The National tribune., 1886-03-18

THE EDUCATIONAL BILL.
The long debate on the Blair Educational
Bill, which has occupied the Senate about hall
of each day for a month past, closed with
the passage of the bill-ayes, SO; noes, IL
1t was not party question, the ayes being II
Republicans and 16 Democrats, and the noes
five Republicans and six Democrats. The noes
were Cockrell Mo-, Coke and Maxey Tex y
Hale and Fry (Me.), Plumb and ingalls, Kan
Gray (Del.l, Harris (Tenn.), Jones (Nev.)
Wilson (Md.)
The bill provides that for eight years after
its passage there shall be appropriated from the
Treasury the following sums in aid of common
school education in the States and Territories
and District of Columbia and Alaska. The first
year. s., 100000; second year, $I0,000,000; third
year, Sl5,000000; fourth year, Sl3,G0O,0OO
fifth year, $l1,000,000; sixth year, $9,000,000;
seventh year, $T000,000, and eighth year, So
0,000-making $77,000,000, besides which
there is a special appropriation of $2,GO0,00G
to aid in the erection of school houses in sparSely
settled districts, making the total fund S79,OO0,-
coo. The money is given to the several
States and Territories al in that proportion
which the whole number of persons in each
State, who being of the age of10 years and over
cannot write, bears to the whole number OF
such persons in the United States according
to the census Of 1880, until the census figures
of 1880 shall be obtained, and then accord
ing to the latter figure. In States having
separate schools for white and colored chill
dren the money shall be paid out III sup
port Of such white and colOred schools respect
lively, in the proportion that the white and col
Ored children between 10 and 21 years old IL
such State bear TO each by the census. Nc
State is to receive the benefit of the act until
its Governor shall file with the Secretary OF
the Interior a statement giving full statistics
of the school system, attendance of white and
col0red children, amount of money expended
etc, number Of schools in operation, number
and compensation of teachers, etc.
No State or Territory shall receive in any
year from this fund more money than it has
paid out the previous year from its own reve-
nue., for common schools. If any State or Ter
ritory declines to take its share of the National
fund, such share is 10 be distributed among the
States accepting the benefits of the fund. II
any State or Territory misGpplies the fund, or
fails to comply with the conditions it loses all
subsequent apportionments. Samples of all
school books in use in the common schools OF
the States and Territories shall be filed with
the Secretary of the Interior. Any State or
Territory accepting the provisions Of the act at
the first session of its Legislature after the pas
sage Of the act shall receive It's pro rata share
of all previous annual appropriations. Con
gress reserves the right to alter or repeal the
act The bill now goes to the House of Rep
reSentatives for concurrence.
TEMPERANCE IN CONGRESS.
There is popular idea that Congressman are
much given TO looking upon the wine when il
is red. to say nothing OF stronger beverages
There always have been, and no doubt will
continue to be. some among the lawgivers who
would hardly be selected as candidates on the
Prohibition ticket. but as a mass Congressman
do not fall below the average Of mankind in
the matter of sObriety. 1t may be added that
the use of liquor TO excess by Members of Con-
gress and other public men is much more rare
than formerly. An organization known as the
" Congressional Temperance Society" has been
in existence for more than so years. 1t was
started during the administration of John
Quincy Adams. 1t is true that at times its
existence has been somewhat precariOus, but
all this time it has been maintained. Its Sec
retary is the venerable DR.. John w. CHECKER
ing, who has visited Washington every Winter
for more than 90 years in the interest of the
society, personally soliciting Congressman to
join it. The organization celebrated its ami
versary here a few days ago, at which addresses
We're delivered by its President, Hon. Robert
B. Vance, of North Carolina; Congressmen
johnson and James, of New York Henderson
of Illinois, and others. The membership is
quite large the names of nearly half the Sen
atorS and Members being upon its rolls. IL
does not follow however, that all who Join are
tcetotalers. No personal pledge of entire abb
stinenCe is eXacted as a condition of member
ship, and, as a matter of fact some who sign
the list take their "cye-opcners and night
cap" with regularity. Such persons put their
names to the roll to show their goodwill to-
ward the society and their willingness to give
their influence to further its purposes. There
have been men in the Senate in years past who
drank a great deal too much for their own good
or the good of others. At present quite large
percentage of the Senators are total abstainers
Among those who do not use liquor in any
form are Frye, Vance, Colquitt Chace, McMii-
Ian, Congcr Dawes, Blair, Teller, Harrison and
Wilson Of Iowa. In the House there are not
less than 30 teetotalers Very few. indeed, o
the Members ever take more than they car
manage.
VETERANS IN CIVIL SERVICE.
The report of the GAR. Employment Com
mittee of the Department OF the Potomac
which has just been published, is not at al
encouraging. 1t shows that applications fol
employment have been received from Isl per
sons, and that the committee has been success
ful only in ID cases. Soon after the inaugura-
ton of Mr. Cleveland the committee called upon
him and presented an address, in which they
set forth the claims of the ex-Union soldier tt
recognition and his right under the law to re-
tain and receive office. The deputation which
presented the address was received very cor
daily by Mr.. Cleveland, and the committee
felt very much encouraged with the interest he
seemed to manifest. and went away feeling sure
he was in full sympathy with the address. Time
passed on, however, and the Administration die
not live up to what he had led the committee
to believe would be its course. COmrade after
cOmrade was being displaced, and finally the
committee prepared a second address In May
1885, which was signed by all the Department
officers and Post Commanders, and was then de
liyeTed to Col. Lamont to be laid before the
President. In the second memorial the atten
tiOn of the President was called to the way in
which the veterans III Government employ
ment had been treated, and he was requested
and earnestly urged to adopt some measure
that would protect the veterans in the en-
ploy of the Government, until good reasons
according to business principles can be showr
when they should be discharged"
The report expresses surprise that any ex
Union soldier or sailor, holding office under
the Government, should have cause for anxiety
about his official tenure, provided his oificia
and personal record is good, especially wher
it is remembered that Congress has passed
laws, which have never been repealed, but arr
now in full and binding force on those having
the execution Of them, and which not only pre-
fer such for appointment, but also protect thos
who are in Government employ from discharge
1t is also somewhat humiliatiDg that we mus
knock at the doors and beg for that recognition
which is not only ours by right, but is acknowl
edged both by statute and by public senti
ment."
Ia spite of these efforts on the part Of tn
| committee, the Departments have still contin
ued to discharge veterans without cause and +
! fill their places with those who have no sucl
claim upon the Government as the men whC
riclyad life aHJ limb IN save it