The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-01-12

providing for the appointment of commission
to select site for naval station on the Pacific
Coast.
The motion was agreed to- and Mr.. Mitchell
addressed the Senate in support of his PROPOSE
tion. He said that nearly $57, 900, 900 had been
expended by the Government for navy-yards,
naval stations, etc, since its foundation. and
less than 5 per cent. had been extended west of
the Allegheny Mountains. OF the ID naval
stations in the country but one was Oh the Pa
cific Coast. He contrasted this niggarGIiness
Of expenditure for great waterfront with the
enormous outlays Of other Nations, and pro-
ceeded TO demonstrate our defenseless .e0ndi-
tion and the immense disadvantage we would
be in in the event of war bursting suddenly
upon US, especially to the whole Pacific Coast
from the Gulf to Behring Sea- distance of
over 5000 miles; that all its resources aud
rapidly increasing population, its growing cit
les and immense commerce is exposed to de-
structioa at any moment that we may become
involved in war with another Nation. He sub
mitted the opinions of prominent naval officers
in favor Of grand naval station, with yards,
docks, boundaries, machine-shops supply-stores,
etc., on Puget Sound, and made strong argu-
ment in support of that proposition.
Senator Dolph also made speech in support
of the Puget Sound naval station, and at it's
conclusion the joint resolution was referred to
the Committee on Naval Affairs.
The Senate then proceeded to the considera-
ton of Senator Blairs bill to aid in the estab-
lishment and temporary support OF common
schools. The bill was read and also the report
of the Committee on Education and Labor
unanimously recommending its passage with
certain amendments.
Senator Reagan addressed the Senate, giving
the reasons why he opposed the bill This was
based on the absence of power in Congress to
enact such law on the fact that it's passage
would be the adoption OF policy of centraliZa-
ton which would establish desp0tism of popu-
lar majorities, overthrow the Constitution, and
endanger the liberties of the people; because
it oilers bride In money TO the people to SAG
rifce their manhood and self-reliance and to
surrender their constitutional Government in
consideration of the paternal care of master
whose ultimate cruelty we may not now be
able to estimate" He proceeded to argue the
constitutional question of the power of Con-
gress to pass such a law, and cited the opinions
and decisions of the Supreme Court III support
of his proposition. He urged that Congress
had no power to levy and collect taxes for the
purpose, and quoted Cooley on Taxation" to
that effect. He said the people are to be taxed
to raise $79,000,000 to be expended under the
bill, and Federal officers are to be appointed to
examine and supervise the reports from the 80
| States and nine or 10 Territories The people
are to be taxed in addition to cover the cost of
| collecting the above sum- and for the payment
Of the salaries, etc, of the required officers and
clerks And, i'll a large measure, the money is
| to be collected from the people of some States
for the benefit of the people of other States. He
| claimed that the bill was unnecessary, for the
reason that all the Southern States have now
| fully organized systems of public schools in
/ operation sustained by the revenues of these
| States and all children of scholastic age re-
| ceive instruction.
| Senator George interrupted him to contro-
| vert statements made as TO Mississippi in regard
| to the amount of money raised and expended
| for free schools.
| Senator Harris. of Tennessee, also attempted
| to interrupt, but Senator Reagan declined to
yield.
He claimed that all education was not to be
obtained in the schools; that everywhere were
| found men of sufficient intelligence who could
| neither read nor write. Real education is &C
quired in the family circle. on the farm, in the
| workshop, in public assemblages, in the court
house, at the hastings and in the churches.
| Among the most illiterate classes there is 3
great deal of practical intelligence. All our
surroundings are schoolmasters. A person
with natural faculties can hardly be raised in
this country without practical knowledge
| enough to make q comfortable living, and TO
understand the principal duties OF citizenship.
He claimed that permanent school fund in
| Texas, in money and land, is greater than that
of any other State in the Union, or any country
in the world, and that the current available
fund for the present scholastic year amounts
to s. 100000 to which is to be added the $780,
GOO derived from local taxation.
Senator Blair obtained the floor and replied
by reading letter from the Texas Iron Nelas
which stated that the State now owes the teach
ers total sum approximating 100000, and it
is now near the end of the fourth month of the
scholastic year, and several Counties at least
have not received one cent of the available
school fund. The Senator also read letter
from William Preston Johnston, son of Albert
Sidney Johnston, and President of the Tulane
University of Louisiana. The letter supported
the Blair bill strongly, and said that the con-
dition of educational affairs in the South was q
fearful argument in favor of it. Gov. McEnry,
Of Louisiana had said in an address in August,
1885, that one-half of the voting population OF
Louisiana had no educational facilities. In the
city of New Orleans Col. Johnston said the con-
d;tion of the schools was disheartening. In
1887 the public schools received only $17I, 0OO
The school-houses are insufficient in number
and size, unsttractive, dilapidated, and some
times unsafe. The teachers are but poorly and
irregularly paid and if there is no change for
the better they will be ruined.
Senator Reagan said that possibly the collec-
| ton of taxes in what was called the drouth
district" of Texas had been suspended, and
this might be the cause for complaint there.
The Senate then went into executive session,