New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-19
NATIONAL AID 10 EDUCATION.
.P. BLAIR ADDRESSES The SENATE ~ BEHALF or
THE COMMON SCHOOL.

:lR. BLAIR ADDRESSES The SENATE II BEHALF OF
THE COMMON SCHOOL
WASHINGTON. March 1S.-In the Senate to-
day the bill 20 aid in the establishment and temporary
support % common schools taken mp. The bill ap-
proprates for the first year Sl5OOOOOO the second Sl4
100000 the third $4,000 900, and on for ten years
decreasing II 600 600 yearly 10 be expended for common
school educstou expenditure il each state to be on
the basis of cracy the money u be paid By tie United
States The first instance, TO the easurers OF the re-
tpecye such other agents as the States may des
-ae-h Secretary OF the Interior have charge Of the
portion going 20 the Territories Tie bill asserts the object
10 5e not to establish Independent system Of schools
but simply aid in the maintenance OF the state schools
and provides part Of the money appropriated by
the bin shall De- paid O1 n any state which shall notduI-
Ing the years of the operation O the act aunu
ally expeud for common schools least onethird the
sum allotted TO by bill and during the second five
years equal TO the whole amount 1t shall be entitled
20 receive under the act Onetenth Of the moneys paid
20 The states may De- expended ia training teachers.
Mr. Blair addressed the senate in support of the meas
me- which, he said the most important one that Lad
been brought before the Senate since the He
zed the necessity in country where the citizen is
the governing power Of securing al the highest pos
sole good from the common school. More than one
nn.h Of the citizens Of the Uatcd states unable
60 read write According 10 the census Of ESQ, out
ofhe 900 ofpopulaon in the United States there
were O. - per cent who could read, and 1914
PEOPLE who could not write was Gg6 per cent and ofco
OreI 40 per cent The number OF persons
Cf school age 1J527,332, while
tic number enrolled was only o7sl,521, and even Of
that Number the actual attendance was only
C-5.842 That is 20 say the average attendance was
a-0u, tso,lrds of the enrolment or about onehird Of
jle humber that should attend In thirtyfo cities Of
lie Inon 50 To- per cent u the children were not
oiled al all; that IL, would never know how 10 read OF
write.
THE average innig raOn was now, Mt Blair continued,
rUal intel the Of native pOpula-
foot NOT grr lar NeaT-
j. tlree-fOurths OF the llhterate voters Of the
country I'm the Southern states, these States
lau. Onethird " tie voters of the country Between
$50 and $50 there had been diminUtlon the pro
portion o. uuerstes 10 the whole population shown
by tbe census table. Not than three f0urhs OF the
Mr. Blair thought, really had such measure Of
education 10 enable them inteugenty 70 weigh the
FOR and against the public measures Which must
before them, and which must ultimately be adopted
g. elected by tue body OF the people.
Referring the general industrial and social condition
O. the coored population OF the South Mr. Blair aveTed
'ha was rapidly becoming worse, the people being dis
coDiehied and demOrslzed, the young men becoming
more ana more disposed % violence and drifting
CONDITION winch bodies harm 10 the Republic, unless e1u
'auon be brought promptly 10 bear.