Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-11
PUBLIC EDUCATION,
senator Blair's Hill for the Support of
Common schools

llr. Blair's bill to aid in the establishment
and temporary support of common schools
has passed the Senate. 1t provides for the
distribution of S77,000,000 among the
States and Territories in that propor,ic.
which the whole number of persons in each
who being Of the age of ten years and over,
cannot write, bears TO the whole number OF
such persons in the United States, the COM
pu'ation to be made according to the census
of 1850. The bill provides that no State or
Territory shall receive the benefit of the act
unlll the Governor files with the Secretary OF
the lulcrior statement certified by him
showing the character OF thee, nmon school
system IN force IN such State or Territory,
,hc amount OF money eXpe ed therein
d9ilh& the last preceding school
year, whether any discrimination ia
made in raising or distributing the school
revenues, or in the school facilities afforded
between the white and colored children, and,
50 lar as practicable, the source from which
such revenues were derived, the manner in
winch such revenues were apportiored the
schools, the number Of white and colored
SCHOOLS Ire average attendance in each, and
tie length Of the school term. None of the
Territory that has not provided a system of
common schools for all it's children without
distinction Of race or color. The bill further
provides that the amount SO apportioned 10
ttLh STATE or Territory shall be drawn
from the treasury by warrant of the Secre-
tafy o! the Treasury upon the monthly
Is mates Of the Secretary Of the Interior,
and Shall be paid over TO such officer
as shall be authorized by the laws of
the respective States and Territories to re-
ceive the same. The money is to be ex-
pended in giving the children purely com
mon school education, Iii provided that
no greater part OF the money appropriated
bnal! be paid out to any State or Territory In
any one year than the sum expended out OF
It's own revenues or out of money raiscd
nnder l's authority 10 the preceding year
Tor the maintenance of common schools. not
Including the sum expended in the erection
OF school buildings. Provision is made for
Tie education Of teachers in training schools.
VINO shall agree TO devote themselves exclu-
SiVely Tor at least one year after leaving said
SCHOOLS 10 teach in the common schools for
sUch compensation as may he paid other
cachels therein. No part of the fund is To-
ne used Tor the erct'on OF school houses or
school buildings, or for rent OF the
same. The bill provides that The
money distributed under its provisions
shall he.uscd only for common schools, no,
s'ctarian in character, in such way as TO
provide as near as can DC for the equalization
OF school privileges to all children of the
school age provided by law within the State
whenever the expenditure is made. The
OIL is explicit in providing for the distrbu-
non OF the money for educational purposes
without distinction of race or color. No
CcOnd or subsequent allotment shall be made
under the act to any State or Territory unless
he governor OF such State or Territory shall
first file with the Secretary of the Interior q
statement certified by HIM giving a detailed
acco INT OF The payment of the disbursements
Oh ne portion OF the fund allotted to his State
or territory Provision is made for the
expenditure OF the money in accordance
with the purposes of Congress, and hold.
ing The officials of the States and Territories
charged with the distribution OF the same TO
a rigid accountability. The Secretary of the
Interior is given power 10 hear and examine
any complaint of Misrepresentation or unjust
discrimination in the use of the fund, and is
required TO report TO Congress the result
thereof. lie is also charged with the proper
administration OF the act in the Territories
through the commissioner of education. and
10 report annually to Congress the practical
operation Of the law, and briefly the condi-
ton Of education as affected thereby through.
out the country. The principal opposition
TO the bill was based upon constitutional
grounds. II there had been a full attend =.
hnce, the vote against the bill would un-
doubleday have been much larger.