San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-01-05
THE BLAIR BILL.
One of the Most Important Meas.
ures Before Congress.
MILLIONS FOR EDUCATION
AN ACT TO GIVE TEMPORARY SUP
PORT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Seventy Seven Million Dollars to he Dis
tributed During tho Next Eight Years
Among tho States and Territories-Tho
Various Provisions of the Measure.
A bill tu aid in the establishment and
temporary support of common schools:
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 passage
of this act there shall be annually appro-
priated from the money in the treasury
the following sums, to-wit: The first
year the sum of seven million dollars (S7,-
600. 00U the second year the sum OF ten
million dollars $1,000, ,OOO), the third
year the sum Of fifteen million dollars
S1j, 900, ,000), the fourth year the sum OF
thirteen million dollars (Sl3, ,00O, ,OO0), the
fifth year the sum of eleven million dol
lars (S11 900. 00W, the sixth year the sum
of nine million dollars (S9, 900, OO0), the
seventh year the sum of seven million
dollars ($7, 600, ,00O), the eighth year the
sum of five million dollars (S5, 600, ,OOO;
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 S,ates Provided, That no money
shall be paid to q state, or any officer
thereof, until the legislature Of the state
shall, by bill or resolution, accept the
| 81
ance shall be filed with the secretary OF
the interior. And if any state, by its legis-
lature, shall decline or relinquish its share
or proportion under this act, or any por-
tion thereof, the sum so relinquished shall
60 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 pro-
visions of this act, at the first session of
it's legislature after its passage, shall,
upon complying with the provisions OF
this act, be entitled at once to its pro rata
share of all previous annual appropria-
tions.
SEC. g. 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 ten years
and over, cannot write, bears to the whole
number of such persons in the United
States; such computation shall be made
according to the census of eighteen hun
dred and eighty until the illiteracy re-
turns 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
trlct of Columbia, in which there shall
be separate schools for white and colored
children, the money received in such state
or territory, and in the District of Colum
bia, shall be apportioned and paid out for
the support of such white and colored
schools, respectively, in the proper
ton that the white and colored children
between the ages Of ten years and
twenty-one years, both inclusive, in such
state or territory, and in the District Of
Columbia bear to each other, as shown
vision shall 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 to-
gether
Il SEC. 3. That the district Of Alaska shall
be considered a territory within the
meaning of this act; but no acceptance
of the provisions of this act, report Of the
governor Of the district, or expenditure
by the district for school purposes shall
be required; and the money apportioned
10 said district shall be expended an
nually, under the direction Of the secre-
tary of the interior, in the manner pro-
yided for the expenditure Of other ap-
preparations for educational purposes in
said district; and for the purpose Of as
certaining the amount to be appOrtiOned
to said district the Secretary of the in
terror shall ascertain. in such manner as
shall be deemed 10y him best, the num-
Der Of illiterates therein.
Sec. 4. 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,
certified by him, showing the common
school system in force I'm such state or
territory; the amount Of money ex-
pended therein during the last preced-
ing school year in the support Of common
schools. not including expenditures for the
rent. repair or erection Of schOol-hOuscs;
whether any discrimination is made in
the raising or distributing of the common
school revenues OF in the common school
facilities afforded between the white and
colorei children therein. and, ~ far ~ Il
practicable, the syurues from which such
revenues were derived. the manner in
which the same were appOrtio1ed 81 the
ne of the common sehosis; the number
a white and cOl0red children in each
county o. parish and city between the
axes q ten and tTenty-ons years. bah
inclusive. a. given by the census q
eighteen hundred and eighty, and the
number q chldren. white and colored
of surh -cllDol aee a-teniing schpsl. the
uuml-r a srhools in operation ir each
comfy or Tarish and city. white ard
rrla-s-I. tie stiloal term Scr e1rh class,
tt.e rlrrf...r q tssschers elupl1red. uhite
srl ssa1ored male and female, arld fhs
arsr1.-f 8rrTsfrlsafi1n pad z1th ff,af.iIfrs,
ff-r artrncs afferfnrlrs IN euch rlass, and
a. If--rl q ti,s srl,ssl terra. Nouuousg