The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-04
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
Joint Meeting of Committees on
Education Has a Row.
School Book Bill Agreed On
May Build No Plant.
Optional District Ownership and state
Uniformity Will be the Princi-
pal Feature of the Measure

The ioin+ session of the house ana
soma r. committees on education to dis
c,,ss school book legislatio yesterday
afternoon. came very near dissolVlng IN
a row. AS it was, Senator Lamb (Rep)
walked out of the meeting and was IN
duced to return, only after persistent
persuasion on the part of Senator Han
ma (Pop.) of Clay
The committees met for the purpose
of considering school book legislation,
deciding finally on state uniformity,
making district ownership optional, anu
agreed to fix scale OF prices at Whlcn
book companies must furnish their pro-
duets In the event the book companies
become refractory and refuse to meet
the prices specified, then the committee
proposes to provide for state puollcd-
ton
The committee was engaged in a DIS
cussiOn Of plan by which the desired
end could be reached, when Senator
Morrow (Rep) moved that a commas
sion consisting of one Republican ana
one POpuliSt from each congressional
district, he named to take charge of the
WATERS of Iabette. moved that the
commission be composed of two Popu-
lists and one Republican. He sald'
The Populists would be held response
bic for all of this legislation and pro-
pose that we retain a majority of this
Commission"
IF it is proposed to make the school
book question one of politics in this
committee, 1 refuse to participate IN
its deliberations, exclaimed Senator
Lamb hOtly.
We'll" replied Walters with much
warmth, the Populists Will run this
to suit themselves, and if the Republl-
cans don't like it they can leave.
Mr. Lamb-A Populist commission
would provide for teaching Populist
would take my children out of school
rather than let them listen to such
teachings.
Senator Jumper-My children have
been hearing political doctrines in rela-
ton to civil government, and 1 do not
like it. I prefer the teaching of true
principles
one word led to another, and Senator
Lamb, true to his threat walked out OF
the meeting.
Senator Hanna followed him, both re-
turning in few moments with Lamb
wholly composed. Mr.. Hanna support
quarrel ended.
Under the provisions of the feature of
the bill proposed by Senator Morrow,
the commission which will have charge
of the text book matter. will be cOmpOs-
ed of IS members, the state superin-
tendent as chairman, and two members
from each congressional district, one
Populist and one Republican, to be cho-
sen by members of the present legisla-
tUre.
This commission shall exist four
years but shall make book contracts
for five years, after which the legisla-
ture will again be called upon to dispose
of the subject, as the present la w is not
intended to extend beyond that period
The county superintendent will be
repository for school books.
The joint committee named two sub
committees. One to draft the proposed
bill, the other to arrange a schedule of
prices. The committee to frame the bill
has majority of senate members. They
are: Senators Lamb, (Rep) Titus and
Lupfer, CPop); Representatives Davis
and Fulton (Pop).
The house members are in majority
on the committee to arrange the price
lists They are Walters, chairman. and
Dingus. (Pop-), Finney, (Rep.) Senators
Titus and Lamb.
The committee then passed a resolu-
ton that no information concerning the
little disagreement be given the re-
porters, and adjourned.