The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-01-06
CONGRESS.
senator Blair Calls up His Educational
Bnl-SenatOr Reagan, Of Texas,
States His Opposition
SENATE

SENATE
| WASHINGTON, January 5.-Memorial
were presented by Mr.. Blair in favor o
national prohibitory constitutions
amendment. One by Mr.. Hoar agains
the admission of Utah as a State so Ions
as its local power is in the hands Of th'
Mormon priesthood; also several in favo
of the Blair educational bill.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Hoar t.
provide for a worlds exposition at ths
national capital in 1892, and thereafter
of a permanent exposition of the thres
Americas in honor of the four hundredtt
anniversary of the discovery of Amer
| lea, was referred to the Select COMMITTEES
ON Centennial Celebration.
Mr.. Mitchell then called up the joint
resolution introduced by him December
IL, for the appointment of commission
ers to select a site for naval station on
1 the Pacific coast, and addressed the
Senate in advocacy of it.
Mr.. Dolph also spoke in favor of the
same resolution.
THE BLAIR BILL.
The Senator then, at 2:35, took up the
| business. The bill having been read in
full, Mr.. Cameron moved that when the
Senate adjourned to-day it adjourn to
next Monday. Mr.. Blair called for the
yeas and nays. suggesting that the Sen
ate might very well devote tomorrow
to the consideration of the bill.
The motion was agreed tO-yeas, 43;
nays, 10. Negative votes we given by
Berry, Blair, Blodgett. Coke, Colquitt,
Dawes, Dolph, Frye, Hoar and Reagan.
The unanimous report of the Commit
tee on Education and Labor was then
read, after which Mr.. Blair said that as
the bill had been long before the country
and had before passed the Senate, the
friends of the measure thought it proper
to yield the floor to those opposed to it.
REAGAN OPPOSES THE BILL.
Mr.. Reagan opposed the bill. He said
he could hardly hope to throw any new
light on the subj ct, but he felt it due to
the people of his State to give the rea-
sons why he should vote against the bill.
So much of the purpose of the bill as
looked to the enlargement of the COM
mon school facilities had his hearty ap-
proval, and any measure for that pur-
pose which did not involve a violation Of
the Constitution would command his
support. 1t was not to the purposes Of
the bill, but to its motive that he was op-
posed. His opposition to it was based
upon the absence of power in Congress
to enact such a law. Its passage would
be the adoption of a policy of centraliza-
tion which would establish the despotism
of the popular majority, overthrow the
Constitution and endanger the liberties
of the people. 1t offered bribes of money
to the people to sacrifice their manhood,
their self-reliance and their State gov
ernments. 1t would be q surrender by
the people Of their birthright for a mess
of pottage. He argued in detail that the
Southern States were not in need of Fed
eral aid for the support of their common
schools, and showed that in the State of
Texas the school fund for this year was
$3, 100000.
MIR. VEST OFFERS AN AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Vest obtained the floor, but
yielded to Mr.. Plumb, who offered an
amendment to the second section, pro-
viding that the money shall be .distribu-
ted among the several States and Terri
tories in proportion to their population
according to the census of 1880.
WHO VOTED FOR 1T.
Mr.. George stated that twenty-three
Democratic Senators had voted for this
bill on the two occasions when it passed
the Senate, and gave their names as
Berry, Blackburn. Eustis, Brown, Call,
Camden, Colquitt, Garland, George,
Gibson, Hampton, jackson, Jonas,
Jones, of Florida, Jones, Of Arkansas,
Kenna, Lamar, Payne, Pugh, Ransom,
Vance, Voohees and Walthall. The
number Of Democratic Senators voting
against it was thirteen.
Mr.. Plumb suggested the inquiry
whether the object in giving the list was
that some of the Senators who had
voted for the bill might get away.
Mr.. Blair read letters from educa-
tional authorities in Texas complaining
of a want of funds there and urging the
passage of the bill.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate then, at 4:5O, proceeded to
the consideration of executive business.
At $40 the doors were reopened and the
Senate adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, January 5.-1he follow
ing bills were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. E. b. Taylor, If Ohio-For the
preservation Of the woods and forests OF
the national domain adjacent to the
source Of navieable rivers; also to restore
the rate of duty on imported wool.
| By Mr.. Stewart, of Georgia-Author-
izing national banks 10 take liens on zeal
estate for loans of money.
| By Mr.. Collins, OF Massachusetts-To
establish a Marine Signal Board of the
United States, with o view to the adop-
ton of a code and system of marine and
| fog signals: also for the prevention OF
cruelty to animals.