The evening times., 1900-03-14

The Committee on Public Land to which
was referred the oil granting lands to the
State of Alabama for the use Of the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College of Alaba-
ma, for colOred persons, and the State Nor
NAL College at Florence. Ala. has present
ed a majority and a minority report. The
majority report favOrs the passage Of the
hill, and that of the minority opposes. The
report CT the majority in part follows:
The State Of Alabama occupies a con-
spicuous place in the matter Of public edu-
cation. In the last four years it has near
ly doubled its appropriation for the public
schools of the State. These appropriations
have for years been fairly divided between
the white and negro schools. and the COM
mittee find from the testimony OF the land
commission of Or. Washington's school
that in the recent case OF land grant
made by Congress at its last session 10 two
schools. one white and the other negro.
that the lands were divided with absolute
fairness between the two and that none OF
these lands have been disposed of. This
State is making an extraordinary effort in
the matter of the education of negroes. Dr.
WashingtOn's great industrial school at
Tuskegee is known throughout the United
States and in Europe. and the Agricultural
and Mechanical College at Huntsville. Ala.
the grantee in this bill Is cf the same
character and degree. and is nearly in
every respect equal to it, Hliteracy is very
great in Alabama. but its people. white aud
black. are doing their best to overcome it q,
and the committee recommends that they
shall be encouraged under these circum-
stances to continue their efforts by the
small appropriations made by this bill.
The LncL of Endowment.
Schools and colleges and universities in
Alabama. unlike those in the Northern and
Western States. have no permanent en-
dowment. In five years in the United
States. from 1898 to 1898. over $20O. .OOO 900
were given TO educational and benevolent
institutions; OF this amount IL is said that
hardly S3.0OO.C COO went TO the Southern
/ States.
The effect OF education in Alabama has
been felt and shown in public conventions.
[ both OF the whites and the negroes. which
have discussed problems affecting both
races and have endeavored TO elevate both
! races. One result is that Alabama has
been remarkably free from race conflicts
and riots.
THE Alabama State Normal College. at
Florence. was established by an act OF
the Legislature Of Alabama and has been
maintained as a frst-class institute and
! college. where pupils may acquire a thor
/ ough normal-sChOOl education. II has nov
! an attendance OF 800 students which. with
/ the requested assistance. could be in-
| creased 10 between 500 and Gee.
/ The college has been the means OF edu-
| eating hundreds OF young persons. who
l have not only been benefited Themselves
/ by this opportunity for their education, but
I are devOting themselves 70 the profession
! Of teaching and assisting in promoting and
! improving the efficiency OF the schools OF
] the State. These skilled teachers are
! working not only in Alabama. but In Ten
I nessee, Mississippi. Georgia, Florida. and
l other States. The Curri ,ulum Is OF a very
/ high grade. The establishment and main
! tenance by the State OF a college Of ;his
/ character is deserving Of the highest
! commendation. and where a grant. as
/ here requested, that does not require this
/ appropriation Of any money. nor Of any
/ thing that will avail TO produce money
/ for the Treasury, will contribute so murt
I to encourage as we'll as materially benefit
] the institution. 10 ought 10 be made
I The Agricultural and Mechanical Col.
/ leEe, for negroes. at Normal A,a. is edu.
eating the coloTed people Of Alabama ant
adjoining States in the mechanical and
. agricultural arts, and preparing them L
be efficient teachers.
/ The passage of this bill will enable
/ them 10 take lands which have been offered
/ 20 the public for seventy years without
/ purchasers. and by their energy they will
bring them into the market and be ena-
/ bled 10 double the number Of scholars and
/ usefulness Of this school.
TenCheS All the Trade.