Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-23


and be decided there.
Mfr. Echols .'Are you in favor OF
increased taxation?"
MIR. Martin: II do not believe IL.
necessary TO increase taxation IN ordsr
TO furnish free books to the public free
schools. but il il were necessary TO in-
crease taxation for that purpose
should favor IT,
Mr.. Echols called the pending ques-
ton, which was Mr.. Gil's amendment
to the substitute OF Mr.. Figgat, which
said mentproyides that no change
shall be made in the books Of the
schools oftener than once in four years.
Mr. Figgat explained that his sub
stitute provided that the books should
not be changed oftener than once in six
years, whereupon Mr.. ellis withdrew
his amendment.
The substitute of Mr.. Figgat was
agreed to-ayes, 46; noes, IL.
PERFECTING THE DETAILS.
Mr.. Downing thoughtthe matter most
important one, and while he favored
the substitute adopted, as to the bill
in the main he had some objections to
it-in the 5th section-for which ne Of
fered an amendment perfecting the de-
tails of the bill, providing for the pay OF
county agents to distribute the books
&c. Five per cent. on books sold is
allowed. The substitute for the section
does not at all affect the theory Of Mr..
Fiegat's bill.
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. Franklin offered an amendment.
as follows:
That the trcasurers In the several cOun-
ties in the state shall pay for the books tur-
nlshCd to the several school boards OF the
stale and said boards shall furnish the
looks free to all the schoOl-chlldren OF their
counties: and said treasurers shall he az
lowed credit for the amounts so pald IN
their annual settlements with the AuuiIOt
OF Public Accounts.
The Chair ruled that this amendment
was not in order, because the House
had virtually voted down the PROPOSE
ton by agreeing to the substitute OF
Mr.. Figgat.
Mr.. Figgat offered two amendments
periecting his bill, which were agreed
to.
Mr.. A. Fulkerson claimed that the
bill adopted was theoretically good, but
utterly impracticable. He believed that
if an attempt was made to make a mo-
nopoly in buying books the publishers
will be obliged to unite for self-protec'
ton. lie did not think it would work
well. The idea was to save 5000 900
to the State, but the practical result
would be that the State would not save a
cent. Mr.. Fulkerson spoke vigorously
against the bill, which he did not think
would accomplish satisfactorily the pur-
poses intended.
Mr.. Figgat said he was prompted to
offer the bill he proposed in order to do
away with the unfair and unequal scale
of prices which existed. Some books,
he said, that can be purchased IN West
Virginia for foity-fve cents each cost
sizty-fve cents in Virginia. lie be-
lieyed the platforms of the parties con-
templated furnishing books to children
who were unable to purchase them.
The different hands that books go
through now-the publisher, the whole
sale merchant, and the retail merchant,
each addingo on his profit in turn-keeps
the prices of books up 80 per cent. or
more higher than if bought by the State
in large quantities and retailed by the
Board of Education at cost. Publish
ers might attempt to "put up jobs " or
form monopolies, but he thought this
exceedingly difficult upon such men as
the Governor of the State, the Super
intendent of Public Instruction, and
the Attorney-General, who form the
Board.
Mr.. Figgat offered an amendment to
his bill which provides
That the Board of Education shall provide
the uniform sy stem OF school BOOKS rs soon
as 1t can be conveniently and economically
done: Provided that II shall commence not
later than LIST July. 1887. to be used by all
the schools OF the Commonwealth: and
after the adoption Of said system no other
books shall be used and no changes shnll be
made In said system for six years there
after.
Mr.. Waddill strongly opposed the bill
OF Mr.. Figgat. lie hoped the Legisla-
ture would give the public-school chill
dren free books. He was speaking on
the subject when the hour Of . arrived,
at which time the chair was vacated
until I.
Afternoon Session.
The House was called to order at !
p. M.-Speaker Stuart in the chair.
A large number Of bills were ordered
to their engrossment.
HOUSE BILLS PASSED.
Providing for working and keeping
in order the public roads Of Nansemond
county, and for leyying the necessary
tax for said purposes, with amendment.
SENATE BILLS PASSED.
To incorporate the ROckbridge
Savings Bank.
For the repeal of the game-laws as
they apply to the counties Of Dinwid-
die, Sussex, GreenSyille, and Apo
mattox.
To incorporate the Virginia Boom
and Log Company.
To provide for the deposit of State
funds in certain cases.
To incorporate the Richmond and
Allegheny Aid Association.
To submit the question of increasing
the levy for district school purposes to
the qualified voters Of Monterey and
Stonewall school districts Of Highland
county.
To allow the treasurer of Lunenburg
county to collect by levy certain tax
bills not returned delinquent.