Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-01-28
NEW SCHOOL BILL.
Republicans Decide Upon More Ac-
ceptable Measure.

Republicans Decide upon - More Ac-
ceptable Measure.
MADISON, Wis, Jan. Ex-senator
Bechtner's bill, introduced this morn
ing, entitled. ga Bill Concerning the
Employment and Education Of Chill
dren," follows the line of the Bennett
law, but eliminates the objectionable
features.
Section provides that every parent or
other person having under his control a
child between the ages of and l3years
shall cause the said child to attend some
public, private or parochial school dur
ing the school year for a period OF not
less than twelve weeks.
Section provides that any child shall
be excused from attendance at school re-
quired by this act by the Judge OF the
county where such child resides or the
Board of Education or school district
board, and in every prosecution under
the provisions of sections ! and of this
chapter. if it shall be proven to the sat
isfaction of :he court or jury trying said
case that such person is not able to SENT
such child to school, or that instruction
has otherwise been given for like
period of time to such child in
the elementary branches commonly
taught in the public schools; or
that such child has already ac-
quired such elementary branches
of learning. or that his physical or
mental condition is such as to make at
tendance inexpedient or impracticable,
the person so prosecuted shall be ac-
quilted whether any such excuse shall
have been given or not. The section is
identical with section of the Bennett
law
Sec f. Every parent or other person
having under his control child between
the ages Of z and Ii years shall furnish it
such instruction IN the English language
as shall enable it to read and write the
same: but this act shall not nc construed to
prohibit any other language or branches of
learning.
Sec. 5. ANY person violating any OF the
provisions OF the foregoing section shall be
deemed guilty Of a miSdemeanor and on
conviction thereof shall be punished by d
fine OF not less than SIS nor more than $50.
Section defines truant chlld Identical
ly with the definition of the Old education
al law
Sec. z. No child under Is years of age
shall be employed or allowed to work by
any persons, company OF corporation to
labor or perform service III any shop. fac
tory, mine, store. place of manufacture,
business or amusement, except as hCreID-
after provided.
Section s empowers the county judges,
boards of education and school district
boards to except children over 10 years
of age from the operation of this act,
and to issue written permit to
that effect No child shall
be permitted to work unless be presents
such permit, and persons, companies
or corporations employing any child III
violation of the act shall be deemed
guilty of misdemeanoT, and shall, on
conviction thereof, be fined a sum not
less thar so nor more than $50
Section IL provides that any person
convicted of violation of any OF the pto-
visions of the act shall have the right Of
appeal.
The Republican, members were in eau
Gus until o'clock this morning before
they arrived at an agreement on the
Bennett Law bill, and did not draw it
hp until this morning. The measure
was introduced in the Assembly by Mr.
Mead
Henry c. Payne presided over the
caucus last night, and number of prom
inent men in the party were present
besides the legislators
The Assembly committee on educa-
ton Yesterday held a meeting and de-
cided to report favorably upon the re-
peal of the Bennett law A minority
report will also be submitted in favor of
Senator Bechtner's bill. The matter
will come up at tomorrow session.