The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-10
A TEXTBOOK BILL
THAT PUTS AN ARBITRARY, HEAVY
TAX UPON THE CHILDREN
And Makes Provision for State Board
to Perform Duties That Are Now Bet
ter Performed by the Experienced
Justices and superintendent.

A bill 10 be entitled IAN act TO create State Board
| OF Public School Books, and whose duty IL shall
be to establish uniform series OF text books for
| the public schools OF this State.
Section /. BE il enacted by the General
Assembly Of the State OF Tennessee, That
three citizens thereof, OF the age OF twenty
five years or over, and OF literary attain
ments, one from each grand division OF
this State, shall be elected or appointed
by the Judges OF the Supreme Court OF
Tennessee, for the term Of two years, and
until their successors are elected or APP
pointed 10y said judges, and the same have
qualified by taking the oath OF office, said
citizens so appointed or elected shall con-
stitute and BIO known rs n State Board Of
Public School Books, and before entering
upon the duties OF their Office they shall
each make oath or affirmation that he will
faithfully, honestly, and without favor or
partially discharge the duties of said
Office.
Section 2. BE II further enacted, That IL
shall be the duty OF said State Board of
Public School Books to select and establish
u uniform series Of textbooks for the use
OF the public schools OF this State which
are now or may hereafter come under the
supervision OF the County Superintendents
Of the public schools OF the respective
counties OF the State, which books, when
adopted, shall be used in the public schools
not less than six years; provided this act
shall not 80 operate as To Affect or invali-
date any contract, or contracts, now exist
ing in any Of tho counties OF this State for
the purchase Of school books for the use OF
the public schools Of such counties, but
shall apply thereto after the expiration
| thereof.
Section 3. Dc II further enacted, That
within sixty days after the appointment or
election OF said officers they shall meet in
the city OF Nashville, Tenn, and organize
said State Board of Public School Books
by eocting one Of their number president
and another secretary, after which they
shall prepare and publish for thirty days
in some daily newspaper in said city OF
Nashville, and once week for four weeks
in some daily newspaper in the cities Of
Boston, Muss., Philadelphia, Pa, and
Chicago, ILL.,, an advertisement requesting
I all authors, publishers and dealers in
school books 10 send TO said board, for
inspection and examination, copy OF
each book they may have for sale, accom-
panied with their prices aud terms OF
exchange. And after said board have
given reasonable time mot exceeding
ninety days. for the sending Of copies OF
school books TO said board, In pursuance
OF said advertisement, the president of
said board shall call a second meeting Of
said Board OF Public School Books at
said city OF Nashville for the purpose OF
inspecting and examining all school books
which Nave been furnished them; and
when said board meets in pursuance 81
said call, each member Of said board shall
inspect and examine such school books rs
may be- sent them, after which they shall
select uniform series OF text books for
use In the public schools OF this State, aud
shall nogotinie with the owners or sellers
OF such school books rs the board may de-
sire 10 select aud establish, Tor the lowest
prices aud best terms II can for the pur-
chase aud exchange OF tho same, and also
Tor the deposit OF the books 30 selected aud
established for sale upon the terms and
prices agreed upon in ut least one place IN
each county OF the State.
Section 4. BE II further enacted. That
the Board OF District Directors OF each
public school district To which this act
applies shall notify the teachers in the
public schools OF their respective districts
TO introduce and adopt in their schools
the school books which said State Board
OF Public School Books may select and
establish for use In the public schools Of
this State; and any teacher falling or re.
fusing to carry out the provisions Of this
section OF the act within six months after
notice OF the selection Of any particular
book or books 10y said State Board shall
| be removed by the school directors OF I'm
/ 4 4 a. a III
State Board Ia promptly notify the Count,
Superintendent OF such county what serici
Of school books have been selected an,
established by said State Board Tor th,
use OF the public schools Of this state
aud the said County Superintendent =,
notified shall give like notice To the sccrc
tary OF the Board Ut District Directors IL
each school district in their repecliy,
counties.
Section .. 10 Il further enacted, Tha
all vacancies In said Board OF Publ,
School Books, by death, refusal 10 act. OF
removal, shall bc filed rs provided in th,
iirst section OF this act
Section q. Bo II further enacted, Tha
onch member Of said State board shall l.,
paid 81 per day lor each day he NAV b,
engaged In his duties ~ provided in thi
act, and all his necessary travelling cx
penses, including hotel bills, shall be- paid
aud all books, stationery ard stamps whicl
said Stale Board may roquircund purchlsl
iof the use OF said state Board shall al-u b,
paid for out OF the treasury OF the State
also including advertisements, tot all o
which the Comptroller shall draw his war
rant upon the Treasurer OF the State whcr
an iiomizcd account Of the same IL mad,
out and certified 10 ~ correct by the sc,rc
lary aud approved by the president Of III,
board.
section 7. Bc . further enacted, That I
he felony for any member Of said stat,
Board 10 accept any money. bride, or an,
other valuable consideration for iavonn,
or voting Tor the selection or adoption o
any particular book or books by said Stat,
Board for use IN the public schools ol Thu
State, and upon conviction thereof shall b,
imprisoned In the State rcnitcniiary mo-
less than two nor more than live ycars.
Section 4 BE IL further enacted, Thai
the mechanical execution OF the book,
established and contracted for, ~ well y,
the material used aud printing, shall b,
equal 10 the standard OF the book or book,
Us when contracted for.
Section o. he Il further enacted, Thai
this act shall take effect from and after IN
passage, the public welfare requiring H.
Look Out Tor Cholera.