National Republican., 1883-01-10
BLAGR's CoN1NtoN-sCnooL BILL.
His Plan for Distributing Educational
Funds According 10 YIIitcrncy.

His Plan for Distributing Educational
TUnds According 10 IIltcrncy.
The Blair bill for the distribution of money
from the treasury among the states and terri
tories for school purposes, on the basis Of COM
parative illitcracy, having been made the
special order in the senate for tomorrow,
number of memorials from collegiate institu-
tions in support of the object of the bill were
laid before the senate yesterday morning.
The Blair bill has among other provisions the
following:
/. For ten years next after the passage ofthe act
thele shull he annually appropriated from the
money In the treasury the following sums; The
first year the SUM OF Sl5OJO,0OJ the second year
sliOJO0J0, the thpd year Sl3OOJO0O, and there.
uttr sum diminIshed 81 900 600 YEARLY from the
sum last appropriated until ten annual approph-
utons shall have been made when all appropr-
atoms under this act snail cease; which sums
shall be expended To secure the benefits of COM
mon school education to all the children living in
the United States.
II. Instruction in the common schools wherein
these moneys shall be expended, shall include the
art oi reading, writing, and speaking the English
i9hguagc, arithmetic, geography, history. OF the
knowledge ~ may he taught under local laws,
ana may include, whenever practicable, iustruc.
uon ~ iho arts of industry, which instruction
snull BE- iree 10 ALL without distinction OF race, na.
uviiy or condition in life provided that nothing
herein shall deprive children of different races,
llNllB III lllc same community nut Scpn
rate schlol' from receiving the benefits of this uot
the same as though the attendance therein were
without distinction of rice.
III. SuCh money shall annually be divided
among and paid out In the several states aud
territories in that proportion which the whole
number Of pers ms in each, who, being the age of
ten years uud over, cannot read and write, bcas
10 the whole number OF such persons in the
United states; and until otherwise provided such
cymputauOn shall be made according TO the cen.
w. rue moneys distributed under the provis.
ions OF his act shall be used in The several states
and territories in such way as to provide for the
equalization of school privilege to ! the children
throughout the state or territory wherein the CN-
penditure shall be made, thereby giving each
child un opportunity for common school eduCa-
ton, aud to this end existing public schools not
sucthliuu In character may be aided and new ones
may be established, as may be deemed best.
" Iherc shall ho appointed by the President,
by aud with the advice and consent Of the senate
commissioner Of common schools in each sta!e
ana territory. VINO snail bc u citizen thereof ana
shNil reside therein, and shall perform all such
duties Us may be assigned to him by The secretary
Of the Interior and who shall be specially charged
with ali the details ui the execution Of this act
within his jurisdiction, in cooperation with the
satc authorities. In tie territories he shall also
be charged with the general supt rvlsiOn ana con.
troll of public education, and shal possess all the
powers now vested in territorial SUI erinlendcuts
ana ,bonrds OF education, or by waiever terri
tOrlal oilicer, the same may have been hitherto
exercised. He shall le paid II salary of not less
thun three nor more than five thou,aud dollars
In the discretion OF the secretary OF the Interior
connected with schools in his Jurisdiction to the
secretary of the interior, and particular reports
when called upon by the secretary, and especially
Of all details IN the administration OF this act. In
addition 10 his other duties he shall devote him
self TO the promotion of the general interests of
public education in the State ortCrritOry for which
he i appointed.
vi. a part of the money apportioncd to each
state or territory, hot exceeding Ouetenth there f.
may yearly be applied the education of teachers
for tne common schools which sum mny be ex.
pended in maintaining institutes or temporary
training schools, or in extending opportunities for
normal or other instruction to intelligent and
suitable persons, of any color who are without
neces ,ary means, and who shall agree, in writing
To qualify themselves and teach in the common
schools of such state or territory at least year
VII. The secretary of the interior shall be
charg d with the practical administration of this
law through the bureau of education, and all
moneys paid under its provisions shall bo made
by treasury warrant to the individual performing
the service to whom Indebtedness shall be due,
upon vouchers approved by the state authorities,
when under the provisions of this act their Op-
proval is necessary, aud by the commission of
common schools for the state or territory wherein
the expenditure shall be made and by the secre-
tary of the interior.