The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-09
How the Free Text Book System viii
Po InauSurated Here.
THE EXAMPLE SET BY NEWPORT
VIII Not Be Followed Hers-children
VIII Not He Required to Declare
Poverty OF Parents In Order to Obtain
Books-Electric Light Co.'S Petition.

there will be material increase in the
attendance. The trial Of the free
textbook system, which will
then be inaUgurated, will be watched
With keen interest, although its advo-
Gates have not the slightest doubt it will
realize every claim made for it.
In Newport the free text book systo n
has proven anything but satisfac-
tory to the people. 1t appears that when
the schools opened last Monday he
eachers, presumably acting u der in
struciions, asked those pupils whose
parents were too poor TO purchase
hooks for them to rise. Now this Is jsss
what the law passed by the general
assembly was INTENDED 90 avoid.
II was claimed, aud justly too. that
many parents kept their child sen
from school because OF their unwilling
ness 20 expose tber poverty as they were
con pelled 10 do under the old system OF
furnishins free b ,oks.
Tue Newport method is certainly not
IN accordance with either the letter or
the spirit Of the law and by the friends o.
free text books here is regarded as q
dodge 10 save the city few
hundreds of dollars. At the Office OF
Superintendent TafSell it was said this
morning that no such method would be
adopted here next Monday. Every pupil will
be urnished with all the books required,
nd that 90 without being asked to de-
clare the poverty Of their parents.
A Revival OF the Old system.
Secretary Rose said that there was no
doubt tina, the law would be faithfully
carried out here. 1t provides that the
schoolto nmittee OF every town, city and
village shall purchase at the ex-
pense OF tha city or town text
books and other supplies which shall be
oaned to the Iupils free of charge.
There is nothinS ia the law which gives
the slightest intimation that the pupils
would be required to make such declara-
lion as that required at Newport.
The purpose OF the law is to place all
pupils on the Same footing; to give he
child of poor parents the same opportuu-
tiles and advantages as the child OF
wealthy paren s. or course il the par.
ents Of any cAild desire to purchase the
books they can do so, but otherwise all
pupils will receive the books provided by
the city.
ITO require child to state that his
parents are poor" said Mr.. Rose, lis
simply going b ok to the conditions
which prevailed before the new law was
passed..
The CITY has always furnished to those
unable to buy them ali the BOOKS needed.
rhe tro BILE with that system was that it
ended TO make the poor pupil a marx
or his more fortunate classmates aud it
was to do away with this distinction that
the legislature ordered all pupils to bs
furnished with books at public ex xpense.
Electric Light Poles.
IL now seems very probable that the
opposition to the granting Of the petition
Of the Narragansett Electric Lighting
company to raise it's poles in certain
streets will be withdrawn.
The committee on lamps, which has the
petition in charge. held a meeting yes
terday afternoon, at which a hear ing was
given to Mr.. Marsdea j. PERI
who appeared for the Narragansett Co.
Mr.. Perry explained that the raising OF
the poles did not involve the raising OF
the lights. The lights would be main
tanned at their preseit height. The pur-
pose was for the Narragansett and Union
railroad companies to use the same
poles, thus reducing the number that
WOulu OtEtEWlSS Do TcQulTSu III mhuy Ok
the principal thoroughfares.
The committee will. it is said, recon-
mend the granting of ths petition, the
changes to be made under the supervis-
ion of the chief of the fire department.
The Union rail- Dad company is pushing
work on tie Cranston trolley route so as
to have it in readiness for the opening Of
the state fair OH the 18th inst. The cars
will start iron Markes square and run di-
rect to Narragansett Park.
Terminal Facilities. ~
Mr.. William =. Vaughan. chairman
fire joint special committee IN term
nal fac lities, WAS at the city hall this
morning.. He said that no business OF
public nature was considered at the last
meeting OF the committee.
Speaking generally OF the terminal
matter he said he was convinced the
work would now be pushed as rapidly as
possible. He seemed very confident that
the CONSOLIDATED management would
i've ur to its agreement and Providence
ere long will have the much needed new
station.
This will be cheering information to
the business men and the public in gen
eral who have been inclined to believe
hat the improve nent was likely to be
delayed indefinitely.
Notes About the Hall.
The appropr alton bill has been CON-
pleied by the finance cpmmittee aud is
,ow In the hands OF the printer. Il will be
pre- epted to the common council Monday
evening.
1t is said that the large number OF city
councluen who are candidates for p si-
tions on the fire com mmisson Is the real
cause of the delay IN passing the bill b.
tie board Of aldermen.
Sergeant White, who was suspended
hort time ago. has been transferred from
be third to the six IA station.
Lieutenant Dairy is acting captain a,
the sixth station during the illness Of
Capt siu Lesvitt.
A larger number OF children were vacci-
uated at the health dep 'rtment today
ban week ago.