Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-19
1HE RLAIR BRIBERY BILL.

In another column the REGIsTER publishes
q communication from Piedmont signed
-. W. t." taking exception to an editorial
in the REGiSrER opposing the passage of the
BLAIR Educational bill. The writer Of the
communication makes q strong and honest
effort 10 show why this bill should be passed,
although he insinustes very unjust susple-
ions Of the motives Of our statesmen in op-
posing it
The REGIsrER's correspondent thinks, in
brief, that the passage Of the BLAIR bill
would put into the State Of West Virginia
several hundred thousand dollars.
This, the question on its face appears to
uphold, and, were this the political millen-
ium and were politicians honest and opposed
to jObbery, it would appear to be upheld
throughout. But any such sum is
-iu possible, even if every cent to which
West yirgiSfa- would be entitled were liter
ally turned over to her. In the first place,
the fund is not to be distributed all at once,
but is to be doled out through series of
seven years. In the second place, the size
Of the appOrtiOnment is dependent on the
iIliteracy of the State. West Virginia being
a sort of Oxford, as compared with Missis-
sippi, her proportion would be correspond
ingly less.
The taxes now drawn from the people
yield revenue amounting to over SIS, OOO,-
600 more than is necessary to pay al the
expenses Of the Government, including pen
sions and the support Of the vast hordes OF
desd-heads which have gathered about the
administration during the last twenty-five
years. This surplus is 10 be disposed OF
(not reduced) through the medium Of the
Blair bill BY distributing it among the sew
eral States for school purposes within
period of seven years at rate that is de-
ternined BY each States iliteracy.
Aside from all else this bill is an sffront to
the self governing people of the several
States. Besides conducting to eentraliza-
ton of government, and an iniquitious state
ofafairs, it practically says that the people
shall not legislate and provide for the edu-
cation of their own children, but shall allow
Congress to do it for them. That the peo-
ME Of Alabama shall not educate their
childrsnin their own way and pay for 1t
out of their own pockets, but hat the
United States as a whole shall do it.
The bill provides that the most money
be given to the most illiterate States, thus
asking Massachusetts, to pay for the educs'
ton of Mississippi's children. This clause
in the bill is very entieing. Take some of
our own counties for instance, such as Nc
Dowell, Wyoming, Mercer, Monroe, Sum
mers, etc, where the people must pay the
enormous tax of one dollar on every hun
dred to give their children the scsntiest
schooling, and the teachers the meagrest
wages. While this bill looks as If it would
help our overly taxed people they may rest
assured that the proportion they would get
would fall long way from compromising
them for such q radical violation Of Demo
cratic principle and permitting the con-
troll Of their schools to 90 out
of their own hands and into those of the
Federal government, for that is what it
would do eventually. This Blair bribery
bill does not so say, and yet before the de-
tails were arranged and the alleged benefits
of the bill put into operation, there would
hedge around it al sorts Of federal restrie-
tons and objections
The uncoustitutionahty of the bill is an
other decided objection. The Constitution
says that the powers not specially granted
TO the United States are reserved to the
States. Congress was never given the power
to legislate in any manner regarding free
schools or to aid their establishment Pre-
cedents there have been for the distribution
of the Surplus in the United States Treasury
among the States, but the fac. renders this
bill none the less unconstitutional
If this bin, which has passed the Senate
il concurred in by the House and receives
the signature Of the President the peo-
pie win in future pay over S75,-
100000 year to the Govern
mspt which after deducting the cost Of col
lectipr and distributing, which amonnss to
about Eve per cent and probably ten Or
fifteen per cent more for leakage and steal
-. a.. .o,,.~nr,ant viii returs 70 the psO-