The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-31
TIE SENATE SESSION.
Several Now Dlls-air. Floyd ProteSts-Co
. education OF tho Sexes.

THE SENATE SESSION.
Several Now DIIls-nir. Floyd ProtoAts-cC
education of tho Sexes
The Senate was opened without til
usual prayer yesterday. e
Severalnew bills were presented, anon
them No. 81, by Mr.. somerville, to au
thorize the State Superintendent of Ere,
Schools to contract for tho supply o
class bool3 to bo used in tho free school
Of this State.
No. IS, by Mr.. Scott, to transfer to Thu
county Of Ohio that portion OF the Cum
berland road lying within said county.
No. SO, by Mr.. Melvin, TO amend tn,
road law 60 as to compel the letting o
contracts for the construction and repai
Of roads TO the lowest and best bidder
No. 90, by Mr.. Dawson, to authorize
the County Court OF any county to est0b
lish therein true meridian line and tin
standard length OF Gunther's chain, ant
to provide that surveying done in coun
ties establishing the same shall have ref
erenCe thereto.
No.9 by Mr.. SOmcrville, 10 authorize
the purchase OF copies OF DeElass's History
OF West Virginia for the free schools 0
the State.
The House Joint Resolution to provide
for the renewal Of the insurance on tht
Capitol building in this city for sis
months coming up, Mr.. B. W. Prc'
moved to amend by making the time foul
months. The Senate refused, and the
resolution was adopted, only Messrs. b
W. Price and Cochran voting against it,
Mr.. Morrison's bill 10 repeal the eXclu.
sive clause OF the charter OF the Elk River
Improvement Company was passed, al
though Mr.. Floyd did all in his power to
delay action and recommit the bill, saying
That the parties directly affected by tho
bill, and who had not been given the
hearing to which common justice entitled
them, were present, and asked n chance
to defend theirproperty, which thebilt seri'
ously impairs. Mr.. EiOurnOy and Mr..
Somerville also asked that time might he
given to examine the bill more thorough
ly.
Mr.. Floyd gave notice that lie would
submita written protest against the nc
ton OF tho Senate, and demand that it be
spread upon the minutes.
CoEDucNTioS.
AT 8 o'clock, the special order, Senator
Scott's bill 10 open tho State University at
Morsantown to both sexes on All equal
footing. was taken up, the pending qncs-
ton being the passage OF the bill.
Mr.. Morris, in a polished aud frequent
~ eloquent speech, opposed the passage
OF the bill, for the rcasons that the Uni
versity had been Weakened by political
tights, that this step would increase tile
jealousy between the normal schools and
the University, and that the female por.
ton OF the population OF the State did not
need the special higher education de-
mandGG by the men.
Mr.. Dawson said this bill involved two
questions: First, is cOeducation generally
proper and expcdicnt? and second, II
this question be answered in the atlirma-
tive, is it right 10 open the West Virginia
State University TO the girls? On the first
question he had no positive convictions;
lie was rather inclined to favor coeduca-
ton generally. On tho second, it must
be said that the University has Of late
been miserably mismanaged, ard tho
Democratic party was responsible. But
Mr.. Dawson had made up his mind that
itany taxpayer wanted to send his daughter
to the University, his vote should not pre-.
vent. He would vote for coeducation land
the parent must judge whether IL is ALT
school for his girl.
MIR. Scott briefly answered the argyll
mcnts OF Mr.. Morris. lie said the exc!us-
ion OF girls from the University was an
outrage upon the tax payer. One man
might pay but little taxes, yet send his
whole family to the University, because
they are all boys; while his next door
neighbor, paying twice the lakes, has to
pay for the education Of his children, he
cause they are girls. Mr.. Scott read M.
mcrous strong expressions in favor OF CO.
education.
Mr.. MCCrcery opposed tho bill because
1t would entail some expense upon tho
State, and also because Monongalia and
Preston counties refused to double the
State school levy for the benefit OF the
back counties. lie arraigned the news
papers for causing the decline Of the Uni
versity. He thought il it cost $500
apiece 10 graduate boys it would cost
s., 500 apiece to graduate girls.
THE UNIVERSITY FAILURE.
Mr.. Smith thought il the Senate opened
the University to the ladies it virtually
said that the University was u 1T place
for them TO 80, and he doubted whether it
was. The University is not n success, and
he did not believe it could be made one
now, with or without coeduCaLion. He
would not send his daughter to it, nor
would he advise anyone to do so, under
the present management. He had not
heard that the ladies were making any
great or enormous racket 10 secure admis.
sion.
Mr., Flournoy expected to vote against
this bill, but he felt impelled 10 CRITICIZE
some Of the arguments against it advanced
by Mr.. Morris Us partisan and unworthy.
DE also accused Sir. Dawson OF jntroduc-
ing politics into this question. Mr.. Flour
noy opposed the bill because it proposed
q radical change in society, To teach the
girls that their sphere was not different
from mems.
Mr., Burgess favored the bill. lie re.
GREETED that politics had been connected
with this measure. Without regard to
partisan views and political effects he pro-
posed to vote his convictions. He saw no
reason for excluding the girls from the
University, and thought their admission
would have a good moral effect.
Mr.. Morris defended himself from the
charge Of Icing bitterlyspartisan, and re-
ferred 10 lis papers course on this ques'
ton to yindiCate him.
Mr.. Floyd also regretted the political
turn Of tho discussion. He opposed the
bill. He said incidentally that ~ great
Republican paper Of this city had made
1t q point 10 SANDER the public institutions
OF this State"
Mr.. Burgess moved, pending the dis
cpssion, to so into executive session to
act upon some appointments submitted by
the Governor, but the Senate declined by
q vote OF 0 to Is.
Then Mr.. Dawson resumed the discus
sion OF the bill. he said the Senators
from UamnshirA TPlournoy1 and ToUnm