The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-04-24
AID TO EDUCATION.
Opposltion to the Bill in the HOuse-Vievs
of Mr.. Aiken and Others.
Spccial to atlanta Constitution.

Special 10 atlanta Constitution.
WASHINGTON, April 14,-Almost
everybody was surprised by the decisive
majority for the Blair Educational bill
in the Senate. It's friends trust that this
will have favorable effect in the house.
I am confident that the bill will have
strenuous opposition in that body from
two classes of representatives. One class
comprises the ultra republican sectional
lists who pretend that they are not will
ing to trust the Sta es of the South with
the expenditure of the appropriation.
The other class is composed Of Southern
men, who cherish notions of States rights
to which tie bill is repugnant. This lat
tor class is small, but representative OF
it happens to be the Chairman OF the
Committee on Education, position that
will make his opposition more effective
than it otherwise could be. I refer 10
Colonel D. Wyatt Aiken, OF South Caro-.
lima. I asked him what tho prospects Of
the Blair bill we're in the House. lie
said: 81 really do not know. The bill
has never come before our committee. l
am opposed to it and believe | could
kill it in the committee ifI wanted to
oppose it by that method. But if MIR.
Willis of Kentucky chooses to take
charge of it in the committee and push
it Through. perhaps no serious opposition
will be offered and it may be reported
favorably to tue House. Then | shall
oppose it there" =.
"What are your objections to the bill 2,
II have many. In the first place, l
don't believe this is a proper subject for
federal legislation. Education is the
duty of the individual. 1t may extend
beyond the limit of personal responsible
ity to the State, but beyond the State it
has 10 business 10 20 for aid: Then,
there are some features of the bill | dis.
like. Itlequires the strictest account TO
be given in frequent reports from the
governor of each State as to the manner
Of expending the federal appropriation,
the apporlionment of it between whites
and blacks, the number of pupils, the
books used and q great many other things.
These reports 60 to the Commissioner ol
Education. He then makes from them
a report to the Secretary OF the Interior
who lays the matter before Congress with
such recommendations as be sees proper.
That is going through too many hands to
suit me. The bill will not tighten the
burden of the school system on our peo'
pie for no State can receive from the fed
eral fund moro than it raises from its
own people. Confessedly the main OBJ
iect of the bill is to educate tho negroes.
I believe they are receiving their just
share Of the school fund in the Southern
States, and that it is sufficient for all
their educational needs at present"
"When you say you are opposed to the
bill, do you mean the Blair bill or the
general theory it embodies 2"
II am opposed to any bill TO give
national aid to education. The Willis
bill now before my committee is better
than the Blair bill, but am opposed TO
anything of the kind"
aDo you think many Of the Southern
members agree with you?"
~ believe the general sentiment among
them is favorable to some bill on this
question. l have heard but one other
Southern Congressman express opposition
to the principle. That was Mr. Tillman,
of South Carolina"
MIR. Willis, of Kentucky, who is en-
thusiastic on this subject says: II am
confident that the bill will pass the
House," Mr.. Willis will have charge oi
the Blair bill iu committee and in the
House.
General Dibrell of Tennessee, thinks
there will be very few Southern votes
against the bill.
Mr.. Clements, who has done much
work for this cause since he entered Con-
gress, thinks the only trouble will be in
getting hearing for the bill, but things \,
that will be overcome, and The bill
passed at this session.
Senator Brown and Senator Colqult
say that the bill might have been made
to please them better in some particulars,
but it is a good measure as it stands, and
will be- Of incalculable benefit to the
South. Senator Blair, after the most in
defatigable labor for his bill in the SEN
ate, has turned his attention to the House.
He has received the most encouraging
assurances from representatives OF both
parties and all sections. The general
disposition of the friends of the bill is to
pass it without amendment. II it is
changed in the slightest particular there
is danger of starting back and forth DO.
tween the Houses, and finally letting it
fall through. Senator Blair figures that
the total sums for the various States
during the eight years for which the
seyeuty-seven millions provides, will be
as follows: .,o
Alabama, s5,2O1, 900; Arizona, $780,
900; Arkansas, $2,434,OO0; California,
$GO4,OOO Colorado, Sl2O,OOO; Connec'
ticut, S340,000; Dakota, sou, ,O0O; Deia'
ware, s252 600; Florida, $9G0,0O
Georgia, S., ,24O 900; Illinois, 81 ,740, 0,00o
Indiana, 1920, 900; Iowa, $560,OOo
Kansas, S479,OOU; Kentucky, 81. So ,Ooo
Louisiana, So, $50 900; Maine, $2G4, 900
Maryland, sl,7So,OOO; Massachusetts
Sl,l44 900; Michigan, S7G4, ,00o; MIN
nesola, SIO0 900; Mississippi, 81 SOC, ,OUO
Missouri, 81 ,495 900; Nebraska, Sl32 900
Nevada, S4S, 900; New Hampshire, Sl6o,
900: New Jersey, $500, 900; New Mexl-
co, $1,000 New York, s2,625,ooe!o 20!
North Carolina, $5,566 900; Ohio, ST.
5S2 900; Oregon, $4,000; Peunsylya
MIA, 81, 736, 600; Rhode Island, S297 ,Ooo ;
South Carolina, s4,42S,0O Tennessee,
81, ,92O, 600; Texas, $500, 900; Utah,
500 600; Vermont, $3.50 900; Virg mia,
S., leo OOU; Washington. Territory, S5o,
600; West Virginia, 81 100000; WIS
consin, 5000, 900.
- Thomas J. Davis, of Beech Island,
South Carolina, is writing life Of John
G.. Calhoun.
= A philosophers idea of happiness
Hapuy is the man who eats only for