The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-28

why they can't vote upon it Just now. / am
opposed to giving any more power ID the
State Board than ii has now, and / think the
House has concluded that the State Board OF
Education las Just as much authority as it
ought to have.
Mr. MOODY: don't know whether / am
in favor of the bill or not; bat it seems 10
me that the author OF this bill: would cer-
tsinly not introduce il unless it had some
merits. i would suggest that We let the
committee dispose Of the bill; il may be
done BY them in their report.
Nh. FRENCH: / don't know bat have
! already expressed my views on such bill
as THE. This is not the irst time that bill
has come IN here 10 give O monopoly TO the
State Board OF Education. This bill would
certainly make il a perfect monopoly. These
rspeateo attempts coming into this Assem-
bly, 10 create monopolist power shall meet
my opposition every time, whether il is re-
Jected at this point or not. / stand opposed
10 this bill.
Mr.. DEEM: There seems to me
crying demand to remedy this evil OF
the change OF school books. 1t see
It should DO allowed 10 60 to the committee.
IL it is good bill il ought to 60 to the COM
mittee and the committee have the right TO
amend the bill.
Mr.. NcHENRY: Inasmuch as the motion
now pending, il it prevails will be the death
sailed by gentlemen of the House as an IN
proper measure, il devolves upon me- as the
introoucer OF the bill, TO say something in
its defense. / introduced that bill in good
faith. 1t was not produced on tbs spur OF the
moment but after many years consideFa
ton. Gentlemen on this floor know very
well thet the respective County Boards and
Township Trustees will vote for the Sdop-
tion of text books without ever looking into
them. Toey would be unable to tell any
thing about the text books. You know very
well that To EEship Trustees are chosen in a
great many instances on account, not Of
their htnIss but on account OF most any
thing else than their knowledge of text
books. When IL comes to pass upon school
matters they are no better fitted for il than
the average citizen. The object is not to
put more power in the State Board OF Edu.
ton, but % put the selection of school
books II the hands OF men fitted
10 select the 4, and so they can't
be change at the whIm of the County
Boards. Tie 10 1tatiOns made here against
the honor and integrity OF the members of
the State Board o. Education are entirely
unwarranted 1 have the highest regard for
the abilities of the State Board of Education.
We require uniform system of textbooks.
People passing from one county to another
leave one class OF text books and meet with
another class, and they are obliged to buy q
new set OF books to send their children to
school with. have given in short The rea-
sons Why / have introduced this bill. / have
introduced it with the best consideration OF
al parties, and not with view to increase
the power of the state Board OF Flu.
cation.
Mr.. BROWNING: l had concluded to
vote against that motion until l heard the
author of the bill speak. Now / am opposed
to the bill. l can not agree with him when
he says that the County Boards and Town
ship Trustees are ignoramuses. / SIN willing
70 stand by the Township Trustees. What
mieht be right and proper for one couaty
in regard 10 text books might not be right
and proper for another. We have grown 20
our exalted position in education under and
by virtue Of County Boards selecting the
text books. sm opposed TO the centraliza.
ton o: power in the State Board OF EdUca-
tiop. ] think We had better conclude 10 let
well enough alone. We have got at the
head Of the heap, and Why do We desise t.
get up farther?
Mr.. ENGLE: l am satisfied that the mem.
beTs on the floor OF this House are not &C.
oueinted with the provisions of this bin in
trodUced here; and further l am satisfied
that they have not investigated and do not
know what the Law Is on this subject. l
think it is but fair TO the gentleman who in.
troduce6 this bill to send il TO a committee
to investigate it. ! hope the motion will
not prevail.
Mr.. WILLIAMS: am strongly opposed
10 the passage OF this bill; still shall taks
great pleasure in voting against the motion
to rel Jet il. Every mem Der ought TO have q
right to 90 before committee and try to
satisfy the members of the committee that
it is q Just and fair bill. / think that
courtesy ought TO be shown 20 every mem
ber
Mr. LLOYD: II there is any subject more
than another, IN my opinion, that com
mends itself To this body it is this very SAB
ieot OF text books in the common schools.
If there is one evil prevailing among the
people OF the State that commends itself for
remedy TO this body more than another il is
the evil that is creeping into the system OF
common schools in the way Of text books.
And whether this bill passes or not in my
opinion this House ought to delegate some
power TO some committee that vii invest
gate and bring up 8 bill requiring uai-
form system of text books in the
state OF Indiana. When il comes O.
this that the poor people OF this Stat
are compelled to make an investment Of s.
or $40 year for text books and when they
move to another county they have to buy
another class of books when this evil creep
IN, 1T Is subject worthy OF our gconsiders-
tion. The bill under consideration, il no.
IN proper form or shape. should be consid
ered by the members OF the House RnC
amended so that the people OF Indisna vii
have q uniform system of textbooks. Thsre
fore hoIe that this bill will not be sun
msrily cast aside, but that the members OF
the House will give il their attention before
rejecting it.
Mr.. GORDON: I will suggest to members
whose ideas OF prOpriety have been OUTRAGED
that they repeal rule 81. To my mind mo
ton 10 strike out the enacting c ause is
equally as summary as motion to reject
IL IS said that members don't understand the
law it exists; If il is desired little inf r.
nation can DC given on this subject. Now,
. h - 49, II.
Board OF Education, and they are provided
10 continue in use six years. Except by
unanimous consent OF that board no chsu ge
can be made in that time. l will also state
that in most cases the County Board OF Ed
ucAtion are guided by the advice of the
County SCDsrintenGent III the Comfy