The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-03-07
SCHOOL BOOK WAR
Growing Warm Among the
Statesmen at Charleston.
CHANGRS MADE BY THE HOUSE
substitute-.New Text Books Adopted
but tho Bill May be Knocked Out
in the senate.-.Australtan
Ballot Bill Passes.
specsa, Dt,pa'eA to he 1atssltgaeer.

Ballot Bill Passes.
Special Dtspateh to Ae Iatelltgaeer.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, March 6.-Ther'
has not been a measure before the Lesif
iaturs this session that:has developed 81
much personal feeling as has the schoo
book question. Some Of the member
are lighting mad" each side accusing
the other Of unfairness. This morninl
one OF them told another that he was ne
gentleman and that he would meet hin
at any time, anywhere and with any
thing to settle what differences were be
tween them. Several other delegates
expressed a willingness to take hanc
in the matter, but fortunately the person
addressed did not see fltto make any re
ply and hostilities ended as they begun
in words. All was said in an underton'
and no one heard the declaration OF wa
except tho billigerents themselves anc
one or two others who were sitting near
The bill was called up this afternoon
on motion OF Mr.. johnson, OF Monroe
and Mr.. Gibson made quite spiriteC
speech in behalf Of Rays books. Hesait
the comparison that had been made aI
to the cost of Wentworth's and Ray
books was unfair. Only three OF Ray'I
books were generally used in the schools
and they cost Eve cents less than Went
worth's. Mr.. Ftndley said the amend
ment proposed to adopt Rays series,
consisting OF five books. Mr.. Gibson re-
piled that only three books would be
generally used in the schools, and Went
worth's books did not cover the ground
covered by these books. Wentworth
had higher book for more advanced
pupils, while three OF Rays books were
superior to all OF Wentworth's.
a CHANGE NOT WANTED.
There was no demand for a change in
books and according to the cost in other
States such change would cost West
Virginia 100000. and for the proposed
change OF arithmetics would cost $780,
600.
He spoke OF the proposition and guar
antees OF the American Book Company
TO furnish Rays books at a discount Of
twenty per cent from retail price, which
no thought was as fair to the people oi
the State as could be desired.
Mr.. Garden moved to substitute
"Ray's Primary Intellectual and PraCti-
cal Arithmetics" for "Ray's Series"
Judge Ferguson said it was his desire
to gain as much information as possible
and he must confess he had learned very
little from the discussion. The question
should be, where could We get the best
books, but there seemed to a de-
sire on the part Of some to
carry one book over another by means
which he didn't think exactly right.
He confessed that he had been preju.
diced against the American Book Com
pany since the Howard.Dyer episode
but he lived in the country and had
heard his constituents express them.
selves as opposed to change, and as q
representative OF his people he thought
he would have to oppose a change and
vote for MIR. Gardens amendment. Col.
Welch left the position which he has
heretofore maintained as opposed to
innovations, and announced himself as
decidedly In favor OF change Of arith'
metiCs and grammars. He said Mr..
Gibson's figures to show the cost OF q
change were preposterous on their face
and the gentlemen ought to know 1t.
The Wentworth arithmetics were pro-
gressive books in advance Of Rays in
every respect.
A TEST VOTE.
An aye and no vote was taken on
Gardens amendment adopting Rays
three first books, which was lost by q
vote Of "a to %. Judge Ferguson said he
had discharged bis duty to his constitn'
ents and moved to strike out Ray'V
higher arithmatics and leave only Went
worth's, which prevailed. Col. White
then moved TO amend the substitute by
providing for q contract for one year
and until otherwise provided by law,
the Governor to appoint a board, con-
sisting OF one member from esch con-
gressional district to elect, with the
State Superintendent, school book
board to meet by July l, 1892, and once
year thereafter, to recommend to the
Legislature such changes as they see tlt
He made quite an earnest speech in ia
yor Of its adoption. Judge Ferguson op
posed II In a brief speech, saying tha
the Legislature had been deviled at every
session by this question and he hoped Il
would not be inflicted upon the mex
Legislature. The amendment was de
feated and the question beiDg upon Mr.
Finiey's substitute 1t was adopted ant
the bill was ordered to its third reading
The sentiment in the Senate seems L
be to insiat upon the bill as 1t left thu
Senate. The substitute adopted BY thu
House was the same offered in the Sen
ate BY Morris, Of Richie, and defeated
and it will probably meet with the sam
fate again when 1t comes back. Th
fght against It there will be as warm a
Colonel St. Clair and other friends oI th
Senate bill know how 10 make it.
The substitute which passed tn
House proposes to Chadge AriLhmetica
GrammMs and Penmanship, which will
entail q heavy expense on the people o
the State,