The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1886-05-13
The Educational Bill.

Inc blalT euucaUonai OIL, winch
passed so triumphatly and with
suth an overwhelming nisjority
through the Senate, has Jared poor
ly in the House. 1t is believed TO
have a nisjofity there-so the vote
on its reference to the committee on
labor would indicats-but the rules
and regulations Of the House are
such, and committees are so power.
fol, that Congressman have not yet
been allowed to express their views
on this subject.
The committee on labor, to whom
the bill was referred when it was
found that the educational commit
tee was determined to kill it by de-
lay, has declined to recommend 1t
favorably to the House, and will re-
port q substitute instead, which pro-
vides that the net proceeds from the
sale Of public lands be applied an
nually for the period of ten years to
educational purposes among the
several States and Territories. The
bill limits the amount to q sum not
in excess Of of 81, SOC, 900 for any one
year; and under the division the
money is TO go to the States in the
proportion OF their children Of q
scholastic age, the illiteracy basis
being entirely abandoned. 1t pro-
vides further that the money shall
be under the control Of the States,
without Federal supervision or in
reference OF any kind, it being in
deed q direct donation to the States.
The provision in regard to its d.
vision is fatal to The bill, as far as
accomplishing any practical good is
concerned. AS originally framed
by representatives of those States
having the least number of litter
ates, and therefore getting the
smallest government aid under the
bill, it had some specific aim In
view, the education Of the negroes
in the South and the destruction of
iliteracy. AS reported by the la
Dor committee it utterly fails of this
purpose. 1t is a mere donation Of
money for school purposes to many
States that do not need it. New
York, which has a magnificent pub
lie school system, an abundance OF
buildings, a large fund and few il
literates would receive $S50,O0O +;
Louisiana and South Carolina,
whose school funds were stolen dur
ing the era of reconstruction, whose
school houses were destroyed during
the war and whose resources are in
sufficient to educate the tens of
thousands Of illiterate persons in
their midst would be awarded the
Insignificant sums Of $4,000 each,
or forty.two cents per educable
child, to right the neglect of cen
turtles. Mr.. Blair's proposition re-
ceived the cordial support OF the
friends of education, North and
South, because 1t was o direct attack
on the greatest enemy OF free gov
acknowledgements. The amend
ment is a mere distribution of gov
eminent funds, with no specific oh
ject, SO sparingly distributed, more
over, that they can accomplish but
the most insignificant results.
1t is proposed by the friends of
the Blair bill to bring the matter to
a vote when the Grain substitute
is offered by Offering a motion to
strike out all after the enacting
clause and insert the Blair bill. 1t
is thought that test vote can be
obtained on this question despite
the opposition of committees, and it
is hoped that this vote will show a
large majority of the House friendly
to this measure, which can alone
wipe from this country the stigma
and danger Of illiteracy and igno-
rance Times Democrat.