The state capital., 1892-06-11
The Compulsory Education Law.

Da1gn III IDlS SDdLG Vic hIoCo1y VI SAAAS
much-discussed measure should be un-
derstood and passed upon by the voters
upon it's merits and not upon predJu-
dice to the advantage of one party or
the disadvantage of the other. In
1890 the opponents of the compulsory
law punished the republican party and
rewarded the democratic party on the
assumed ground that the one was in
favor of the existing law, and, therefore,
responsible for its passage, while the
other was opposed to the law and,
therefore, without responsibility. The
republican party does not seek to avoid
its full share of the responsibility for
passing this now unpopular measure,
but it does seek to establish it's fair
share of responsibility and no more.
The democratic party is equally re-
sponsible with the republican party for
it's share Of criticism as it would
have claimed credit if public sentiment
had awarded praise instead of censure
upon the general assembly for enacting
the law. For the purpose of fixing the
responsibility just where it belongs it is
here proposed, as briefly as possible, to
give the history of this legislation in
the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh
general assemblies in order that the
people of the state may be fully advised
in regard thereto. The Thirty-hfth
general assembly by resolution appoint
ed the state superintendent OF public
instruction a committee to revise the
school law. The then State Superln-
tendent, Dr. Edwards, called to his as
sistance County Superintendent A. &.
Lane, of Cook county; Prof. Cooke, OF
Normal; Prof. Dougherty, of Peoria,
and Hon. E. R. E. Kimbrough, of Dan
vile, and these five well-known educa-
tors in addition to revising the general
school law prepared a separate bill pro-
viding for compulsory attendance
at schools, and providing, also,
that certain studies should be
taught in order that such school
should be recognized under the law.
This bill was introduced by Mr. Sunde-
Illus, republican member from Cook
county, gentleman of foreign birth,
and, if we mistake uot, member of the
Lutheran church. The bill became
known as house bill No 557 and was
entitled: San act concerning the educa-
ton of children" This bill provided
that children between the ages of and
Ia years should attend school at least
twelve weeks and not more than twenty
four weeks in each year. The bill fur
| ther provided that no school would be
recognized under the act unless there
were taught therein reading, writing,
| arithmetic and geography in the Eng
| tish language. The usual exemptions
were permitted and penalties fixed for
violation of the act; but no further
compulsory features appeared In the
| bill than those cited. No restrictions
| WIRE made as to where the child
| WIS to attend school, and no super
| sfsion by school officers. The bill
was referred to the committee on edu-
cation which reported amendments pro-
yiding for the appointment of truant
officers and adding to the studies to be
taught ''history of the United States. >
This bill passed the house by a vote
of 106 yeas to nays. The three mega
tive votes were all democrats. OF the
affirmative votes sixty-three were re-
publicans and forty-three were demo
Gratis. The republican vote fell four
teen short Of enough to pass the bill
without the aid of the democrats. The
! affirmative democratic vote was ma
iority of all the democrats elected to the
| house at that session. It was voted fol
| by such democrats as Crafts, Farrell
| ODonnell, of Cook; Craig, of Coles
Converse, of sangamon; Hunter, OF
Knox; Wells, of Adams; Eddy, of Nc
Lean; Merritt, of Marion; Mooney, o.
Will, and others.
The bill went to the senate on May
and was not acted upon until May 23
when, under suspension of the rules
the chairman of the committee on edu
cation called up the bill on second read
ing and offered by way Of amendment
an entire new bill which was enacted
; into the law as it now stands on thu
statute book, and with which all ar
familiar.
This amendment, which became tn
law, had been prepared in Chicago by
committee representing all shades o
political opinion and all shades O
religious belief A subcommittee, con
sisting entirely of Chicago men, had al
rived in Springfield the same mornin
that it was offered in the senate, bring
ing the new bill with it. This amend
ment had not been before committe
or before either house until 1t was Of
: fered as a substitute for the house bi
in the senate No senator knew full
its scope and purpose. The district
outside of the city of Chicago We're nc
asking for any legislation OF this kline
for there was little need of it, The Wis
itors represented that the measure prt
posed by them was just wha
Chicago, with its thousands of truar
; children, needed and must have
? With scarcely moments considers
, ton, because 1t was accepted on faith
: the house bill was set aside and the sui
stitute adopted. The next day, b
unanimous consent, the bill was take
up and passed, ~ yeas and no nays
: this vote SO were republicans and wei
: democrats. Nearly two-thirds OF til
, democratic members of the senate vote
r for the bill. Such well-known dem'
y Gratis, as Higbee, of Pike; Mcdonald, {
g Morgan; Newell, Of Woodford; Reavil
e of Crawford; Rickert, of Monro
e Setter, of st. Clair, and Shumway,
e Christian, recorded their votes in i
g favor.
It The bill thus amended was returne
a to the house and concurred in on Il
It same day that it passed the senate by
!, vote of 81 yeas to nays. No conslde
n alton whatever was given tn
;. practically new bill in the hous
/ and it is safe to say that NJ
e a single member of the house, repuhli
. an or democratic, knew exactly VIII
= they were voting for when the sena