The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-01-26
TAUNTON. VIRGINIA. JANUARY 26. 1888.
Aid to Common Schools.

duced the following bill in Congress, which
was read twice, referred to the committee
on education and ordered to be printed.
A BILL to aid in the establis hment and
temporary support of common schools.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives of the United states of
America i'll Congress assembled, That fol
eight fiscal years next after the passage of
this act there shall be annually appropria-
ted from the money in the Treasury the
following sums, to wit: The first year the
sum of seven million dollars, the second
year the sum OF ten million dollars. the
Third year the sum Of fifteen million dol
lars the fourth year the sum of thirteen
million dollars, the fifth year the sum of
eleven million dollars, the sixth year the
SUN of nine million dollars, the seventh
year the sum of seven million dollars, the
eighth year the sum of five million dollars
which several sums shall be expended to
secure the benefits of common school edu-
cation to all the children of the school age
mentioned hereafter living in the United
States: Provided, That no money shall be
paia 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
if any State, by its legislature, shall de-
cline or relinquish its share or proportion
under this act, or any portion thereof, the
sum SO relnquished 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 cf this act, be
entitled at once to its pro rata share of all
previous annual appropriations.
SEC. 2. That such money shall annually
be divided among and paid out in the sew
eral States and Territories, and III the
District Of Columbia, in that proportion
which the whole number of persons in
each who being Of the age OF ten years
and over, eau not write, bears to the
whole number of such persons in the
United States; such computation shall be
made according to the census of eighteen
hundred and eighty, until the illiteracy
returns Of the census of eighteen hundred
and ninety Shall be received. and then
upon the basis of that census. And in
each State and Territory, and in The Dis
trict of Columbia, in which there shall be
separate schools for white and cololed
children, the money received in such State
Or Territory, and in the District of Column
bia, shall be apportioned and paid out for
the support of such white and colored
schools, respectively, in the proportion
that the white and colored children be-
tween the ages of ten years and twenty
one years, both Inclusive, in such State or
Territory, and in the District of Columbia,
beareto each other. as shown by the said
FThn eorcnniocr
not affect the application of the proper
proportion of SAID money 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 mean
ing OF this act; but no acceptance of the
provisions of this act, report OF the gov
ernOr of the district, or expenditure by
the district for school purposes shall be
required; and the money apportioned 10
said district shall be expended annually,
under the direction Of the Secretary of the
Interior, in the manner provided for the
expenditure of other appropriations for
educational purposes in said district; and
for the purpose of aScertaining the amount
to lie apportioned to said district the Sec
rotary Of he Interior shall ascertain, in
such manner as shall be deemed by him
SEC. 4. That no State or Territory shall
receive any money under this act until the
governor thereof shall file with the Secre-
tary of the Interior a statement, certified
by him, showing the common school sys-
tenn in force in such State or Territory;
the amount of money expended therein
during the last preceding school year in
the support Of common schools, not in
Guiding expenditures for the rent. repair,
or erection of school houses: whether any
discrimination is made in the raising or
distributing OF the common school reve
nues OF III the common school facilities
afforded between the white and colored
children therein, and, so far as is practi-
cable. the sources from which such reve-
nueS were derived; the manner in which
the same were appOrtioned to the use of
the common schools; the number of white
and colOred children in each county or
parish and city between the ages of ten
and twenty one years, both inclusive, as
given by the census of eighteen hundred
and eighty, 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 and cOlored; the school term
for each class; the number of teachers EN-
ployed, white and colored, male and
female, and the average compensation
paid such teachers; the average attend
ance III each class. and the length of the
school term. N money shall be paid out
under this act to any State or Territory
that shall not have provided by law sys
tenn of free common schools for all of its
children Of school age, without distinction
of race or color, either in the raising or
distributing of school revenues or in the
fnoilitiac off DrnviAo6 hot
separate schools for white and colored
children shall not be considered viola
tion of this condition. The Secretary 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 benefits of this act and also the amount
due to each.
SEC. 5. That the amount so apportioned
to each State and Territory shall be drawn
from the Treasury by warrant of the Sec
rotary 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 as
shall be authorized by the laws of the re-
spectiye States and Territories to receive
the same. And that the Secretary Of the
Interior is charged with the proper admin
istration of this law, through the Commits
SlOuGI Ol LuuCdllUlls anu bHGy dIG duGuOT~
lied and directed, under the approval of
the President, to make all needful rules
and regulations, not inconsistent with its
provisions, to carry this law into effect
SEC. 6. That the instruction il the COM
mon schools wherein these moneys shall
be expended shall include the art of read
ing, writing, and speaking the English
language, arithmetic, geography, history
Of the United States, and such other
branches of useful knowledge as may be
taught under local laws; and copies of all
school books authorized by the school
boards Or other authorities Of the respec
tive States and Territories. and used in
the schools Of the same, shall be filed with
the Secretary of the Interior,
SEC. T. That the money appropriated
and apportioned under the provisions of
this act to the use of any Territory shall
be applied to the use of common and indus
trial schools therein, under the direction
Of the legislature thereof.
Sec. s. That the design of this act not
being to establish an independent system
of schools, but rather to aid for the time