Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-12
EDTC4TIONAL BILL.

The following are the provisions of the ed
ucationalbill as it passed the national House of
Representatives on Thursday last. The vote
was yeas, ll5 nays, %. Sixteen republicans
voted against it and only five democrats in
favor of it.
First, that the net proceeds of the public
lands are hereby forever consecrated and set
apart for the education of the people.
Second, that the Secretary of the Interior
shall cause an account to be taken upon the
close of each fiscal year, and ascertain the
total receipts from the sale Of and other dispo-
sition of the public lands, and shall certify to
the Secretary of the Treasury the amount of
the net cash proceeds from the sale, &C., after
deducting such expenses and expenditures.
1t is provided, however, that nothing shall af
feet the presumption homestead laws, or limit
the right of Congress to extendethe home
stead laws or abridge the power of Congress
over the public domain, or interfere with the
granting of bounty lands to soldiers or sailors
of the late war.
Section three provides that upon the receipt
of the Secretary of the Interior as above, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall cause one
half the amount so certified to be invested in
bonds of the United States bearing interest at
u
amount so invested shall constitute perma-
nent fund in the Treasury of the United States
to be known as the national educational fund
and the Secretary of the Treasury, on or be-
fore the 3lst day of July of each year, shall
certify to the Secretary of the Interior and
the commissioner of education the amount SO
paid into the Treasury to the credit of said
educational fund. the amount of said educa-
toni fund and the amount of interest due
thereon at the close of the fiscal year preced-
ing such certificate.
Section four provides that the commission
er of education shall apportion the funds on
the basis of population between the ages of
four and twenty-one years, according to the
last preceding general census of the United
States; but it is provided that for the first
ten years the distribution of the said fund
shall be made according to the ratio of the
iliteracy as shown from time to time by the
preceding published census of the United
States.
Section five provides that each State and
Territory shall receive its share of the first
apportionment after the Legislature shall
have engaged to provide by law for the free
education of all its children between six and
sixteen years of age.
Section six provides that sum not exceed
ing fifty per cent. for the first year, and not
exceeding ten per cent. fCo other years, may
be used to maintain schools for the education
of common school teachers.
Section seven enacts that each State and
Territory shall be entitled to receive its share
of every apportionment after the first which
shall have complied with the following con-
ditions: First, That it shall have made the
provision for the education of its children re-
quired in the fifth section of this act. Sec
ond, That it shall have applied all moneys by
it previously received under this act in ac-
cordance Herewith. Third That it shall,
through the proper officer thereof for the year
ending the thirtieth day of June last preced-
ing such apportonment, make full report of
the number of>schools free to all children
thereof, the number of teachers employed,
the number of schoolhouses owned and the
number of schoolhouses hired, the total num-
Der of children taught during the year, the
daily attendance and the number of months
of the year schools shall have been main
tanned in each of the several school districts
or divisions of said territory or district, and
the amounts appropriated by the Legislature
for the purpose of maintaining system of
free public schools.
Section eight provides that the commits
sioner of education shall ascertain and certify
if States are entitled to the money; but if it
is withheld an appeal may be made to Con.
gress; but it is provided that no moneys shall
be withheld because of failure to provide
separate schools for white and colored chill
dren.
Section nine authorizes the superintendent
of public instruction in the several States to
distribute the funds among the school districts
according to population.
Section ten provides that the money shall be
paid on the warrant of the commissioner of
education. In case of the misapplication of
any fund for one year, the next years appro-
tionment will be withheld, and the circuit
courts of the United States are given cog
nizance of violation of the act.