The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-24
HoW CONGRESS LOOKS ArIE
The Proposal to Use the Public Land Pro-
cseds for Educational Purposes.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-The House, In
Committee Of the Whole. cons ldcrcd the bill to
apply tho proceeds Of the sales Of public lands
10 the education Of the people. which provides
that after five years half and after ten years
the whole Of said proceeds shall be invested in
United States bonds. the interest on which shall
be apportioned to the several States for educa-
tlonal purposes. Mr.. Goode Dem. Va cx-
planned the hill. He was willing 70 make Il plain
rs human language could that this money was
a. be dedicated 70 the free education OF all chill
dren both white and coored. but he would oppose
every proposition 10 establish mixed schools. He
ended with an appeal for the education Of coll
ored children. SIR. Bell Dem. Ga favored the
bill. Mr. Dunnell Rep. Mimi opposed Il on
the ground that public education must be ios-
tered and built up 10y the State. Moreover. tho
receipts Of the Land ONCE would amount to
but little Mr.. Southland Dem. Ohio opposed
IL on the grounds of principle and policy. Mr..
White Rep. Pa thought the effect would be to
tut the public lands upon tho market and de;
stroy tho Homestead laws Mr. Townsend
Rep y Y said that it passed All patience TO
see a calm. oily. aud adroit proposltion made 20
rop tn loyal states OF their Interest in the pub
lic lands. Mr. Lorng .li"p" Mass. favored he
foundation ~ all froe institutions. Mr.. Monroe
Rep, o.. favored the hill as carrying out our
Mr. Roagon Dem tcya- offered an amend
| ment gr0vldluE o. At %" hilI shall not abrldg"
| IIf 10 fiH MNr N4 ifit ff'~r oyer Tue lui'
domain. HclutmWel That it might b" necn,-
sary 80 grant lands for comroting railroads
across 10" couiin'nt Mr.; Mis- 'p"my icNnsl
-nli tAr Dill Was % sham. What u took from TIE
| Treasury would have 90 lie nude W py taxa
Mr Eden DEM. H. offered as q substitute"
| FOR Mr. Ecg-an'- amendment an amendment
! provi ling TINT all public lands which have
| 6.en granted hy Cingr. 90 aid in the con-
| .tru.tiDu n r.ilr0ad and telegraph lines which
! iv reason ~ failure 10 complete such railroad
| f.aI.t ted
Are hereby declared forfeited 10 the United
| States. Mr. Elem said that when this great en- :
| IL the public q, main. then there would Toe some
thing In tAe treasury = apply TO the education
Mr.. Elnc. Dem. La, opposed tho amonl.
/ mont There was u good deal u cry aud very
| little wool nhout these grants o. rai!rond-.
What would %" the population II the Western
| States to-day hut for tho great railways. and II
| wa. not iHir that the southern States should
not participate in the benefits Of the railroad
Mr.. Cain Rep. ;. c. spoke in favor q the
| bin. Tho cluoatlon 81 his race was very I'M
| above superstition and crime. He proceeded o.
quote statistics 70 show that the number ol
much smaller than that Of white persons. Eiu-
| .ntiOu wit- necessary all over the nation, e-po-
.nly IN Louisiana, Mississippi. and South
Mr. Wright Dom Pa declared mis- belief
that NOT only did every men ol tho pubic 90
main ielOug 10 the people but also that inmne
sh1uli h. provided for before the erection OF
school houses. Every dollar taken from u,
national Treasury under the pretex, OF build
Ing railroads or school houses; wns so muef
taken from that fund which ought 70 give com
fort and rcposc 10 the toiling millions OF tht
| land. He had no narrow views about education
and would ~ as far as any man 10 advance edu
cation. hut at this time measures OF relic
should be- adopted in preference 10 the advance
| meut 81 education or tho erection 81 semina
| ries. Something for the stomach before TN
| head was ms true sentiment rs was ever ut
| terod under such cir umsttna"s ~ hn We Alsled
| The attention OF Congress should b. liked upon
a single point-and that uoinl was the relief o
the suffering millions, Applause in the gaze
rie-l He would not agree TINT dollar shoul,
| he taken from the national Treasury Tor mn
| puruOsrs whatever. 50 long AS there wore nun
gry men, women, and children thrunging IN,
-tr,sts. Our penit"niiuries.' he contlnuel
ave. sir. our mad houses nTe full. In the stat
| o, Peuusy lyania to-day there are 5QOD persnn
| confined lea lunatie nsyluns. lNlEuNfahl ihugh
| tori What took them there hut starvation
Want and starvation illl our penitrntarieS an
our almsAOu1n Is. and yet YOU talk about tRkln'
money from the national Treasury To buud vi
Institutions 81 learning. You may laugh auou
tho lunnt's ia Pennsylvania II you please, bl
perhaps II "A few Oi YOU wore thero meaning u
the lunatlc asylumsl you would DC IN petlc
plnccs than you are in here" tLaughterI
Tho Committee roso without acting On Ia
nu lfnt uf