National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-01-24

reported Tie Post ONCE APPROPRIATION bill, kc'
icrrcd to Committee Of The Whole, and made
special order for Saturday ncXt
Mr.. GoopE moved to 10 Into the Committee of
Whole on the bill applying the proceeds Of the
public lands to the education OF the people.
Mr. MILLS raised the question OF consideration
bciWeep that bill aud the morning hour
The Speaker stated that the question Of consid'
Grafton could not be raised, inNsmuch rs the rule
which allowed II to be raised bad been suspended
when Mr. Goodies BILL had been made special
me vote was then taken on Mr.. Goodies motion
aud 1t was agreed to-yens 12G nays los. The
Affirmative vote was cast by the Democrats and
the negative by the Republicans, who desired TO
have morning hour, In order that the debate in
aud MIR. Ellis of Louisiana should be continued.
The House then at lilo went into Committee of
lhe Whole Nir. Hooker in the chair on the bill TO
apply the proceeds of the Fnles Of public lands to
the education of the people.
~ provides that the net proceeds of the sales shall
be forever sci apart for the education of the people
and apportioncd to the several States and TerritOr
les and the District Of Columbia upon the basis OF
the population Of such States between the ages of
five and twenty one; Proridcd. That after hve years
one.half and after ten years the whole of said net
proceeds shall be set apart as an educational und
which shall be Invested in United states bonds
bearing not less than per cent. interest the inter.
est on such funds only TO be appropriated as above
provided: AHd proridcd further, That for the first
ten years the apportoument shall be made on the
basis of the iiltcracy of the population over ten
years of agc.l
Mr.. GoObE explained the provisions of the bill
There were millions of millions OF acres OF public
lands, but, remembering how much of II had been
sqanderod by grants to railroad companies, IL was
evident that the time must come when there would
no longer be any public domain 10 bring revenue
to the Government.
Mr.. Frye inquired If there was anything in the
bill which could compel the fund 10 be applied in
the southern States To the education of the colorcd
race.
Mr.. GooDE replied that there was no disposition
in any Southern State to discriminate in any wa!
between white and colorcd children
Mr.. KElFER inquired If Mr. Goode would admit
OF an amendment iorbiddlns any such discrm'
inaticn2
Mr. GooDE replied that he would, unless the
gentleman wanted to establish mixed schools lie
was willing to make 1t as plain as human language
could make 1t that this fund was to be dedicated
to the free education of all children both white
and colorcd; but lac would oppose every PROPOSE
ton 10 establish mixed schools. because that
would be alike ruinous TO the white and the col
OTed race.
Mr.. Movnof in reply to a remarl, of Mr. Frycs,
stated that the bill contained provision that be-.
fore the money should be paid over Toy the General
Government each State should file with the Sccre-
tary of the Treasury a certified copy Of the aw of
such state accepting the provisions Of this act and
undertaking that the funds Should be faithfully
Mr.. GOoDE argued that the bill WAS perfectly con.
sttitioig and that the proceeds Of the lands gould
not be dedicated TO higher nobler, or more be
people. Was II right for the Government TO en-
franchise 100000 Of colorcd people, TO make them
citizens and voters and yet fail TO qualify them for
the proper discharge of the delicate and response
| bic duties incident TO their new station?
MI. BELL spoke ia favor of the bill.
Mr. DUNNElL opposed the BILL lie said public
education must DO fOSiCred ana built up by the
State otherwise the General Government might
give and give but there would be prosperous pub
lie school system. ThcgenilcmAn from Virginia tMr.
| GoOdol counted upon obtaining millions for this
| fund He Mr.. DunnelD would undertake 20 say
| that IN ten wears thousands instead of millions
would cover all the returns from the Laud.Onicc.
The receipts from that source were rapidly lessen
| ing, and at the cnd of five years there would be
| substantially nothing left to go Into tile school
| fund, and the amount distributed up 70 that time
would be so small that the States would gel little or
no benefit from It,
Mr. PATTERSON (Coi.) agreed witt, Mr.. Dunnell
that the proceeds from the sale OF the lands were
rapidly DECREASING. If the bill were passed 50 that
\ State could never have the opportunity of CON
strucling great work for the Improvement OF the
| arid lands Within lis boundaries, hundred years
from oday the same vast extent OF desert domain
would be met with in going from the Missouri
| River TO the Pacific Ocean, monument to the ig.
norancc, the want of foresight and the lack Of
| humanity Of the American Congress
| Mr.. SotTHARO opposed the bill both as 10 prin-
| cple and policy. Even were u right IN principle
he was opposed to H. because the distribution pro-
| vlded was unjust.
Mr., BURcHiRD opposed the bill.
| Mr.. MACHINES opposed the bill. II Congress
| wanted TO appropriate money for educational pur.
| poses why not do II In manly way? Why should
the proceeds of the sale of public lands be selected
any more than the tax on tobacco or the tax on
| MIR. WHITE pa said that the effect of the bill
w0nld be TO put all The public lamds on the market
, and destroy the benefits of the homestead laws.
| Mr., TOWNSEND az. W opposed the bill. He had
been educated In the good old fashioned school of
mat DglleYCu lllat the btlslllCsS Ol CUu-
cation belonged to: the state, and that every State
| had n right 10 be as illiterate ms u minded 10.
| Laughter Itpassed all human patience to stand
| by aud see calm, ndroit, aud oily proposition 20
rob the loyal States out OF their interest IN the pub
| lie lands. They were TO BE- hlmbe-rigged ont Of
| their interest lie was not ready for that and II
| did not put him in good humor. Laughter
| Mr.. LoRINU congratulated himself on being able
4 to advocate a measure IN the interest Of education
and in entire accordance with The policy OF the
| country from the day the Pilgrim fathers landed
up 10 the present time. Millions OF acres had been
| granted for the purpose OF education He remind
cd Inc opponents OF the hlll that the power of Con
| gess over the public lands was not limited. There
was no reason why Congress should close It's eyes
to the interests of the settler, because II gave the
| poses Congress retained It's richt entirely. lie
| was III favor of homesoads, but of homesteadS OF
educated aud religious people because he believed
that education WAS the foundation of all free nsti.
| tutions; and lie pledged himself TO support every
| measure devoling the lands 10 Legitimate improve
| menlS.
| Mr.. MONROE said that, while he admitted thai the
first responsibility rs to schools rested with the scv
era states, he still conended that the General Gov,
| eminent had some responsibility in the matter and
| should do something III the way of aiding educa.
| ton. lie did not believe that the Government had
| a right to make voters OF million OF men and
then to leave them In 4 state of such black gnor-
auco TINT they can neither read nor write. 1t
would be cruelty to,give them the right of suil-
| rago and then leave them ignorant.
| Mr.. REAGAS moved to amend the provlso IN the
first section (Which provides that II shall not limit
| or abridgc the power of Congress over the public
domain or interfere with granting bounty lands
by adding the words 'or grants IN aid OF public
| Improvements He explained aud advocated the
amendment, inlimatlng that 1t might be necessary
| to grant lands for Il competing railroad across the
| continent
| Mr. IIARRTsoN opposed the amendment, declaring
that one Of the doctrines Of the Democratic party
was not TO give subsidies for any Improvement Of
| that kind, either in money or In lands.
| Mr.. Mills opposed the bill as IL slam. The ST.
| 100000 that II would take from the Treasury would
have TO be made up by the imposition of more
taxes, and the burden Of those additional taxes
would be thrown on the labOring toiling people of
| the United States II was "robbing 'Peter 10 pay
| Paul"
| Mr.. UENDIRsoN declared himself opposed 10 the
bill ON the principle that the public domain should
! be preserved for homestead purposes.
| Mr.. KElFER congratulated the Democratic party
| on having reached tho principle laid down for Ii
| by the gentleman from Illinois (Nr. HnrrisOn) one
oil the last acts of the last Democratic President
| land he trusted that he would be- forever, the
last laughter hAd been To veto homestead law
| MS being agrarian In principle The homestead
| law had been passed by Republican Congress
| aud been signed by Abraham Lincoln, u Repub.
! liCNn President, Under that law there had been
| BiolS homestead entries covering nm area exceed
| ing that of Scotland England, and Wales That
had been the policy OF the Republican party In re.
Spect 10 the public lnnds, ana 1t had been carried
out In spite of the policy of the Democratic party Of
| us being educated by the Republican party UP to
| the point OF being in ilYor OF honiosteAds
| Laughter and npplluse,l
| Mr.. HARRISON asked Mr. Kcfer what bill grant.
ing millions and millions Of acres to private cor
| n,rutious hNl ever been vetoed bV II Ronublipan