Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1884 — THE EDUCATION BILL. [ARTICLE]

THE EDUCATION BILL.

Text of the Measure Passed by the United States Senate. Following is the text of the Blair education bill passed by the 'Senate, and now on the Speaker’s desk in the House: Be it enacted, etc.. That for eight years next after the passage of this act there shall be annually appropriated from the money in the Treasury the following sums, to wit: The first year the sum of $7,(00,000, the second year the sum of $10,000,000, the third year the sum of $10,000,000, the fourth year the sum of $13,000,000, the fifth year the sum of $11,000,0(0, the sixth year the sum of $9,000,000, the seventh year the sum of $7,000,000, the eighth year the sum of $5,000,0.0; which several sums shall be expended to secure the benefits of a common-school education to all children of the school age mentioned hereafter living in the United States. Sec. 2. That such money shall annually be divided among and paid out in the several States and Territories in that proportion which the whole number of persons in each who, being of the age of 10 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 1880. Sec. 3. That no State or Territory shall receive any of the benefits of this act until the Governor thereof shall file with the Secretary of the Interior a statement, certified by him, showing the character of the common-school system in force In such State or Territory, the amount of money expended therein during the last preceding school year in the support of common schools, not including expenditures for the rent, repair, or erection of schoolhouses, whether any discrimination is made in the raising or distributing of the school revenue, or In the school facilities afforded between the white and colored children therein, and, so far as is practicable, the sources from which such revenue were derived, the manner in which the same were apportioned to the use of the common schools, the average attendance in each class, and the length of the school term; and no money shall be paid out under this act to -any State or Territory that shall not have provided by law a system of free common schools for all of Its children of school age, without distinction of 'race or color, either in the raising or distributing of school revenue, or in the school facilities afforded; provided, that separate schools for white and colored children shall not be considered a violation of this condition. The Secretary of the Interior shall thereupon certify to the Secretary of the Treasui y the names of the States and Territories which he finds to be entitled to a share in the benefits of this act, and also the amount due to each. Sec. 4. That the amount so apportioned to each State and Territory shall be drawn from the Treasury by warrant of the Secretary of the Treasury upon the monthly estimates and requisitions of the Secretary of the Interior, as the same may be needed, and shall be paid over to such officer as shall be authorized by the laws of the respective States and Territories to receive the same. Sec. 7. No greater part of the amount appropriated under this act shall be paid out to any State or Territory, in any one year, than the sum expended out of its own revenues in the preceding year for the maintenance of common schools, not including the sums expended in the erection of school buildings. Sec. 8. That a part of the money apportioned to each State or Territory, not exceeding onetenth thereof, may yearly be applied to the education of teachers for the common schools therein, which sum may be exnended in maintaining institutes or temporary training-schools, or extending opportunities for normal or other instruction to competent and suitable persons of any color who are without necessary means to qualify themselves for teaching, who shall agree in writing to devote themselves exclusively for at least one year after leaving such training-schools to teach in the common schools for such compensation as shall be paid other teachers therein. Sec. 11 provides that the Governor of each State shall furnish all needed information to enable the bill to be carried out for his State, and make full report as to the use of money furnished.