
and Territory shall have the power to es-
tablish il its midst universities and Normal
schools, and for this purpose an amount not
exceeding one million acres of lands or the
proceeds thereof may be set apart in each
State and Territory, all such universities to
he under the control of the Legislatures of
their respective States and Territories in
which they may be established.
Sec. 3. The remainder of the lands set
apart-or in default of founding UNIVERSE
ties and normal schools, all such lands
shall be applied to the establishment of free
schools upon such terms as the States and
Territories may by law declare, providing
that no children of any citizens of the Uni
ted States shall be in any way deprived of
an equal benefit in said educational fund.
Sec. 4, Provides for the appointment of
three commissioners of the educational fund,
to hold office for one year at a fixed salary,
whose duty it shall be to apportion the land
grant among the States and Territories, to
ascertain the amount of lands heretofore
granted for educational purposes, and TO re-
port to Congress all their acts in the prem
isas, with such recommendations and sug-
gestions as they may deem of service in
promoting the object of this act.
Sec. Provides for the issuance of
educational land scrip" by the Commits
sioner Of the Land Office, saidland-scrip not
to be transferable except upon such terms
as the respective States and territories NAV
by law declare.
Sec. Provides that in no case shall a
State or territory use the principal of the
education fund, but only the interest aris-
ing therefrOm, except in case of University
or Normal school scrip, of which one-fhlf
set apart for such purpose may be invested
in grounds, buildings, books, apparatus, etc.
Sec. : Provides that if, after the expira-
ton of five years from the granting Of the
public lands, the same shall not have been
sold, then each State and Territory so elect
ing shall have the option to return said lands
and scrip and receive in lieu thereof United
States bonds at the rate of one dollar per
acre for the lands, bearing the lowest rate
of gold interest now known under existing
laws. The lands and land scrip shall then
revert to the United States. The lands to
become the property of such States and
Territories, and to be denominated "Educa-
tional bonds of the United States"
Sec. Provides for the preservation and
protection of the educational fund by the
States and Territories receiving it.