New-York tribune., 1873-02-25
WASHINGTON.
uN1FIcENT DONATIONS TO THE COLLEGES.

,rrrFICFNT DONATIONS TO THE COLLEGES
80 N1IIoN DOLLARS TO EACH ONE-AN ABLE
lobbying CORPS-rHE BOLD FEW WHO
oppose THE SCHEME.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO TIB TRIBUNE
xv,suINGTON. Feb. GA careful examination OF
s,e Agricultural BILL substituted by the House for
tbs Morrill, bill passed early in the session, proves
.bat instead of giving to college of each state
a OO0OOO as was supposed when it passed the House
last week il gives them S2OOOO00 one-ha to be IN
vested in i've per cent bonds and the income to be
,oid 70 the colleges and the other half to he paid
aver in cash TO the trustees Of the institutions with
ont any restrictions on its expenditure. The total
amount TO be thus eventually taken from the public
Treasury was shown by Mr.. Window. who very ably
opposed the bill, to be Se4,Oo0OOO and the annual
rate OF payment about Sl,5o0,0o0 year
No measure Of the session, unless 1t be PROPOSE
ton to enrich some private corporation by the
granting OF large subsidy has been so ably repre-
sented IN the lobby this The Presidents and pro
fessors of majory Of the agricultural colleges of
the country have been in Washington during the
greater part of the session persstently entreating
Senators and Representatives 70 vote for this BILL
aud s the States are to have an equal share of the
benefits Of the bill. matter whether the Govern
mont aid goes TO odd and richly endowed insttu
tiOn or for the establishment of a college IL
quires considerable courage in Senator to place the
financial interests of the country above the pecuni
ary interests OF his State and vote against the bill;
and yet there were some who have patriotism enough
even for this and they made gallant fight against
what seemed TO them one of the biggest
Jobs that has been before this Congress Among
them were Mr.. Window, who believed that, if the
United states If TO give away half the public lands
II should give them TO the soldiers of the late Rebel
lion; Mr. Upton. who feared that this bill might
make the agricultural colleges so anxious TO get the
money it allows them, that they would be able at
some future time TO get through Congress some bill
interfering with the present homestead system;
Nj sherman. who showed how unfair it is to give
six times as much of this money to New-England rs
90 New-York which has considerably greater popu-
lation; and others, who doubt the wisdom OF the
paternal theory of government and believe that the
states should be left to manage their educational
affairs themselves.
The bin held the attention Of the Senate till the
Gme for the recess o'clock. At that time,
Amendment by Mr.. Sherman was pending, striking
out the provision Of the bin which gives the share
Of the District Of Columbia TO the Smithsonian In
stitution.
In the evening the Senate spent the first half hour
In discussing Mr. Sherman's amendment, and
speeches were made in its favor by MessTs Thur
fact that the parents of not IN hundred of the
children of this district pay any taxes. Their
parents are either employees by the Government OF
coiored people. If there are any people for whom
Congress should appropriate money, they are those
who reside in Washington. The Smithsonian lnsti-
tuition is only museum, he said and he was opposed
20 granting money TO it at the Of those who
need the educational facilities so badly. Mr.. Upton
did not think that il was wise TO apply this money
Go the same purpose in all the States In the South,
common schools are much more needed than agTicul-
tural colleges.
Mr. Sherman's amendment was defeated by major
fly of one vote. Several other amendments were Of
fered one by Mr. Pratt requirngth trustees of inst
tutiOns who receive money from the Government 10
give bonds for the proper use and preservation of
the funds furnished, and another by Mr. Morton, re-
qurius that no agricultural college shall make any
distinction among students account OF race, color,
or previous condition Of servitude This last gave
rise u debate If considerable warmth and length.
and IL was a refreshing sight the Senators who
Thought last Winter that the fate of the Union hung
on the problem of loading upon the Amnesty bill
MI Summers Civil Rights bill. asserting that the
Fifteenth Amendment is sufficient for the protection
Of the colored people aud thato further legislation
on that subject is needed. Mr. Morton S amendment
and others to accomplish the same object, moved By
Nr. West and Nr Wilson, were all defeated.
Allied o'clock after debate OF % hours, the
motion of Mr. Morrill, Of Vermont a call Of the SEN
ate was ordered. Pending the call, the Senate, on
motion of Mr.. Thurber, adjourned,