The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-03
LOCAL MATTERS.

TiRiiC EDUCATION - lEET'Doohs.- h'
>.ng,, committee on Public Institutions
,,rr ~, uf.At in The Senate chamber to con.
,,,,- ,np ,ati!ion Of the school OH ,cr> OF
,Ir,r,ca county representing that il Is ln-
',a,t,c,be 10 enforce the law that requires
a,I, ,uch books 10 be used in the schools
ore .,!rclci rs the State Board Of Educa-
,.,o The petitioners ask that the law
>. - src2lCd Is 10 give 10 the State Board
.,,. ne gutey Cf crC'udinG books trHIGh
',".n..a JlfyCtiOnGhi., and leave the county
5.,,rt tree ty u.e any other book they think
L.... an., requiring uniformity Of text
r,as. n he schools OF each county for thu
,,frp3,r ot facilitating classification.
Communication from the Governor in re-
.,oose - nh iuyiatipu from the committee o
h.. ,r,>rt a, III. meeting last night was read.
I'm. t,oy.rLor submitted 10 the committee
,,hrfh.r In vi~N Of the constitutional reia-
.n.r, between tbc legislative and eXecu-
tiya d,rarlul.ul> be should, either as metn-
l.- Of the Board Of Education or in any
other capacity. appear before the committee
rn discus, or 70 express an opinion in re-
,.rct to any matter OF proposed le@lS-
.,iiaa: Til. Constitution defines the
uuiy mode in which HE Governor
H4r officially communicate With the
,,.n,r raj Assembly. II the Governor Is not
only 70 form his opinion on matters OF penu-
rr, or inchoAte legislation. but Is 10 declare
.nl maintain such opinion before legislators
a 4dyAnce Of their action, the question
,gay be asked, How far does such prac.
tie Involve departure from The design Ol
,lr C1u,,i;u,iou and how far does it dero-
.l,, from the constitutional Independence .!
Il. h.,>utive department.: Is it not an un-
w4rrHntablc interposition ofEXecutive iufln-
enyein the business OF inaugurating bills and
.p9ne l"-i>l'ion: Doc> il not encroaeh upon
II, ri,t auiuerily ui the Legislature, and does
l. no, il II {, invade the priucip!e which
a.,,It- the ludeppndcnCe Of the several de-
partnsu;, ui tho Government!
Tn troyrInur submits that he could not
be cXpsctrI 10 declare thus indirectly his
opl-irn u;2n such proposition before it is
,t!hmr,i - him for his constitutional as
s,ui II dissent.
The Board Of Elucation will promptly
,!oiuCr aar evidence Of their action in the
l4>i. 4nd ANY facts within their knowledge
which The committee may call for, but the
committee VIII expect the Governor ~ ah-
-ta!n from personally participating il their
l'llh.r1'ion>.
\ Liter from nr, W. II, Rutrucr cxcusinc
hi,taIr" to aHcud was also read.
Hon. \. VI. Kelley. president ol the School
Beard OF 'lchmond. addressed the COMMIT.
4" III support Of tie petition. Mr. Kelley
gave an interesting slatemsnt Of the opera
tons OF the law 80 FAR as Tchnroifrs Is con-
crrucd, and said that the city bad expended
marty halt million dollars in the purchase
"f textbooks aud apparatus in the advancc.
mcHt of public education in Richmond.
Mr.. kelley presented TO the commiltec ar
amendment 70 the JlSt sectiua ui aD act ap.
proved July II, 1870. which provides that
tic Bual 4 Of Education shall provide school.
h"useS with such apparatus and library ~
NAV be necessary, and shall make such reg
uE,ions as will secure uniformity of text
books in each county or city. The schOo
boards shall furnish 10 the Board Of Educa
zion Al such periods as the Board may pre-
-cIlbc lists Of the books proposed to be used
III the schools; and the State Board shal
have authority TO exclude from the list any
book which in their judgment is Improper
oT Objectionable OH any ground; Whereupor
The county CT city board Shall substitute toI
the excluded book some other textbook
which shall be certified 10 the Board of Ed.
nrllon, who, if the same shall be objection.
able, shall prescribe what book shall be used
IL lir stead.
A mJorily Of the Board of Education con.
tend for uniformity Of textbooks through
l'i. he STATE, aud has 50 ruled up TO this
'uc The H,nrlco S.hool Board petition iol
Uorc liberty in this matter. II Is proposed
itI' each county board be allowed TO selecr
books for it, public schools, provided tba'
IA. If I,,I1 4 h,, ~ "a I
% exclude any Objectionable book which ANY
county board might adopt.
Alter the SUBJECT had been discussed, the
comml'tee arose with the determination to
roD>ICt' The subject at Il subsequent meeting.