, 1877-03-17

t CAN ALWAYS BE FOUND,
but the owner isn't always On hand.
| Mr., Piuney asked some questions as to back
| taxes under the Joliet charter.
in M conclusion: ssYou will lind that you cal, can
collect your back taxes in Joliet under that bill
| [tha Revenue Comlnittee's blll}. # YOU can't,
| then send for me-"
In response to further questions, Afr. Adams
| expressed a doubt Us to the e1pcdiency Of i1-
! Guiding in the bill the clause making personal
! pruperty subject to dstratnt- That had hotter
| tc done by amendment to the General Revenue
| act.
| NIr, Sittfr wanted to know: why SO many old
settlers in Chicago were against the bill.
Mr, Adams-I don't know Of any nun who is
against that bill who isn't
| AGAINST PAYING HIS TAXES.
| Mr.. Adams answered q number of other qucs-
tions aud the result Of 1t all was, that he gave
little comfort to the tax-tghters, and urged no
objection in particular to the bill, and he did
knock the pins from under some trivial objec-
tion6+ ..-
s1EEp1no-cAR COMPANIES. ~
The Acknowledgement has forwarded to the
Hon. r. X. Granger, Chairman OF the House
Committee on Railroads, in response to rcso
luton of that Committee, his opinion upon the
question Of Legislative control OF seeplng-tslr
companies. Iic says:
1t il now settled by the recent decisions of the
Supreme. Conrts OF this Staie and of the United
Stltrs that common carriers Of passengers and
n,cnt Of like nature nre subject to Legislative con
trol. Mum & Scott y. The People, 60 ILL.,, 70.
Chicago. Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company
w. Cuts, Attorney General, ct al. . Chicago. r.
gal Ners, 200. Upon the principle established
in these cases persons or corporations engaged in
the operation of Hlccpng-cars lis that business IL
now generally conducted, are undoubtedly subject
to such reasonable regulations us tht General as
scnlbly NAV see lit to prescribe. II the operators
OF sleeping arc not common carriers in gen.
crl sense, It in certain that they discharge func-
tions 80 intimately connected with those of cum
them AZ fully within Legislative control
as urc common carriers. The statutes now in force
in tins State respecting the transportation Of pas
companies. 1t is nut incumbent upon me- to sug-
sc-t what regulations OF such companies, II any.
arc matters which address themselves to the%sound
discretion Of the General Assembly. am very
respectfully, JAMES n. EpsAL1,
It is understood that bill has already been
prepared aud will be introduced on Monday Oh
Tuesday to provide for the control of sleeping,
car corporations, etc -
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. -
10 the Editor OF The Tribune.
PRINCETON, ILL.,, March 1.-two different
bills, known as House bills 90 and 22l, have
been introduced and printed, each providing for
Important changes in the School law The for
n,er is generally understood to conc from the
Hon. S. NJ. Etter; the latter WAS drawn up by
Mr. Juck, OF Decatur.
Mr.. Jack's bill, like others which be has pre-
scpted, IS full of |.little digs" us the Nation
calls them, petty restrictions upon every school
official lie seems to take it for granted that
everybody connected with schools will defrauu
the public ii possible. It forbids, for example,
teachers in State normal schools to re-
ceiye any compensation for services at Institutes,
and forblds, by statute law, the employment In
Institutes Of any person.conccrued in the sale OF
any article used in schools. It requires the
County Superintendent to swear to his Institute
bills, and requires School Directors to make
contracts with the teachers whom they employ,
requiring them to attend O certain number OF
Institutes, and even 20 so far us to suggest to
County Superintendents that they give !" low
mark u to those who do not attend the 1nsti-
tutcS.
Without discussing this bill at length, how
ever special attention is called to all important
feature common to both bills. Both make q
vigorous effort to redeem the County SuperiIl-
tendency Of Schools from the low condition into
which it mas fallen in many counties. Partly
from ignorance, partly. from false economy,
partly from prejudice, the Office has been SO be-
Titled, chiefly in those counties that need it
most, that unless It be raised to higher stand
ard, it ought to be abolished altogether
AS it Is, any man who wants petty office
US a stepping to something better,
can hold the office, draw q little money, have
chance to ride about the couExy electioneerlnE
the form of examining TEACHERS, and make
little capital for himself BY giving certificates to
particular persons regardless OF their qual1nca-
lions. In some counties the Superintendents
have never taught school, never visited schools,
care nothing about schools, and even would
gladly let the whole frce-school system 70 to
ruin, as would most who oppose the idea OF q
qualified aud paid County Superint.ndency..
These bills provide for salary, graded either
according to population Of county or to numbcf
rin H1yit rIny
minimum limitation. Both require the Super
iptendent to be an experienced teacher, and to
possess u legal certificate from the State su-
pcriutendcnt OF qualifications anu character.
Both make it his duty to visit schools and to
hold County Teachers Institutes. aud both pro-
vide for the expense of these institutes.
Mr.. Etter's bill provides that the Co1ty 81"
pcriutendent shall be chosen by the County
Board, either Of Supervisors or Conin,ssloners'
ut their regular meeting in Scpteriber: Mr.;
Jacks bill provides for his election by the School
Directors Of the county, assembled III conrcn-
ton for this purpose. at the, eoupty-seat-a
method expensive and in1practicable
The method proposed BY Mr.. Etter seems to
your correspondent the best possible to bring
the office to its proper importance. AS we'll
might the people of Chicago elect their School
Superintendent annually in general election or
the citizens of the several wards the teachers OF
their schools, as to intrust the selection OF the
best man for the schools Of county to the
average party caucus. The best teachers OF i
county are the least likely to leave their
schools and canvass for votes. But to present
their claims and credentials to body composed
of tile business men Of the county requires 10
great time, and involves no expense or wire
pulling. The appointment plan will free the
office, to some extent, from political Intrigue,
and do much to make 1t sought by Those VINO
have hitherto declined to touch It OIL account OIL
its political associations.
It is sincerely to be hoped that our legislators
will not let this matter Of the school law pass