Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-03-11
MONEY FOR SCHOOLS.
The Blair Educational Bill Passed I'm
the Senate-Seventy-nine Million
Dollars Voted to the States,
The Measure May be Vetoed Should it
Reach the Presidents Hands,

WASHINGTON, d. c., March 5.-Af-
ter seemingly endless debate and a
great display of oratory, stretched over
two sessions of Congress, the Blair ed
uctional bill passed in the Senate to-day
by surprisingly large vote, only elev-
ell senators voting against it. The pro-
visions of the bill are we'll known. 1t
appropriates $3.50, 100000 to be divided
among the several states and extended
over a period of eight years.
1t has met with bitter opposition,
especially from some southern mem.
bers who We're unwilling to be mendi-
cants on the governments bounty. as
they put it, and from strict constitu-
tionalists who objected to federal inter-
ference in state matters, claiming that
the government had no right to appro-
pirate money in aid of State schools. 1t
is confidently stated here tonight that
the bill will be vetoed by the President,
should the improbable fact of its pass.
ing the House occur.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
The education bill, as it passed the
senate, provides that for eight years af.
ter its passage there shall be annually
appropriated from the treasury the fol.
lowing sums in aid of common school
education in the states and territories
and District of Columbia and Alaska
The first year $7,OOO,OOO, the second
year SIG, 200, 900, the third year $15. .OOO..
600. the fourth year $4,000, 900, the
fifth year $l1 100000, the sixth yeal
SIS, 600, 900, the seventh year $7,OOO.OOO,
the eight year $1,000, 900, making $77..
000, 600; besides which there is special
appropriation of $4,000, 600 to aid In the
erection of schoolhouses in sparsely set
tied districts, making the total fund
$79, 900, 900.
The money is given to the several
states and territories ''in that proper
tio.. which the whole number of per-
sons in each, who, being of the age OF
10 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
1890 shall be obtained and then accord
ing to the latter figures. In states hav-
ing separate schools for white and col
Ored children the money shall be paid
out in support of such white and colOred
children between 10 and 21 years old
in such state as they bear to each other
by the census. No State is to receive
the benefit of the act until its governor
shall file with the Secretary Of the In
terror scatement giving full statistics
of the school system, attendance OF
of white and colored children, amount
Of money expended, etc., number OF
schools in operation, number and COM
pensatiOn 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 revenues for common
schools. If any state or territory de-
clines to take its share of the national
fund such SHARE is to be distributed
among the states accepting the benefits
of the fund. If any state or territory
misappropriates The fund or fails to
comply with the conditions it loses all
subsequent appOrti0nments. Samples
of all school books in use in the COM
mon schools of the states and territories
shall be filed with the secretary of the
.intereior. Any state or territory &C.
cepting the provisions of the act at the
first session of its legislature after the
passage of the act shall receive its pro
rata share Of all previous annual appro-
priations. Congress reserves the right
to alter or repeal the act. The bill now
goes to the house Of representatives for
concurrence.