The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-02-05

Last evening n special meeting Of tho
board Of education was held at the
boards rooms IN the Hub" building,
for the purpose OF acting on the report
Of the special committee instructed to
draw up bill 10 provide for compulsory
attendance at the Wheeling schools, to
be presented before the state leyisla.
ture. Those present were President
Uirich. Messrs. Boyd, Miller. Stanton,
Campbell, Waliord, Maxwell. Hubbard,
Weidnsr, Berney, Dudley aud Milligan,
a bare quorum. 1t proved to be one OF
the most exciting meetings seen for
long time.
The clerk read the report Of the COM
mitte0, Messrs. Frank Stanton, n. II.
Hubbard and J. L. Dickey, in the form
OF bill to be enacted by the legislature
into law.
The bill is entitled, "a Bill to en-
force attendance upon the schoola OF
the independent school district OF
Wheeling" The provisions OF the, vari.
GUS sections are as follows:
THE BILLS PROVISIONS.
First section-That all parents or
other persons having control Of any
child between the ages OF elk and
twelve years, except as further pro-
vided, sha!l be required to send the
child to the public school each year for
a period OF sixteen weeks, commencing
not later than the first Monday OF De.
| cenber, unless the child is excused by
the superintendent or the board OF edu.
cation, or on account OF physical or
mental condition, or when taught at a
private school or at home by qualified
person. The child may also be excused
where his other efforts are necessary to
support the family.
Second section-Haoitual truants; in
corrisible or vicious children. who re-
fuse to attend school, are deemed ju-
venile disorderly persons and subject 10
a provision.
Third sectiou-The board OF education
shall employ one or more truant officers
to enforce the provisions OF this act,
who are vested with police powers.
Fourth section--Truant officers are to
make daily reports to the superinten-
| dent OF schools.
Fifth section-The truant officere are
to examine in to all cases OF truancy and
Farn such truants OF the penalty; also
to cause tho parents to require the at
| tendance OF the truant at some recog-
nzed school in FIVE days. When parents
refuse TO take this action they are liable
to fine, on complaint before justice
be required. When parents are unable
| to enforce the attendance OF the child,
the latter is considered "a juvenile dis.
orderly" and may be sent to the state
reform school.
Seventh section-1t shall be the duty
OF principals OF schools, puplic and pri-
vate, to report 10 the clerk OF tho board
Of education tho names and ages OF all
pupils, to facilitate the carrying out OF
the provisions OF this act.
Eighth section-Provides for possible
neglect on the part OF the truant off,
GERS, who arc liable to fines from S5 to
so.
Ninth section-All fines are to be
paid to the collector Of the city for the
bonefi, OF tho school fund.
Tenth section-Repeals previous in.
consistent legislation.
OPPOSITION DEVELOPS.
Colonel Miller. who lead the onpoa.
ition to tho proposed legislation, raised
the point that this matter had becn sot
for tho regular February meeting Of tho
board. The clerk was called on for in
formation, hut was not certain what ac-
tion was taken at tho last meeting OF
tho board. The colonel made n motion
| to receive aud file tho report OF the
committee, practically killing it, but its
supporters wore awake to tho import Of
tho motion; seeing which tho colonel
withdrew it.
Mr.. Stanton, OF the committee. next
moved the adoption Of the mmittes's
report. Mr.. Maxwell, friend OF the
| bill, opposed this as he wished to oller
| certain amendments. In tho discussion
Colonel Miller took loading part, in
| the course OF which he went over the
bill from beginning to end. and claimed
that it was weak measure, full OF loop
holes and impcrieciiOns.
81 know that the people OF Wheeling
do not want compulsory education" said
Colonel Miller, ''and that is tho reason
oppose it. Wheeling does not need
compulsory education, rs much as the
thinly settled portion OF the state.
Fifty years ago thore might have been
nm excuse for such n measure, out there
IL none to-day. There may be fourteen
per cent OF illitoracy in the state, but
that proportion does not exist in
Wheeling"
DR.. Campbell was tho next speaker
and vigorously opposed tho bill.
ATTEMPT TO ADJOURN.
a motion made by tho opposition OF \
tho bill, to adjourn. was lost, the vote
showing tho strength OF both sides, ms
Aycs-Boyd, Campbell and Wcidner;
total 8.
Nocs-Birncy, Dudley. Hubbard,
Maxwell, Miller, Miligau, Stanton,
Waliord. UIrich; total 0.
Mr.. Stanton. OF the committee, ably
dcfendod tho bill and objected to its
opponents picking out isolated portions
OF tho bill for attack. aud maintained
that taken On tho whole it is "a nonr
perfect us is po'siba and will work in
practice. In conclusion. he said he
was willing to take up tho matter by
SECTIONS.
Mr.. Maxwell wished the ago limit
changed from six TO twelve years TO