Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-03-21
Orr Ges Moines Letter.
DIES MoISEs, March Is. 1872


III. Eaitor:-Compulsorv cauca
ton has been much discussed among
educators and intelligent men in all
parts Of the East and West of lac
wears. Massachusetts, many years
ago adopted the policy OF compelling
parents to accept the advantages OF
her liberal system of common
schools. 1t is claimed, and it seems
Justly, too, that the attendance ofthe
pupils is more constant than in any
other State. and the fruits thereof
may be discerned, in the fact exhlb-
tied IN the Z. S. Census of 1870, that
the per cent. of native born persons,
who cannot read and write is smaller
there than in any other American
Commonwealth The last report Of
the Superintendent of Common
Schools reveals an astonishing negle-
gence OIL the part Of those who have
charge OF the youth of this State.
1t sil,vs that in Isl! there were
4G1,529 persons between the ages Of
) ant, 81 years; and the average at.
ten1ence Of these children on the
schools was OILY 41,56s. Is it won
lerful then that good men are alarm
ed ani feel constrained to provide
some means 70 f)roe those, who have
Charge of children, 10 send them to
school \ bill recently passed the
Senate, Which authorizes the Board
of directors TO appoint a "Truant i,
Committee whose duty 1t shall be
to call upon che heads Of families ana
ascertain why they neglect to patro.
riz, the school in their sub district
or independent district. II it can be |
shown that tbs pupils have equal ia
cilities whether at private Or select !
schools to acquire a liberal educa |
ton this will be sufficient to exoner !
ate them from the penalties affixed |
for apparent carelessness. Various
and widely Inverse opinions were ex-
pressed or its probable efficiency. The
levotees OF moral suasion were very |
sare 1t would be total failure and a
iecund source of merriment and
down right ridiculc. The observa-
tons Of experienced educators in the
"Old Bay State tell q different story
The many AMI long enjoyed priv
ileges OF hunters and trappers in this
State, are becoming very limited.
Both Houses have passed bill pro
hlbiting by fine any person from en-.
tering, without the consent of the
owner. any field or enclosure, where
cattle, sheep or hogs are being fed,
and discharge any fire arms SO as to
flghtcn any such animals. Another
clause Of the bill inhbits the CARRYING
any killed game across such enclos.
urcs lest blood may drop thcrefrom
to the grass aud the iattcning bull
lock or porker may snuff the same
and the consequent fright may re-
tard the accumulation Of adipcse It's
sue to the great ,detrimen of the
feeder. Another bill has passed equal
~ terrible in its penalties and narrow
in its provisions which prohibits any
person from entering on the lands Of
any farmer, Without his previously
obtained permission, to shoot or en-
trap any prairie chicken, quail or any
other wild fowl. Is it fact that we
are TO have laws in Iowa like the old
English laws con poaching" that will
render every citizen Of a village or
landicss person liable TO impriSon.
ment or heavy fine, who shall seek
such recreation without real harm to
any body? 1t looks good deal rs if
the poor man will ultimately BE re-
strained III his locoulo.ion ana amusc
.mcnt to streets and high ways.
A bill passed the Senate yesterday
to compc! companies, that operate
railroads il THIS State, to attach to
every locom olive a bell. or in lieu