Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-06-17
THE BLAIR BILL.
FULL TEXT OF THE MEASURE
The Bill to Aid the Establishment and
support of Common Schools Pend
ing Before Congress.


support of Common Schools Pend
ing Before Congress.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
Of America in Congress assembled. that
for eight fiscal years next after the pass.
age of this act there shall be annually ap.
propriated from the money in the Treas
ury the following sums, to wit: The first
year the sum Of $1,000, 900, the second
year the sum of $1O,O00,00O, the third
year the sum of s15,OOO,0OO the fourth
year the sum of $13,00O,0O the fifth
year the sum of $15,0OO,0O the sixth
year the sum of $4,000, 900, the seventh
year the sum of $4,000, 900, the eighth
year the sum of 81, 900, 900, which several
sums shall be expended to secure the ben
edts Of common school education to all
the children of the school age mentioned
hereafter living in the United States;
provided, that no money shall be paid to
State or any officer thereof until the
Legislature of the State shall by bill or
resolution, accept the provisions Of this
act; and such acceptance shall be filed
with the Secretary of the Interior. And
ifany State b es Legislature shall de-
cline or relinquish its share or proportion
under this act or any portion thereof, the
sum so relinquished shall go to increase
the amount for distribution among the
other States and the Territories as herein
provided, and any State or Territory
which shall accept the provisions of this
act at the first session of its Legislature
after Its passage shall, upon complying
with the other provisions of this act, be
entitled at once to its pro rata of all pre-
yious annual appropriations.
Sec. 2. That such money shall annually
be divided among and paid out in the
several States and Territories and in the
District of Columbia in that proportion
which the whole number of persons in
each who, being of the age of 10 years
and over, can not write, bears to the whole
number of such persons in the United
States; such computation shall be made
according 10 the census of 1880 until the
illitcracy returns of the census of 1890
shall be received and then upon the basis
Of that census. And in each State and
Territory and in the District Columbia in
which there shall be separate schools for
white and colored children the money re-
ceived in such State or Territory and in
the District of Columbia shall be appor-
toned and paid out for the support of
such white and colored schools, respec
lively, in the proportion that the white
and colored children. between the ages of
ten and twenty-0ne years. both inclusive,
in such State or Territory and in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, bear to each other, as
shown by the said census. The forego-
ing provision shall not affect the applica-
tion of the proper proportion of said mon.
ey to the support of all common schools
wherein white and colored children are
taught together,
Sec. 8. That the district of Alaska
shall be considered a Territory within
the meaning of this act; but no accep-
tance of the provisions Of this act, report
of the Governor of the district, or expen-
diture by the district for school purposes
shall be required; and the money appor-
toned to said district shall be apportioned
annually, under the direction Of the Sec
retary Of the Interior, in the manner pro-
vided for the expenditure of other appro-
priations for educational purposes in said
district and for the purpose Of ascertain
ing the amount to be apportioned TO said
district the Secretary of the Interior shall
ascertain, in such manner as shall be
deemed by him best, the number of illit-
crates therein. rg
Sec. A.. That no State or Territory shall
receive any money under this act until
the Governor thereof shall file with the
Secretary of the Interior statement Ger.
titled by him, showing the common
school system in force in such State or
Territory; the amount of money expend.
ed therein during the last preceding
school year In the support of common
schools, not including expenditures for
the rent, repair or erection of school
houses; whether any discrimination Is
made in the raising or distributing of the
common school facilities afforded be.
tween the white andScolored children
therein, and, so far rs Is practicable, the
sources from which such revenues were
derived; the manner in which the same
were apportioned to the use of the COM
mon schools; the number Of white and
soolored children in each county or parish
and city between the ages Of 10 and 81
years, both inclusive. as given by the cen.
sus Of 1880, and the number of children,
white and colored, of such school age at
tending school; the number of schools in
operation In each county or parish and
city, white or colorcd; the school term
for each class; the number of teachers
employed, white and colored, male and
female and the average compensation
paid such teachers; the average attend
ance In each class; and the length Of the
school term. No money shall be paid out
under this act to any State or Territory
that shall not have provided by law sys.
TEN OF free common schools for all of its
children of school age, without distinc
tion Of race or color, either In the raising
or the distribution of school revenues or
in the school facilities afforded Provid-
ed. that separate schools for white and
colored children shall not be considered
violation of this condition. The Secre.
tary Of the Interior shall certify to the
Secretary Of the Treasury the States and
Territories which he finds to be entitled
to share in the benefit OF this act, and also
the amount due TO each. ).
Sec. 8. That the amount so apportioned
to each State and Territory shall be drawn
from the Treasury by warrant of the
Secretary of the Treasury, upon the
monthly estimates and acquisitions of the
Secretary Of the Interior as the same may
be needed, and shall be paid over to such
officers rs shall be authorized by the laws
Of the respective States and Territories to
receive the same. And that the Secretary
of the Interior Is charged with the proper
administration Of this law, through the
Commission of Education; and they are
authorized and directed, under the ap-
proyal of the president, to make all need