Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-09

Icopyigt, 1855, Jytte California Associated Pressl
WASHINGTON, March Sth-The bill do
mating 8 per cent. of the cash sales of pub
lie lands in California to the State for school
purposes, favorably reported by a majority
of the Public Lands Committee. was called
IN in the House by Mr. McKenna this
afternoon. The Representative from the
Third District was jealous in pushing this
bill in committee, and owing to his exer-
ton it secured an advanced position on the
calendar. A minority report in opposition
to the bill was submitted, and the debate
to-day demonstrated that it cannot be
passed without a fight.
Mckenna's speech in favor of the meas
ure was short, incisive and convincing. He
recited the history of the terms upon which
the public land STATES were admitted to the
Union, and showed that every other State
admitted prior TO California's admission
had been given 5 PER cent. of the cash sales
OF public lands for educational purposes.
1t was matter of justice and right that
California should be placed upon an even
footing with her sister States of the West.
He said that the debate in Congress
upon the admission of California showed
that this grant was not made because
there was any purpose of refusing it. But
the political exigencies of that time were
such that this question, with several Others
was left in allegiance for further Congress
sional action. California applied to Congress
for money equitably due for educational
purposes many years ago. The State does
not come as mendicant, but to ask, as
matter OF justice. that the same treatment
be accorded her as was given States ad-
mitted to the Union Il" r. similar circum-
stances. The Unit ates Senate had re-
claim, but OWN 10 the difficulty of passing
bills in the House, which every member
appreciated, this measure had not received
the sanction of the House. He said that
as the minority report declared, California
was rich State. 1t had expended large
sums of money for educational purposes
1t needed more money for this purpose, and
every dollar that would come to the State
if the bill passed would be devoted to the
cause of public education.
Representatives Jackson of Pennsylvania
and Lands of Illinois spoke in opposition
to the bill. The latter had not concluded
when the hour in which the bill could be
considered had expired. They alluded to
the fact that California had received the
10th and Both sections of public land in
each township for school purposes, while
the public lands il States admitted prior to
California only received the 10th section.
He said the State was rich and prosperous.
and did not need assistance. Jackson read
from educational statistics that California
had to-day one of the best school systems
in the country. Other public land States.
when admitted to the Union, were required
to give promise not to tax the sales of
public land. The same proposition was
not applied to the California bill. He said
it would take 100000 out of the Treasury.
Lands was just about to make the state
ment that if the bill passed large part of
the money would go INTO claim agents
hands, when the hour expired.
The bill will come up again for consid-
Grafton on Saturday, when, if vote is not
reached within the hour, it will simply be-
come unfinished business before the House,
and no one can tell when it will again be
reached.