Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-01-23
cALDWELL's EDUCATIONAL BILL.


Our Immediate representative in Con-
gress, Hon. Andrew ]. Caldwell, being
unwilling to support the Blair educa-
tional bill, on account of the constitu-
tional objections that have been urged
against it, has introduced n bill of his
own, which he says will obyiate these
objections and serve the same purpose
at which the blair bill aims.
We have before alluded to Mr.. Cald-
wells proposed measure, and our read
ers probably remember that it is his
idea to appropriate the proceeds of the
sale Of public lands to be used in the aid
oil education.
II this bill had been brought out as
an original proposition, it would be in
order to give it different treatment
from what it merits when offered as
substitute for the Blair bin. In that
light the very first thought suggested
is, 1t makes no disposition of the surplus
in The National treasury. The existence
Of this surplus is the predicate of the
Blair bill, and the advocates of that
measure base all their arguments on the
factthat there is such a surplus. Mr.
Caldwell's bill proposes that Government
revenue, get to be raised, be appropria-
ted for school purposes, while this sur
plus be allowed to remain in the treasu-
ry 10 whet the appetites Of hungry
lobbers and spur up the inventive facul-
ties Of ingenious politicians in devising
other means for its expenditure.
But why does Mr.. Caldwell suppose
that his bill will not meet with the con.
stitutional objections which the strict
constructionists have made to the one
that was passed through the Senate
The sale Of public lands, it seems to us,
rs asearee Of revenue TO the Govern
ment as much as custom duties or the
internal tax, AMI we don't understand
how the source from which revenue
might como would effect the constitu-
ltlo.sality OF its appropriation by Con-
gross
Judging from the precedents in tie
case, aud the history OF similar iegisla-
tien in the past, it seems to us that
snore objection could be urged to such
an appropriation than to one that mere
ly gave away an existing surplus.
In 1886 a bill for the distribution Of
the proceeds of the sale OF public lands
among the States, was introduced into
Congress and passed the Senate by a
/ aleasafote;. hut it becoming evident it
would fail in the House, a new bill for
the distribution OF the surplus in the
treasury was introduced and passed
In 1S41 bill for the distribution of
the proceeds of the sale of lands was
passed in both houses by party vote,
the Democrats opposing it as unconsti-
tutional. In 1912 similar bill was
again passed, but vetoed by the Presi-
dent.
In "Benton's Thirty Years View" "
"Cotton's Life OF Henry Clay" and the
ellie ana Times of Silas Wright the
whole subject is discussed, The con-
stitutional objections to the hand distri-
button were fully as great, if uotgreater,
than those to the distribUti0n of the
surplus in the treasury.
1t is well known to the readers OF the
CHRONICLE that this paper favors nation
al aid to education, and we are particu-
larly in favor OF putting the treas
ury surplus to this use, because nc
means half so plausible can be devised
for its expenditure. But as the bill oul
able Congressman has gotten all out oI
} his own head, leaves this surplus un,
; touched, and provides for an expendi-
ture of future revenue that might be
used in tightening the taxes, we are moi
) prepared to give it our unqualified en-
| dorsement, or to compliment the sagac
I ity of its author.
} Such measure as that Mr.. Caldwell
has introduced will serve no purpose
unless it lie to defeat the Blair bill. HI
5 will serve his constituents better by let
ting it be idle in the committee room
' and giving his support to the last men
/ toned measure.