New-York tribune., 1886-03-07
Tile EnUC1rLONAL Ell.

II is unusual in these days of partisan STRIFE
to record the passage of bill Of great public
importance by the votes OF a majority oi the
Senators of each party. The Educational BILL
which has been advocated with so much
industry and zeal by Senator Blair, after some
important amendments passed the Senate
again on Friday by vote OF 80 ayes to IL
noes. Tie vote in favor of bill OF the same
general provisions in the last Congress was %
TO IL in the Senate, bat the changes have
decidedly improved the bill and may have III
creased the chances Of its success in The House.
The measure may be considered from TWO
points OF view as to its cost and as 10 lis pro-
visions. 1t is likely to be opposed IN the House
bv members who desle large appropriations ior
less worthy objects, and it MAY be opposed py
many Democrats because the basis OF d'strlbu-
ton is the number Of illiterate children, ana
not the number of all children, white or
colored, of the school age. Bnt II snch Il
sneech rs the one made in the Senate by Mr..
George, of Mississippi, could be repeated i'll the
House, advocating the measure as Just ana
necessary consequence of the enfranchisement
of the col0rel people, it ought to influence the
votes of many.
As TO the cost Of the measure it will Of course
be objected that il takes a large sum from the
public Treasury. The amount appropriated IS
&79, ,OOO,0 900, but the largest amount to be
taken from the Treasury i'll any one year Is
$4,000, 900 in the third year, while only
81 1000, 900, beside the whole or part of the
separate appropriation of 10000 900 fol school
houses, will be taken from the Treasury IN the
first year. The total cost is insignificant after
all. compared with the value OF the measure, IL
so efficiently enforced as to accomplish the
object sought even in a moderate degree. The
country spends $2i,OOO,000 yearly in an en-
tirely fuitless effort 20 circulate silver dollars
that are not wanted. Certainly it ought to be
able and willing to spend the third or half OF
that sum yearly in building a broader basis of
popular intelligence for the future prosperity
of the Nation Nothing is more unreasonable
than penuriousness about just and wise eX-
peuditures, wnen the Nation is giving away
many millions yearly for buildings that are not
needed, for Jobs called "river improvements"
for employing officers who are useful only for
partv purposes, and for printing carloads OF
stuff in which members record their personal
disputes and strive to serve their private am
billions.
The provisions of the bill caused prolonged
debate in the Senate, and have been changed
in some important particulars. On motion OF
Mr.. Logan, it was provided that the Secretary
of the Interior should be charged with the
proper administration of the law through the
Commissioner of Education. On motion OF Mr.
Eyarts, it was provided that.if any state should
refuse the quota of money allotted to It, that
amount should be applied to increase the quota
of the other States. The most important
amendment was the one offered by Mr.. AlllSon'
of Iowa. providing that the distribution should
be prOpOrtioneu to the number OF lllltelate
children of the white or cOlorcd races, so that
where the number of illiterate cOlored children
Is greatest the greater proportion OF the money
appropriated shall 20 to the support OF colorcd
schools. This amendment, which Mr. Allison
and others urged as net only demanded by JUS
tice and necessary to the attainment OF the
objects of the measure, but as essential to
secure public assent and support in the coming
years during which it would take considerable
sums yearly from the Treasury, vas for time
strongly opposed, and its adoption renders the
measure far more mcrtorious. Very much
will depend upon the spirit i'll which such an
act is carried into effect by the Government Of
the different States, and much also upon the
mode of it's enforcement by the General Govern
ment. We have not thought well of this
measure in the past, and, while Mr.. Allison's
amendment removes some of the most serious
objections, we are not yet convinced that even
in its present form the bill is not likely to re-
suit in as much harm as good. Everything
depends upon its enforcement at the South, anu
we have only too good reason to infer what the
nature of that enforcement will be.