The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-04
Senator Spooner Shows the Weak
Spots in the Blair Educa-
tional Bill.
Republicans in the House After
Another Democrats Seat to
Strengthen Their Side.
Busk Tells What lie Knows About Wool
importations-A mn 10 Prevent
Eedistricting.

WAsHNeToS, March 3.-In the senate To-.
day Voorhees, offered a preamble and con
current resolution reciting that the recent
lease of the seal islands of Alaska 10 the
North American Commercial company con-
tains provisions Of law not complied with,
and directing the secretary of the treasury
20 furnish the senate complete copies OF all
bids for the lease with all accompanying
papers, MI testimony, memoranda, argu-
ments. letters, and correspondence, aud
that the secretary refrain from executing or
delivering a lease TO the North American
Commercial company until the subject be
inquired into by the senate. lie asked TO
have the resolution referred 10 the finance
committee rs that committee meets to-
morrow. SO ordered.
The bill fixing the salaries of judges Of
United States district courts at 5000 per
year was taken up, and after discussion
passed by vote of IS TO l.i.
The senate then resumed con liberation of
The Blair educational bill, aud was ad-
dressed by Spooner. He had voted once in
favor OF the bill, not without some misgiv-
ing az 10 its policy. When il came up
agai,i before the senate he had felt con-
STAINED TO vote against IL, and now as ~
was once more pending for action, he was
impelled 20 vote against IT, and desired TO
state his reasons for doing so. lie agreed
with the senator from New Hampshire as
TO the necessity of education among the
masses. and could not withhold the tribute
OF his respect and admiration for the su-
perb industry, courage. ability and con-
stancy with which that senator had pressed
the subject on the consideration OF the SEN
ate and country. Referring 10 the claim
that the republican party was pledged
10 support the bill, he read an ex-
tract from the republican national platform
and denied II contained committnl OF the
party 10 the bill. That IL could hardly,
with justice, be said 10 be party measure,
and he submitted that no proposition of the
kind ought 10 be or become n party meas
ure. lie argued it was for the state and not
for the federal government to declare what
the school system of state should be. He
asserted his belief that, since the bill was
introduced in 1870, there had come over the
country great change of feeling as 10 its
expediency. One strong evidence OF that
was the at itude of the newspaper press of
the country during tine discussion. In
the northwest several leading republi-
can papers bitterly opposed the measure.
seyeral Of the southern states were opposed
10 II through their senators. Leading news
pHpers OF tne SOutn were 10 longer III faNor
of If. Spooner went on 10 speak IN terms of
praise of the provisions for common school
education in the southern states, and said
he people of those states had not only been
doing well in the education of white chill
dren. but had been doing well in the educa-
tion Of colored children. He had seen, he
said, no stronger condemnation Of the
measure than the argument of the president
IN his annual message, and which the
senator from New Hampshire considered
az an argument in its favor the president
had said: "such aid should be, as il always
has been, suggested by some exceptional
conditions" Were there. Mr.. Spooner
asked. exceptional conditions which iusti-
iied the appropriation Of money for school
purposes TO Kansas. TO Wisconsin. 10 New
York, to California, TO Illinois and TO Iowa?
II congress was 10 offer 10 appropriate six
millions for school purposes in New York
IL would be laughed at. He believed
with the people as with individuals, self
help was the best help. He believed the
tendency of the day was too much for pa
ternalism in government and the policy of
the bill, If entered upon, would never end
All things considered the step was danger
Gus, unless II were necessary step, and he
denied it was necessary step. Adjourned.