Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-10-01
LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept. 18th, 1885.

LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept. 18th, 1885.
DEAR s1r.-I have lust received your let.
ter stating that the republican leaders IN Inc
pending Virginia canvass are seeking TO
make POLITICAL capital out of the failure OF
the "Blair Educational Bill' to pass the
House of Representatives of the last Con-
gress. hoo,
q member of the committee which has jurls-
diction of such bills. In the last Congress
the 43th-I was chairman of the sub-com.
mittee having immediate charge of the ques.
ton. Familiar, by reason Of my position,
with all the facts, | am very greatly sur
prised that any one should attempt to charge
the democratic party with enmity toward the
Blair bill. It's action upon that bill in tho
last Congress, both in the House and in the
Senate, gwas prompted by the same high
devotion to the cause Of popular education
which has illustrated its policy from the days
of Thomas Jefferson to the present time.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
18TH CONGRESS FAVORABLE TO THE EDU-
CATIONAL BILL.
The briefest examination of the record
will confirm this statement. On the very
first day permitted by the rules over half a
dozen bills granting federal aid to education
were introduced by prominent democrats.
This was on step. For the first time sepa-
rate committee on education was created so
that exclusive attention could be given 10
these bills. A committe consisting Of seven
democrats and four republicans friendly to
the general proposition was appointed by
the democratic speaker. A subcommittee
was designated with chairman, who was
the avowed friend of federal aid. The sub
committee presented bill within 20 days
after it was formed, appropriating hfty-tive
million dollars for public education, 8 bill,
except as to The amount, almost identical
with the bill subsequently passed by the
Senate. This House bill No. 1880 was &C.
companied by lengthy report showing the
Importance and necessity of its prompt pas
sage. This House bill was reported 18th
February, 1854, and recommlted. On Feb
ruary 25tb, 1854 it vas committed to the
committee of the whole House on the state
of the Union and placed upon the calendar.
I enclose the bill and the report. This was
the Ash Congress, LIST session. In the Sen
ate at the same session similar bill, justly
called from its distinguished advocate-the
"Blair" bill was reported on the 10Th o.
March, 1884,
If this question was political one, which
I deny, or if in Congress it had been treated
as party issue, which I also deny, will
anyone, in view of the foregoing facts,
charge the democratic House with luke.
warmness or indifference in its support? Ev-
cry fact, refutes such charge. Never in
the history of legislation was bill of such
Importance and involving such an immense
amount so promptly and unanimously re-
ported. On the 10Th March, 1884, when the
Senate educational bill was reported the
House bill Of similar purport had been on
the calendar for a month, lacking two days!
PARLIAMENTARY RULES, AND NOT DEMO-
CRATIC VOTES, PREVENTED FURTHER &C.
TION IN THE HOUSE.
But why, it may be asked, did not the
House pass either its own bill or'the Senate
bllp The Blair bill was taken up in the Sen
ate in seven days after it was reported. This
could be done under their rules, which arc
flexible, practical and sensible, differing
in that respect from those Of the House.
The friends of federal aid in the House were
unanimous in the opinion that as the Senate
bill made larger appropriation than the
House bill, and as we would have the bene-
fit of the senate's Judgment, We should
await its final action. This brought us to
the 10Th day Of April, 1884. By this time
special orders had been made for so many
important bills that it was impossible to
unite the friends of The Blair bill. l mean
the friends, regardless Of partias-republi.
can or democratic. The bankruptcy bill,
the Mexican pension bill with the Senate
amendments for the benefit of the soldiers
of the late war. the bills for the forfeiture of
the land grants, the national library bill, the
shipping bill, the public building bill and
others equally important were all struggling
for consideration. All of those bills had
their friends, friends without reference to
party lines, and these gentlemen were also
friends of the Blair bill. The Blair bill,
however, was not stronger than all OF these
bills together. The consequence was that
from day to day. under our absurd rules,
these bills fought each other and all were
killed off, That is, all of them-the Blair
bill included-failed 10 get the considera-
ton they asked. Many of these bills, like
the educational bill, had an overwhelming
majority, but by our ironclad rules were not
permitted to come to a vote. The appro-
priation bills which are always entitled to
consumed the balance of the
time not occupied by these bills called up un.
der special orders. When Congress adj
journed there were on the calendar five
hundred bills which, could they hare been
reached, would have been passed at once.
Will any one acquainted with the rules of
the House Of Representatives claim that
the democratic party shall be held RESPONSE
bic for the failure, under these circumstances,
to pass the Blair bill?
FAILURE OF REPUBLICAN CONGRESS TO PASS
THE EDUCATIONAL BILL.
The republican House of the 47th Con-
gress two years ago had the same experience
with the same bill The Committee on
Education ard Labor, of which I was
composed of seven republicans
and four democrats, unanimously reported
through its chairman, Mr.. Sherwin, OF Ill :,
House bill Gl5S-a bill appropriating ten
million dollars annually for five years On
he basis of il]iteracy There was an over
majority of the House ia favor Of
he bill, as evidenced by the fact that the
resolution fixing day for its consideration,
presented January Is, 1883, was adopted by
! two thirds vote, there being only twenty
noes. And yet when the appointed day
zane the friends of the bill. though in this
arge majority, under the same rules which