The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
CALDWELL'S SUB,TITUTR FOR
THE BLAIR BILL.
Railroad Right OF Way Through the
Indian TerritOry-LabOr and
Capital.


looRREsPOsDESoE or THE APPEAL
WAsHIEGToE, April 7.-"T am OF
posed TO levying taxes for distribution
is the concise form in which Repre-
senta i've Caldwell of Tennessee put
his objection to the Blair education
bill. Mr.. Caldwell is not only strongl
opposed TO the Blair bill, but has him
self introduced bill which he think
would accomplish all that is elaine,
for the Blair bill, and at the sam
time be free from all objections, boil
as to constitutionality and as 10 feast
bility, which are raised against tina
measure. Mr.. Caldwell's bill provide
that the net proceeds OF all sales o
public lands by the United State
shall be set aside annually as font
for the support OF free common schools
The Secretary OF the Treasury shall
annually apportion this monel
among the several States and Terri
tories, according to the number o
their respective populations Of ter
years old and upward, as shown by thu
last preceding published census OF tn,
United States, who cannot read anC
write, il being the intention OF thil
act to leave to the State the full
control and disbursement o.
said fund, according TO its
own educational system, and
under its own laws" The second
section of the bill provides that "be.
fore any State shall be entitled to re-
ceive its second or subsequent Install
ment OF said fund il shall have
provided by law, either general or
local, for the free common school edu-
cation of all the children of school
age, without distinction of color, for at
least three months in each year, from
funds provided for schools under the
laws of said State, pro gided, that sep
arate schools for white and cOlored
children shall not be considered dis
tnction OF color. No part of said fund
shall be expended in paying the salary
OF any public officer or other person
not engaged in teaching"
"This measure" said Representa-
tive Caldwell in an interview recently,
would provide a fund, as long as the
government has land to sell, for aid
ing in the support of the common
schools. Moreover, it is in accord
with our past policy to grant public
lands to the State for educational pur-
poses" Mr.. Caldwell is endeavoring
TO get his bill reported from the Labor
Committee as substitute for the
Blair bill which was recently referred
to that committee. II he fails in tn q,
Mr.. Caldwell will move to substitute
his bill when the matter comes up for
discussion in the House.
RIdHT or WAY THROUGH THE INDIAN
TERRITORY.
The House Committee on Indian
Affairs has been engaged during the
past week in completing a general bill
grant ng railroad companies right OF
way through the Indian Territory.
THE effect of this bill, said Repre-
sentative La Toilette of Wisconsin,
who is member of the committee,
Twill be to It p speculation by paper
railroad ompanies in rights of way
through that Territory. Heretofore,
such companies have made practice OF
getting right OF way by act cf Congress,
and then selling out to some large cor
poration.' The new bill, while in
tended to put a stop 10 this, guards
very carefully the rights of occupantso OF
land in the Indian Territory. Itgrants
nothing to the railroad companies ex-
cept right Of way 100 feet wide, and
limited station privileges, for operat-
ing the road. 1t involves no land
grant whatever.
"0utside of the general object, to
stop speculation in rights Of way"
continued Mr.. La Toilette, "is the
further object to let in the civilizing
influences which will come when rail-
roads are built throughout the Indian
Territory, no as to connect these PEG
pie with the outer world. But the bill
does not allow railroads to be built
indiscriminately. Only such roads
will be constructed as the traffic of the
country warrants"
Representatives La Toilette and AL
len have worked faithfully to prepare
this bill and get it reported in such
shape that it would be free from OBJ
jections.
CONTESTS BErwEES LABOR AND CAPITAL.
Washington is not exempt from the
contests between labor and capital
which are reaching other sections OF
the country. 1t is sal that the labor
organizations of this city, especially
the carpenters, bricklayers and other
classes of workmen employed in build
ing, have been preparing all winter
for combined effort to get better
termA from hnildnra whnn anrinr ,rnrl,