The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-03-11
Blue Outlook for the Blair Bill.

The correspondent of the Richmond
State, which is fast friend of the Blair
bill, writes from Washington:
The friends of the educational propo-
sition have gained only the first point,
and the hardest of the fight is yet to
come. The bill passed the Senate last
year, and but for the Allison and other
kindred amendments there would not
have been The slightest danger of its de-
feat in the Senate this session. But the
real tug will be in the House of Repre-.
sentatiyes. Within a few days after
Speaker Carlisle announced the commit
tees, sent The State information obtained
directly from members of the educational
committee to show that there was very
little hope for the bill from such COM
mittee. I had conversations with nearly
every member of that committee. Since
then there has been a slight change in
sentiment, owing largely to the indiyidu.
al efforts of mir. Willis, of Kentucky,
who is laboring zealously for the educa..
tion bill. But vote taken in committee
last week, even with the change that has
come over some members, stood seven to
FIVE against making report of any kind
to the House, and Mr.. Aiken, the chair.
man, who is violently opposed to the
bill, was absent owing to bad health.
From the best information obtainable
it can be stated that at present, no mat
ter what the price may develop, there is
little or no hope for the bill in the house.
Many plausible reasons can be cited to
substantiate this statement. In the first
place the revenue reformers in the House,
headed by Carlisle and Morrison, do not
desire the enactment of any law that
will in any way foreslall tariff reduction.
To vote away millions of dollars for edu
cational purposes they hold is not practi-
cable when the States ought to raise the
necessary funds to educate their children.
Some of the ablest lawyers in the House
object to the proposition on constitution
al grounds, even claiming that ques
tion of States rights is involved that
may cause trouble at any time. 1t has
been openly charged that Mr.. Carlisle
packed the House committee against the
Blair bill, and was so advised by the
gentleman whom he consulted when
framing his committees. The opposition
to the bill was strong last year in the
House, but as the measure was gaining
popularity the powers were shrewd in
fixing the committee.
1t is freely remarked that but for the
known Opposition in the House most of
the Republican Senators would have
voted against the bill in that body to-
day. They are pretty we'll satisfied that
the measure will not pass the House,
and, as shrewd political move, they
have rushed through Republican Sen
ate with a big vote, made all the larger
by the aid of more than half of the
Democratic Senators. If the proposition
is defeated in the House the Republicans
will 60 before the country in the fall
congressional campaign and say: "a
Republican Senate voted for the Blair
bill, intended to literally aid education,
and particularly in the South butitwas
defeated by Democratic House" 1t is
probable that if it is defeated in the
House more than a majority of the mega
tive votes will be cast by Republicans,
but the grand old party organs will mis-
represent the case and work the issue for
all it is worth.