The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-02-14
THE TEXT BOOK BILL.

THE TENT BOOK BILL.
Representative Burney yesterday
morning introduced u bill in the House
bearing on the text book question Ovel
which such Il row was raised at the
session two years ago. The following is
the full text of the bill.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legis.
lature of the state of Texas:
! That the state superintendent of pub
lie instruction, together with the president
of the University of Texas, and the presi-
dent of the Agricultural and Mechanical
college, shall constitute Il commission
for the purpose of adopting uniform
system of text books for the use of the
Ipubic free schools of the state and for
the further purpose of executing the pro-
vision of this act. Said commission is
hereby authorized to prepare a uniform
series of text books for the purpose above
indicated. Said series to include the fol-
lowing branches of study, to-wit: Spell
ling, reading, English grammar, geo
graphy, arithmetic, the elements of ply
siolOgy and hygiene, history of the United
States, and Il grade series of writing
books; provided that nothing of sec
tonal, partisan or sectarian character
lShall be contained in said books.
Sec. :. Said commission shall imme-
Idiately unOn the taking effect of this act
lprovide themselves with such editorial
and clerical assistance as they may find
diately upon the taking effect of this act
preparation of said series of text books.
and shall in one year from the passage of
this act turn over to the state printing
board copy for said series of text
books.
Sec. 3. Said commission shall have full
authority to prepare the matter to be con-
tanned in said books, subject only to the
limitation that nothing of Il partisan. sec
tional or sectarian character shall be
introduced, and it shall be the duty of
said commission to file with the
state printing board an estimate of
the number of copies of each book re-
quired for the first edition.
Sec. 4. The state printing board, rpon
receipt of copy from the school book com
mission for any of the books contained
in said series, together with number re-
quired for first edition, shall at once
proceed to contract in the manner re-
CURED by law for public printing for said
first edition. and it shall he the duty of
said state printing board to see that the
printing and binding of said books now
in use in the public free schools of this
state.
Section .. Said text books shall he
furnished to the partons of the public
free schools at actual cost. and as soon
as the first edition of said books is
ready for delivery, the superintendent of
public instruction shall ship a sufficient
supply of each to the county superin-
tendents of the various counties in the
state, and in those counties having no
county school superintendent said stock
OF books is to be shipped to the county
Judge, as ex-Oficio superintendent.
Sec. u. The superintendent of public
instruction shall on or bfore the ship
ment of said first edition mail to each
officer to whom books are shipped n cir
cular letter giving estimate of cost of said
books at place of delivery, to which he
shall add 10 per cent for cost of selling in
the counties, and all books shall be sold
at the price thus fixed by the state sup
| erintendent. In all cases where cost of
books shall show fraction of a cent, the
state superintendent shall make the price
even cents, giving all fractions to the
state.
Sect. The county superintendent.
and county judges who are ex-oficio
ssInperlntendentss, shall Immediately upon
the receipts of stocks of books from
the state superintendent, proceed TO
designate as many repositories as in their
Judgment may be required to meet the
convenience of all the people of their re-
spectlve counties. and shall distribute the
books to the various repositories. hut in
making arrangements for sale of books
they must in no case allow as cOmpen-
Satlon more than 10 per cent provided for
III the state superintendent estimate
OF cost. In every case where books are
placed Tor sale in private hands, as de-
poSltOrleS! the county superintendent and
county judges shall take good and sufii-
clent bonds to protect the state against
loss.
Sec. :. County superintendent and
county judges shall require quarterly
and shall themselves D 'iis ma afeoS't 3%nr
terly settlements with the stat,
superintendent. who shall in turn
make quarterly settlements with tn,
state treasurer. The quarterly return,
by the repositories shall be made Jan.
Aprll l, July /, Oct l, of each year. The
quarterly returns by the county Judge.
and SuperintendentS shall be made Ian
10, April 10, July Is and Oct. Il of each
year. The quarterly returns by the state
superintendent shall be made Feb. /
May /, April l and Nov. of each ypar
Sec. y. After Sept. /, or as soon there
after as the commission may deem nrac-
ucable. the books prepared by the com
mission as a uniform series of text
books for this state shall he in
PRODUCED and used as text hooks
to the exclusion Of MI els tD'~.
in the public free schools. Provided
nothing herein shall be construed 70 nre,
vent the use of supplementary books.
Sec. 10. Any teacher or trustee who
shall violate the provisions of this ort
shail he deemed guilty of a misdemeanor'
ana up convition shall be fined not less