The Dawson journal., 1884-04-24
The Blair Educational Bill.
Constellation.

va AOO0to ActudI kdDlS LOT iCS dOll-
ity aud length, the Blair bill
amended in many important re-
spects. The bill as it stands ap-
propriates s77,OOO,OOO, instead of
Sl05, 100000, and the money is to
be expended in eight instead of
ten years. The first years expen-
diture is to be 100000, the sec
ond year 100000, the third
SIS, 100000, and after that time
the expenditure is to be reduced
100000 each year, until the
eighth year, when an expenditure
of S5, 100000 will close the account
and place the burden of the schools
wholly on the states. The money
is to be disbursed in monthly in
stallments by the secretary of the
interior, according to the ratio of
illiteracy, to the several states and
and territories ON certain condi-
tions:--
l. That none of it shall 60 to
any state or territory that does not
have common school system for
all children, without regard to race
or color.
2. That no state shall receive
from this fund more money than
it annually expends for school
purposes.
8. That none of the appropria-
ton shall be expended for the
erection of rental or school houses,
but the accommodations for the
school shall be furnished by the
states.
4 That onA-tenth of the fund
shall be applied to the education
of teachers and in maintaining
normal and training schools.
S. That every year there shall
be made to the secl etary of the in
terror by the governor Of each
state detailed statement of the
disbursement of the school fund,
with the number of
schools, average and daily attend
ance, the relative number of white
and colored children, and other in
formation as to the use of the fund
and the condition of common
school education in his STATE, and
if it shall be shown that the fund
has been misapplied, such states
shall not be emitted to further aid
until it shall replace the money
misapplied.
The "illiteracy" referred to in
this bill is that of persons of
the age of ten years, or upwards
who cannot write according to the
census of 1880. By this test there
are in the country 6, 239,95S litter
ates, and in the state of Georgia
there are 52O,416. We have there
fore S.34 per cent. of the litter
ates OF the country, and would re-
ceive out of the first years appro-
priation under the bill 1888, 800,
provided we expend an equal
amount from our own pockets in
promoting public education. We
give below the entire section in
question, in order that our readers
may see how the Harrison amend
ment is worded:-
SEC. z. That the design of this act moi
being to establish an independent system OF
schools. but rather to aid for the time be-
ing in the development and maintenance
OF the school system established by loca
government, and which must eventually
be wholly maintained by the states anC
territories wherein they exist, it is hereb,
provided that no greater part of none,
appropriated under this act shall be paiC
out to any state or territory in any on,
year than the sum expended out of its owl
revenues in the proceeding year for tn,
maintenance OF common schools not in
Guiding the sums expended in the erectio,
OF school buildings.
If under this section this state
is entitled to credit for the amount
raised under local laws, no extrs
tax will be nessary to give us {
full share of the benefits of the
act during the first year of it:
operation. We give the STATE
school figures of the past year.
Amount spportioncd by Commissioner
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $272,5 74 81
Poll tax of the previous year. 1872, O23. on
Local taxation for school
purposes........"................. 142, $50. 81
; Iotal.................... $568, 2lS. 81
There can be no question as tc
the right to take into account the
sums derived from local taxation
because they are part of the reve.
nues of the general government
The benefits of the first year there.
fore is available without extra taxa
ton; and it is estimated that the
Joint appropriations of the state
j L