The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-01-22

49, @t1AAAOo nv uOlO lltClT VII
ces for a given number of years,
and who shall perform the duty of
preparing the jury list. This is the
system adopted by the United States,
aud it has given general satisfac-
ton"
REVISE THE SCHOOL LAW.
Next to the election laws, the
subject of school text books will
probably prove the most interesting
TO the people of the State at large.
Governor Wilson has very decided
views on this subject, and they are
set forth with holiness and force.
He comes out squarely against the
adoption" system, as it is known.
The kernel of his objection is that
it secures monopoly to the pub
fishers whose books are adopted by
the State. After quoting the present
law, the message reads:
CAS- these books, and no others,
must be used in the schools, and as
they are published only by the per-
sons or firms having the copyrights,
the prices are regulated by the pub
fishers alone, and we must pay
what they demand. 1t is said that
a certain number of book publish
ing houses have divided out the
territory of the United States, and
set apart certain portions for GER
tain establishments, so that if State
statutes tail to prevent competition
as those of this State do, the agree
mcnt of the publishers shall. So
Joseph's coat is parcelled out
amongst these clever business
brothers.
81 believe in adopting the same
series of books throughout the State;
but it is not necessary that the
series should be designated by
statute and the people compelled to
pay the prices fixed by legalized
monopoly. There are too many
valuable school books published in
this country to tolerate such OPP
preston and vicious system. If the
Board of School Fund, or State
Board of Education were authorized
to advertise for proposals for furnish
ing school text books, and to re-
ceive and adopt such books as
would constitute series upon
reading, spelling and elocution,
mathematics, grammar, geography,
history, natural science, &c, the
same uniformity would be secured
as under the present law, and great
unnecessary expense saved to the
people of the State annually.
MAKE OUR OWN BOOKS.
Proposals might also be received
from authors for manuscripts of
school text books, and from persons
who are willing to undertake the
compilation of the same, and, If
deemed advisable, the publication
may be at State expense, in the
same manner that the public print
ing is now done, and the books fur
nished to the people at cost. If
this were done, it would sustain q
valuable industry and furnish en-
ployment to many persons within
the State. This is matter we'll
worthy of your most mature and
careful consideration"
The discussion of this subject con
cludcs with the following bit of
Wilsonic English. 1t is a Jewel of
its kind: DOUBTLESS, should the
Legislature conclude to change the
present law, there will be the usual
number of wise men-partieuIarly
the modest professional lobbyists
from abroad, who feel such deep
and abiding interest in our local
affairs as to be tempted from their
quie. and peaceful homes-to offer
timely warming against the awful
disaster that must surely result
from any change in the present
economical manner of furnishing
school books TO the State.
THE REMAINING HEADS
of the message are discussed in the
briefest manner possible. The Leg
islature's attention is merely called
to several of them. Among these
subjects are "Bridging the Kanaw-
ha," Courts of limited jurisdiction,
''The West Virginia and Maryland
boqndry," "To change time of hold