The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-02-20
THE SCHOOL BILL.

The discussion on the school bill
introduced IN the House some time
ago as a substitute for the law now in
force. has been full, earnest and en-
phatic throughout. The House
amended the bill freely, and the
Council restored a great deal Of the
matter that had been stricken out,
besides making some original amend
ments. The House refused to recede
from all its amendments, and a
conference committee was ap-
pointed. Tbs report was adopted by
tae Council, and by the House with
one exception; the House, however,
yielded nearlysevery point. This ex-
ception was the amendment inserted
on motion OF Mr.. Jacques, providing
that children, at the instance of their
parents, might be allowed to study
reading, writing, arithmetic aud spell
ling, with only a tuition fee of 81
above the amount of the echool tax
apportionment. This met with ap-
prevail from all sides, but tie Coun-
Gil and the conference committee con-
sidered it inpracticsble. The ques-
ton of striking out tbs provision,
which was voted down and q new
conference committee appointed,
brought out the following:
Mr. Speaksr-I am not in favor Of
accepting the report of the conference
committse in regard to the House
amendment to the tenth section. 10
speaking upon this eubiect l neces-
sarily shall have to speak OF myself
in which l trust the House WILDE
good enough to excuse me. The
House members of the com mittet
conceded every point in tae bill
excepting q few verbal errors. 81
determined were the Council mem
bers of the committee to have thei
own way, and so determined wer'
the House members of the COMMITTEES
that the Council members should
have their own way, that We los
ever substantial point. The amend
ment to the tenth section
was acknowledged by all tn
committee to be good one, but the.
would not vote for it. suppose
was too good. said | would be vii
ling to concede a change Of the fee 70
tuition from 81 to $3.50, or 81, o
$3.50, or even 50. Some said thi
was too much, it was more than to
scholars in some district schools wer
paying now. Others thought
liberal. But, Notwithstanding, tn
committee would not have this fO)
provision at any price, SO We wer
thoroughly beaten. We were utlerl
routed, completely defeated. horst
foot, artillery, baggage wagons, camp
follower, and all. We met the enemy
and We are theirs. My colleague
surrendered at discretion. They a.
caved in but me. Deserted by n
colleagues, l stood in the breacl
alone. l vas taken fighting. It Wa
forlorn hope 1 assure you. Tn
only other House member of the con
mittee who would have stood ehOulde
to shoulder with me, didn't happe
to be there.
Such an overwhelming defeat doe
not sit well on my stomach. NJ
soul revolts at it. Are the honor
and dignity, and independence, an
votes of this house to be given ava
in that easy manner? Are twenty
six members Of this house to b
voted down by sixteen members {
the Council in that shameful way?
hope not. I propose to continue th
fight here. It this house votes m
down, then I have nothing further
say. l move that we do net aoceL
the report of the conference commi
tee as to this amendment to sectio
10, and [ am in favor of anothe
conference committee being aske
for. But, Mr.. Speaker, you mui
not put the same members on til
committee as we had last time, {
we shall sustain another Waterloo d,
feat, az sure as you are born, snd
think one is too much.
The clause giving to the distrit
trustees the power to prescribe To
branches of education to be laugh
and the rates of tuition to be charged
amounts to rothing. They hay
always had that power virtually,
they had chosen 10 exercise it. Their
has been nothing to prevent them
but the evils the House amendmer
was designed to remedy have PR
vailed in places Notwithstanding.
In the course of the discussion Nj
Darlington supported the proposltlo
of Mr.. jacques, and said he was
favor OF looking after the poor, &
the rich could care for themselvei
Teachers now were not willing I
work for whet teachers did Whea b
and Mr.. FAIR were boysI and 20
could not get them to. 1t reminde
him of the story of the Irishman VII
wentto aQusker merchant to purchsi
euit of clothes, but who asked sue
a high price for them that the Irist
man properly demonstrated. Th
Quaker said: Gas l live | cannot Sc
the clothes any cheaper" when tt
Hibernie replied, ''D-n it. live {
l do, and you can" Mr.. Carringto
then eaid: ~ want it understood tht
1 am quoting, and not swearing.
have never sworn since became
member OF the church, Now, l SUI
port the motion of Mr.. Jaques, be
cause I want it 30 fixed that POI
children can get good education i
the elementary branches, and to pr
vent teachers from demanding sue
prices that poor children will be e.
, cluded from schools. I hope to sc
, the day when all our Schools will /
industrial, and every child will hsy
an opportunity of obtaining at lea
an elementary education"