Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-02-27
THE BLAIR BILL.
Senator Jackson on Governmental Aid tc
Education.

The following is an extract from
Senator Jackson's recent speech before
the United States Senate on govern
mental aid to education
Mr. President, regarding the pend
ing measure as vitality important to a
large section Of the country and highly
beneficial to the entire Union, ask the
Indulgence oil the senate in submitting
my views on its constitutionalty, which
has been called in question, and in pre-
senting few OF the many canaidera-
tons which lead me to give it my
hearty support.
The bill provides, as now amended,
that for eight fiscal years next after its
passage there shall be annually appro-
priated from the money in the treas
ury the following sums, namely The
first year the sum OF $780, 600; the
second year, $l0,000,O0O; the third
year, $l5, 600, 900; the fourth year, Sl9,
| 00o, 600; the fifth year, 81, 00J00j; tie
sixth year, 100000; the seventh
year, $8,000,0OO, and the eighth year
100000, to secure the benefits Of
common school education to all the
children OF the school age living in the
United States; that these funds are to
be distributed among the several States
and Territories ON the basis OF litter
acy. That, rs the design OF the meas
ure is not to establish an Independent OF
national system Of schools, but rather
TO aid, for the time being, in the dcvel-
opment and maintenance Of the schools
established by local government, and
which must eventually be wholly nam
tanned by the States and Territories
wherein they exist, it is further pro
vided that no greater part Of the money
appropriated shall be paid out to any
State in any one year than the sum eX-
pended out Of its own resources or out
Of moneys raised under its authority IN
the preceding year for the maintenance
OF common schools. So that while the
apportionment OF the money appro-
priated is to be made among the States
on the basis Ct ilIteracy, the actual
yearly distribution to each, after the
tirst year, is not to exceed the amount
each State shall annually expend out OF
its own resources, or out Of moneys
raised under its authority for the sup
port and maintenance of its common
schools, exclusive OF the sum expended
in the erection OF school buildings.
The design and effect of the measure
is, therefore, simply this, that for the
purpose of aiding the several states in
the support and establishment of more
enlarged and efficient public schools re.
quired by our present and prospective
educational wants and necessities, to the
end that knowledge may be more widely
difused among the people, especially
the youth OF the country, the genera
government proposes for the limited
period of eight years, and on the basis
of illiteracy, to supplement to the ey
tent indicated the respective annual ex.
pcnditures by the states for the encour.
Eagement and development of their com.
mon schools. 1t is a proposition to aid
the states through their local agcncie,
in counteracting the conditions of illit
eracy now prevailing in their midst
conditions which in many, especially in
the ox-slave suates of the union, have
reached alarming proportions and be
yond their ability to remedy.