The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-14
POLITICS And THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
s. BRO WN ALL EN-
House Passes Senate Resolution to Proceed
Against Him and His Sureties.
SESSION TO BE EXTENDED THIRTY DAYS.
Senate.
"WEDNESDAY, February l3. 1881.

senate.
WEDNESDAY, February 13. 1884.
Mr.. Hurt in the chair. Prayer by the
Rev. Il. p. Kerr, Of the First Presbyterian
church.
The Clerk commenced the reading Of the
Journal. Bfr. Eeaton moved TO dispense
with II. Mr.. Grim objected. The Clerk
went on. Later Mr.. Powell moved to dis
pcnsc with the reading OF the Journal. Mr..
Grim objected. The Chair put the ques-
ton to the house and It was agreed to.
The reading was therefore dispensed
with for the day.
cHANCERY COURT OF RICHMOND.
Mr.. Atkinson, chairman OF the Commit.
tee for Courts OF Justice, reported. with
the recommendation that II do not pass, O
bill proposing to allow the removal OF
causes from the Chancery Court OF Rich
msnd to the Circuit Court OF Richmond.
He also reported adversely against cer-
tam claims OF ex-Attorney-General Field.
RUNNING OF TRAINS on SUNDAY.
Mr.. Heaton. from the Committee on
Roads, reported, with the recommendation
that 1t do not pass, House bill introduced
by Mr.. Baker Of Chesterfeld) restricting
tie running OF railroad freight trains on
Sunday.
/ Goes on the calendar.
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.
Mr.. Thurman introduced and asked TO
have put upon the calendar bill TO pro-
vide that the Commissioner OF Agriculture
shall be elected by the General Assembly
instead Of being appointed by the Gov
| ernor.
| Mr.. Grim objected,
The question being on placing the bill on
the calendar, was determined in the affirm
ative.
Mr.. Atkinson was yet more lucky. He
obtained unanimous consent TO place upon
the calendar bill taking away from the
Governor the power to suspend State Off
GERS during the vacation of the General
Assembly. He vests that power in the
Board Of Public Works.
HOUSE AND SENATE.
Mr.. Wickham said that he had observed
that there were an immense number OF
Senate bills pending in the House, but here
the preference is given to House bills.
He thought "turn about" fair play, and
ne would therefore move that the House
bills be passed by, and the senate proceed
to the consideration OF the Senate bills.
| His idea seemed TO be that this course
would hurry up the House to action on
Senate bills.
The Chair said that the gentleman had
no right to refer to what is taking place in
the other house.
Mr.. Mccormick also attempted to speak
concerning the delay OF Senate bills in the
House, but was called to order
The Senate proceeded with the calendar.
TEACHERS INSTITUTES.
Mr.. Heaton's bill providing that in hold
| ing teachers institutes "no public money
shall be expended; that no school shall be
closed during such meetings; that no
teacher shall be compelled to attend such
meetings, nor be paid for attendance"
came up.
| Mr.. Heaton said that he had no objection
| to normal schools. such as proposed by DR..
Curry, but he did want to break up the
holding Of these institutes during the
school session. He said ii is lameDtable
fact that there are many teachers in Vir-
| ginia wholly incompetent; not only are
many Of the teachers incompetent, but so
are many OF the school superintendents.
He called attention TO the abuses Of the syS-
tenn in his own county Ioudoun), where
cation of the children had been spent in
the discussion of subjects foreign TO pub
lie education. He thought there ought to
be some way OF preventing incompetent
teachers being put upon the people, but so
far as he could see these meetings were en-
tirely iruitless; not only fruitless, but held
with money that had better go to teaching
children.
Mr.. Lovenstein saw no necessity for this
bill. The present law is ample enough.
While no doubt the gentleman is not OPP
posed to public schools, the passage OF this
bill would look that way. III the present
law is enforced it is sufficient. We ought
to be very careful in this matter.
Mr.. Loyenstein said bill would soon be
presented providing for the establishment
of white normal school.
Mr.. Heaton, replying, declared himself
in favor OF the schools, and for good teach
ers too, but opposed to the teachers insti-
tutes as they have recently been con-
ducted-more on a political than educa-
tional basis.
Without authority OF law the teachers
are made TO enter into a contract to pay
five dollars day fine for non.attendance at
these institutes. This, too, in the face of
report from Mr.. Farr that the teachers
are not required to attend these institutes.
Mi. Powell (Coalitionlst), in the course
OF speech twittlng Mr.. Heaton with being
a bachelor, said that he was no advocate Of
public schools; that he was opposed TO
them personally and considered the system
great humbug, but that he would, how
ever, favor them as party measure.
Mr.. Mccormick: DO ] understand you
to say that you are opposed to the free
school system?
Mr.. Powell: have always been opposed
TO it. will say this much have never
opposed that system as party measure.
Mr.. Glasgow: desire to say, Mr.. Chair
man. that l admire the independence and
spirit OF any man who Is bold enough to
express his opinion so openly. He is the
first public man l have heard within the
Commonwealth do this thing. do admire
his manhood.
Mr.. Powell: have made that remark
publicly from the stump. Personally,
am willing TO lend my vote and voice to |
any measure to protect the system II II |
becomes a party question-if II becomes |
necessary to the party am associated with. |
Mr.. Wickham: Do l understand the |
gentleman TO say he Is willing, under any
to make the free schools
party issues
Mr.. Powell i: That is exactly what !
mean, sir.
Mr.. Wickham Then l say II his party
takes that ground and view they are active \
enemies OF the free-school system.
Mr.. Powell: claim to be Independent,
md for the first time
Mr.. Grim: What party do you belong
toi
Mr.. Powell: II you listen you can draw
pour conclusion, which win not probably