The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-01-12
The Common School System
,lR. BLArR's BILL FOR NATIONAL EDUCATE,

MR.. BLAIR's BILL FOR NATIONAL EDUCATION.
The following is a copy OF the bill introduced In
the United States Senate by the Hon. Henry W.
Blair, OF New Hampshire, which is now attracting
wide attention, and the passage OF which will prove
OF yast benefit to the people, especially Of the South
A bill to aid in the establishment and temporary
support of common schools.
BE 1t enacted By the Senate and House Of Rep
resenhitires If the United States Of Anerica IN
Congress Assembled That ten years next after the
passage of this act here shall be annually appropri-
aLed from the money in the Treasury in the follow
ing sums, TO wit: The first year the of $l5,OO0
00O the second year the Of $4,000 O0O the third
year the sum OF $4,000 000 and thereafter sum d.
ntnished Sl,OOO,O yearly from the last appro-
prlated until ten annual appropriations shall have
been made, when all appropriations under this act
shall cease which several sums shall be expended
to secure the benefits of common school education
for all the children living the United States.
Sec. 2. That the instruction in the common schools
wherein these moneys shall be expended shall In
clude the art OF reading, writing and speaking the
English language, arithmetic, geography, history
Of the United States, and such other branches OF
useful knowledge as may be taught under local
laws, and may include whenever practicable In
structon in the arts OF industry which instruction
shall be free to all, without distinction OF race ma
ttvty or condition in life Prouided, That nothing
herein shall deprive children Of different races
living In the same community but attending set,a
rate schools from receiving the benefits of this act
the same as though the attendance therein were
without distinction of race.
Sec. 3. That such money shall annually he dtytded
among and paid out In the several States and Terri
tories In that proportion which The whole number
Of persons In each who, being OF the age OF ten
years and over, cannot read and write bears to the
whole number Of such persons In the United States
and until otherwise provided such computation
shall be made according to the official returns Of
the census of 1880.
Sec. A. That such moneys shall be expended in
each State by the concurrent action, each having
negative upon the other Of the Secretary of
terror, the part OF the United States and OF the
superintendent of public schools board of educa-
ton, other body In which the administration of
the public school laws shall be vested on the part
of the several States wherein the expenditures are
respectively TO be made and whenever the authort.
ties of the United States and State fail agree as to
the distribution, use and application Of the money
hereby provided or any part thereof, shall be
pended and If such disagreem continue through
out the fiscal year for which the appropri-
ated, II shall be covered into the Treasury and shall
be added to the general priation for next
year provided for in the first section OF this act
All sums OF money appropriated under the provis-
ions OF this act to the use OF any Territory shall
applied to the of schools therein by the Secreta
ry of the Interior, through the Commissioner Of
Schools, whose appointment hereinafter provided
for.
Sec. 5. That the money distributed under the
provisions of this act shall be used in the school
districts of the several states and Territories in
such way as to provide for the equalization Of school
privileges to all the children throughout the State
or Territory wherein the expenditure shall be
for common school education and to this end exist
Ing public schools not sectarian In character may
be aided, and new ones may be established, as may
be deemed best in the several localities
Sec G. That part of the money apportiOped to
each Stdte OF territory, not exceeding Ono-tenth
thereof may yearly be applied to the education of
teachers for the common schools therein which
sum may be expended In maintaining institutes or
temporary training schools or in extending oppor
tunities for normal or other instruction to intelli
gent and suitable persons, of any color, who are
without necessary means, and who shall agree In
writing, to qualify themselves and teach in the
common schools of such State or Territory at least
one year.
ablish an independent system of schools, but rath
er TO aid for the time being in the development and
maintenance of the school systems established BY
local power, and which must eventually be wholly
maintained by the States and Territories wherein
they exist IL is hereby provided that part of the
money appropriated under this shall be paid
out in any State or Territory which shall not during
the five years of the operation Of this annually
eXpend for the maintenance ofcommon schools free
TO all, at least onethird of the which shall be
allotted to 1t under the provisions hereof and dur.
ing the second five years Of its operation sum at
least equal TO the whole 1t shall be entitled to re-
ceve under this act and II such expenditure shall
not be shown to the Secretary OF the Interior at the
end of each fiscal year by each State or TERRITORY
respectively, or by such other evidence as shall be
satisfactory to him, then the allotment under this
act for each subsequent year long as there shall
be deficiency OF such expenditure by the State or
Territory from the proceeds of local funds whether
derived from taxation or otherwise, shall be expen.
ded for the support of common schools therein
wholly In The discretion of the Secretary who shall
apply the same to the support of existing or to the
establishment Of new schools In such way as he
shall deem best.
Sec. s. That part Of the money herein provided
for shall be used for the erection of school houses
or schoolbufld1ngS OF any description for rent
OF the same: Provided, ho,oeuer, That whenever 1t
shall appear to the Secretary that otherwise any
given locality will remain wholly without reasona-
BILE common school adyanta les, he may in his dis.
cretfon from the general fund allotted the state
or Territory provide schools and for their tempo
rary accommodations, by rent or otherwise in the
most economical manner possible: And provided
further, Thatin no case shall more than per cent
of such allotment be set apart for or be expended
under the provision Of this section.
Sec 8. There shall be appointed by the President
by and with the advice and consent of the Senate
common schools each nd
Territory, who shall be citizen thereof and shall
reside therein, and shall perform all such duties as
may be assigned to him by the Secretary Of In
terror and who shall be specially charged with all
the execution of this act within his jurisdiction, and
In cooperation with the State authorities. In the
Territories he shall also be charged with the gener
al supervision and control of public education and
snail possess all the powers now vested In the Ter
rtor1al supr1ntendents and boards of education or
by whatever Territorial officers the same may have
been hitherto exercised He shall be paid salary
OF not less than three or more than five thousand
dollars in the discretion the Secretary of the In
terror. He shall annually make full reports of all
matters connected with schools In his uridiction to
the Secretary OF the Interior and particular reports
when called upon by the Secretary, and especially
Of all details in the admintstration of this Act In
addition TO his other duties he shall devote himself
TO the promotion of the general interests of public
education in the state Territory, for which he is
appointed.
Sec. TO- That any State, in which the number of
persons ten years Of age and upwards who cannot
read is not over cent of the whole population
signifyng Its desire that the allotted to ii
under the provisions of this shall be appropria-
TED IN any Otnef way Tor the promotion of common
school education, In its borders or elsewhere
Its allotment shall be paid to such State be thus
appropriated: Prouided That It's Legislature shall
have first considered the question of It's appropra-
ton TO the general fund for under the provis.
ions of this act in States and Territories where the
proportion of lliterate persons is than per
cent of the whole population,
Sec IL. That any State whose literate Is greater
than per cent of Its whole population falling to
accept the provision of this act and comply with
Its provisions so as to be entitled to It's allotment
from year to year, the allotted to chState,
subject to the discretionary action OF the Secretary
of INTERIOR under the sixth and seventh sections OF
this act shall become part Of the fund to be dis
trtbuted among the States which shall be entitled
to their respective alotments, and the Terrific
rieS. And any State not accepting the provisions of
this act, acquiring the right dispose of Its al
lotment as provided in the preceding section the
same shall become part of the general fund for
like distribution.
Sec. IL. That the District Columbia shall be en-.
titled to theprvieges OF Territory under the pro-
visions of this act, but there shall be commits
s1Oner OF common schoSOs appointed for said Dis
trfct nor shall Its existing laws and school author
ties be fnterfered with. The Commissioner of Ed !
ucation shall be charged with the duty of superin-
tending the distribution of its allotment, and shall
make full report of Its doings to the Secretary of
the Interior.
Sec. 49, That the Secretary OF the Interior shall
be charged with the practical administration OF this
law through the Bureau of Education, and all
eys paid under It's provisions shall be made by |
Treasury warrant TO the individual performing the
service to whom Indebtedness shall be due, and |
who shall be personally entitled to receive the mon
ey, or to his agent, duly authorized by him, upon
vouchers approved by the State authorities when !
under the provisions Of this act their approval Is
and by the commissioner OF common |
schools, for the State Territory wherein the ex
penditure shall be made and by the Secretary Of |