Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-10
STATE HOUSE HAPPENINGS.
A Busy nay With the LsslsIa-
tors.
Passage Of n. J. q. Ne. 10 Ia the House
Of Deiegates---The Exemption
- hattef---The Capitol
g. Repairs.

" Repairs.
There was an animated debate yesterday
in the House on II. J. X. No. 10, directing
our Senators and requesting our Repre-
seutatiVes to vote for the passage OF the
Blair educational bill
Mr.. McWhorter led of in the morning
with an argument in favor Of the passage
of the resolution. He read an editorial
from the KanaWha Gazette, paper which
he characterized as the leading Democratic
journal of the State" in which the editor
de6ed the enemies of the bill to show one
reasonable objection to II, and also a long
extract from letter from A. Il. Stewart OF
Virginia, member of the Peabody Board,
in which the passage Of the bill was warmly
advocated.
Mr.. Gilkeson could see no improperly in
the Ksuswha Gazette, or A. Il. Stewart, or
any one else advocating the passage of the
bill. but he did not believe members of the
House should attempt to teach members OF
Congress as TO what laws they should or
should not pass. 1t was desirable for this
LEGISLATURE to close its session within forty
FIVE DAYS, but if the members undertook to
direct Congress they would not get through
in forty-fve weeks.
Mr.. White opposed the bill. If he were
follower of the PIumed knight Of Maine he
might favor the measure, for Mr.. Blaine IN
his letter of acceptance OF the Republican
nomination, outlined policy almost identi-
cal with that contained in the Blair bill;
but as he was not disciple of the states
man mentioned, he could not favor it. DE
was as much in favor of education as any
man, but he did not believe it right to tax
him, through the general government to
educate
THE IGYORAHE NEGROES
Of the south. :,
The debate for the time being was C closed
by MIR. Marshall calling for the order OF the
day. He said that if the House was to
spend week or two in mapping out course
of procedure for Congress the members
would never get home.
At the afternoon session discussion Of the
resolution was resumed, Mr.. Dyer offering
substitute therefore.
DR.. Dyer said it seemed improper to die
tate 10 our Senators and Representatives In
| Congress. He believed that no man on the
floor presumed to know more about the
Blair bill than our Congressman. lie
thought nobody would question that propo
sition-not even the gentleman from Kama
VIA Mr.. McWhorter). He hoped his sub
stitute would be adopted,
Mr.. McClung had the utmost confidence
in our Senators and Representatives. He
saw no improperly in II. j. K. No 10. He
had no doubt some Senators and Repre-
sentstiyes were more or less undecided as t.
how to vote, and he believed in helping
them TO make up their minds.
Mr.. Post objected to the resolution. No
doubt it seemed very nice thing to some
people 10 be able TO reach down into the
pockets of the national treasury and draw
forth money for one purpose and another. He
was as much in favor Of education az any
man, but he was unwilling to
GO TO THE EXTREME
of obtaining means for education in the
manner proposed When the bill was
stripped of the thin veneering which
covered it, it presented to his eye hideous
object. The bill aimed directly at the
perpetuity of a monstrous system OF inter
mel revenue ia xatton, and he would oppose
it 6rst last and all the time.
Mr.. Dean could not see the slightest OBJ
lection to the bill. 1t simply proposed to
appropriate So ZOO, 900 to educate the peo
pie in the South until such time as they
could educate themselves. The first duty of
government was to look out for the welfare
and protection Of its citizens. Europe was
swarming with soldiers aud bristling with
cannon for the protection Of the people
against invasion, at a cost OF many hun
dred OF millions Of dollars annually. Here
in the United States we happily did not
need a standing army, but we did need a
standing school fundIfor the protection of
our people from the invasions Of that great
enemy of civilization-illiteracy. And yet
the comparatively small appropriation nee
essary for this most worthy purpose was
sought to be withheld by gentlemen who
in the same breath, claimed to have
THE WELFARE or THE PEOPLE
at heart. Over 2l7 900 illiterates were added
10 the country within the last year; the danger
was rapidly increasing. Over 100000
voters in the South could read the ballots
they placed in the box. Gentlemen claimed
the bill vas an intrusion upon State SOW.
ereignty and yet time and again such
"intrusOns' bad been made, as witness the
| governmental aid TO yellow fever, cholera
and food sufferers, and appropriations for
the prevention Of these calauities Dele:
gates on this floor from the interior coun-
ties would state that although they taxed
themselves so cents on the 500 for school
purposes, and yet they were unable to
maintain schools for more than three
necessity of the bill. 1t was objected that
our Senators and Representative knew their
duties better than the members of the
House could possibly tell them. No doubt,
but he supposed they would be thankful,
on knotty questions Of this kind, to get all
the light they possibly could from their
constituents.
Mr. Dennis took the floor. He favored the
bill now before Congress but it did not fol
low that he favored q. J. r. No. TO- Much
| Of the time of the session was frittered
away by such resolutions as that now before
the House. and on that ground he favored
the adoption Of the substitute. BE thought
THE oTJECT OF THE BLAIR BILL
good one, and had he an opportunity
he would vote for it. but It was rarely ex.
pedient for Legislature to venture to in
struct Senators and Representatives, be-
cause the members OF the House were not
on the ground. They knew the Difficult.
ties surrounding the bill, and he was op-
posed to ordering them to do thing which
Delegates would not do themselves we're
they on the ground, But seventeen days of
the session remained. and vet the House