The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-02-28
ex JAMES ?. HoRNApAY.


tives now has under consideration the
bill passed by the senate the other
day TO promote AmericaniZatiOn by
providing for cooperation with the
several states in the education of nom
English-speaking persons and the as
similation of foreign-bOrn residents"
The bill was known in the senate as
the Kenyon AmericaniZatiOn bill. II
had 10 run the gauntlet Of some stiff
opposition in that body, mainly based
on the cost of such an undertaking.
Assuming that the committee on edu-
cation reports it favOrably, and that
seems to be the committees intention,
1t will meet with opposition in the
house on the same grounds. Every
body realizes that the purpose of the
legislation is fine, and the view the
senate finally took was that with such
an excellent purpose involved, the
question of expense should not stand
in the way of carrying ii out.
Speaking in general way, the bill
proposes that the federal government
shall cooperate with the states in ed
ucating the illiterates of the country,
some 100000 in number. The bill
appropriates for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1921, S6.500,000 The
whole enterprise would be conducted
by the department of the interior. TO
begin with, S33G, 100 would be eX-
pended in administrative offices. Here
in Washington there would be one
administrative officer at $1,000 a year,
four at $4,000, three at $1,000, five at
So 900 each, four Mt $2,750 each and
five at $500 each. Clerks. ste
n0graphprs and messengers in Wash
ington would call for an expenditure
of $37 900 annually. AS the bill now
stands, four regional officers are pro-
vided for at $4,000, and eight regional
officers at $1,000 each.
Would AIIot Sums to the States.
After deducting the 1896, 100 set
aside for administrative expenses, the
remainder of the S6500,000 would be
apportioned by the secretary of the
interior among the several states "in
the ratio which the number of resi-
dent illterates and other persons I'M
able to understand, speak, read or
write the English language, sixteen
years of age and over bears to the
number of resident illiterates and 9th
err persons unable to understand,
speak, read or write the English Ian
guage. sixteen years of age and over,
within the continental United States"
There Is provision in the bill that
the total sum allotted to any state
shall not be less than $1,000 in any
fiscal year.
Men in congress who have given
thought to the Americanization problem
believe this legislation would fit in with
the Americanization features of the
universal training legislation proposed
In the senate military bill. There is
now some question, however, whether
congress can come to an agreement
on universal training legislation. The
leaders in the house Of representa-
tives have taken rather a determined
stand against : because of expense.
Peace Treaty's Chances.
President Wilson submitted the
treaty of peace with Germany
to the United States senate the
10th of last July. About one week
later correspondent for one of the
influential newspapers in the central
west notified his Office that he would
like to take his vacation, leaving on
July 26 and planning TO he back by
August 10. He expressed the opinion
that the treaty would probably not be
ratified before his return, though he
has confessed many times since that
he feared the treaty would be dis
posed of in his absence. Since that
time the treaty has had many ups and
downs. II has travelled some high
ways and Il good many byways and
generally has had rough and tumble
time. Now that seven months have
gone by since the treaty was sub
mtted 10 the senate, Washington
newspaper correspondent should he be
planning another vacation for the i'm
mediate future, would be inclined tn
express the view that he might take
a short rest and get back before the
ratification of the treaty.
But since everybody so misjudged
the situation last July no one with a
care for his reputation would attempt
at this time to prOphesy when the
treaty will be ratified. Ii has travelled
rather wide circle, and so far as the
parliamentary situation in the senate
is concerned, is back 10 where it was
on the 10th of last September when
the foreign relations committee re-
ported il 10 the senate. Just before
the extra session of congress came to
an end last November the treaty was
laid away in what its enemies, in any
event. regarded as its last resting
place, and good many funeral
speeches were made over il,
Only One Course for the Senate.
To most persons here who have fol-
lowed the subject with care from day