Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-11
THE EDUCATIONAL BILL.
Full Text of the Measure as it Passed
the Senate.

the Senate.
The following is the text of the Blair
educational bill as it passed the Senate:
Be it enacted, etc., That for eight years next
after the passage OF this act there shall be an
nually appropriated from the money in the
Treasury the following sums, to wit: The first
year the sum OF 81 900, Geo. the second wear the
sum of Sl0,000,0O0, the third year the sum of
$lj,000,000, the fourth year the sum of Sl3.00O.-
O0O the fifth year the sum of $l1,O00,O 900, the
sixth year the sum of S900O,000, the seventh
year the sum OF Sf,000,OO0. the eighth year the
sum of $4,000. 900: which several sums shall be
expended to secure the benefits of common
school education to all the children of the
school age mentioned hereafter living in the
United States.
SEC. 3 That such money shall annually be
divided among and paid out in the several
States and Territories in that proportion
which the whole number of persons in each
who, being of the age of 10 years and over,
cannot write, bears to the whole number of
such persons in the United States. Such COM
putation shall be made according to the
census of 1880
SEC. 3. That no state or Territory shall
receive any of the benefits of this act until
the Governor thereof shall file with the Sec
retary of the Interior statement. certified
by him, showing the character of the com
mon school system in force in such State or
Territory, the amount of money expended
therein during the last preceding school year
in the support of common schools, not includ-
ing expenditures for the rent, repair or erec-
ton of school houses. whether any discrimina-
tOn is made IN the raising or distributing of
the school revenues or in the school facilities
afforded between The white and cOlored chill
dren therein, and, so far as is practicable, the
sources from which such revenues were de-
rived; the manner in which the same were
appOrtiOned to the use of the common schools:
the number of white and the number of col
Ored common schools; the average attend
ance in each class, and the length of the
school term. No money shall be paid out un-
der this act to any State or Territory that
shall not have provided by law a system of
free common schools for all of its children of
school age without distinction of race or
color, either in the raising OF distributing of
school revenue or in the school facilities
Afforded: Provided, That separate schools for
white and cOlOred children shall not be con-
sidered a violation of this condition. The
Secretary of Interior shall thereupOn certify
to the Secretary of the Treasury the names Of
the States and Territories which he finds to
be entitled to share in the benefits Of this act
and also the amount due to each
SEC. 4. That the amount so appOrtionesl to
each State and Territory shall be drawn from
the Treasury by warrant of the Secretary of
the Treasury, upon the monthly estimates and
acquisitions of the Secretary of the Interior
as the same may be needed, and shall be paid
over to such officer as shall be authorized
by the laws of the respective States and Ter
ritories to receive the same.
SEC. 8. That the instruction in the common
schools wherein these moneys shall be ex-
pended shall include 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.
SEC. 6. The money appropriated and appOr-
toned under the provisions of this act to the
use of any Territory shah be applied to the
use of common and Industrial schools therein
by the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. Z. That the design of this act not being
to establish an independent system OF schools,
but rather TO aid for the time being in the
development and maintenance of the school
system established by local government and
which must eventually be wholly maintained
bv the States and Territories wherein they
exist it is hereby provided that no greater
part Of the money appropriated under this
act shall be paid out to any State or Territory
in any one year than the sum expended out of
its own revenues In the preceding year for the
maintenance Of common schools, not includ-
ing the sums expended in the erection Of
school buildings.
SEC s. That a part of the money appor-
toned to each State or Territory, not ex-
ceeding one-tenth thereof. may yearly be ap-
piled to the education of teachers for the
common schools therein, which sum may be
expended in maintaining institutes or tenn
pOrary training schools or in extending Oppor-
tunitIes for normal or other instruction to
competent and suitable persons, of any color,
who are without necessary means to qualify
themselves for teaching, and who shall agree
in writing to devote themselves exclusively,
for at least one year after leaving such train
ng-schOOls, to teach in the common schools
for such compensation as may be paid other
teachers therein.
SEC. 9. That no part of the educational
fund allotted to any State or Territory shall
be used for the erection of school houses or
school buildings of any description, nor for
rent of the same.
SEC. 10. That the moneys distributed under
the provisions OF this act shall be used only
for common schools not sectarian in Charac-
ter in the school districts Of the several States
and Territories in such way as to provide as
near may be. for the equalization of school
privileges to all the children of the school age
prescribed by the law Of the State or Terri
tory wherein the expenditure shall be made,
tiOn of race or color, an equal opportunity for
education. The term "school district" shall
include all cities, towns parishes, and all
corporations elothSd by law with the power
of maintaining common schools
SEC. II. That the Governor of each State
and Territory receiving the benefit of this
act shall, on or before the 30th day OF June
of each year, file with the Secretary of the
Interior statement, certified by him, giving
a detailed account of the payments or dis
bursements made of the school fund appor-
toned 70 his State or Territory and received
by the State or Territory treasurer or officer
under this act, and of the balance in the
hands of such treasurer or officer withheld.
unclaimed. or for any cause unpaid or un-
expended, and also the amount expended in
such State or Territory as required by sec
tion eight of this act, and also of the num-
Der of public, common and industrial
schools, the number of teachers EMPLOYED
the total number of children taught during
the year and in what branches instructed.
the average daily attendance and the relative
number of white and col0red children, and
| the number OF months in each year schools