Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-02-18
SCHOOL BOOK QUESTION.
The Bill for State Uniformity and
State Publication to Be Care
fully Considered.
EDUCATORS OPPOSED TO THE MEASURE.

Board of Control for iowa Institu-
lions Seems Probable-ApprOpri
tion Committees Pushing Things
Important Legislation This Week.
Other Notes of Interest.
Especial Correspondence
Des Moines, Ia, Feb. 14.-The house
committee on schools and text books
has commenced the consideration of
the Ray bill for state uniformity and
state publication of school books. But
little progress has been made, and the
Importance of the measure is being rec
ognized by the committee, which, it is
thought, will not push this bill with
OF, very careful consideration and
hearing from the people, and especial
ly the educators of the state, who are
best qualified to judge of the effects
of such radical change. The chair
man of the committees having the sub
ject in charge, in both house and SEN
ate, have sent out inquiries covering all
phases of the subject TO leading educa-
tional men all over the state. So far
as heard from educators are unanimous
in opposition to the bill, and many
school boards have also opposed it. A
statement in regard to it was issued
Saturday by the legislative committee
Of the State Teachers association, APP
proved by the president of the asso-
citation and the chairman of the execu-
tive committee. The reasons they give
are as follows:
1--WE. the members Of the legislative
committee of the State Teachers asso-
citation of Iowa, having carefully examined
the bill known as the Ray bill, providing
for state uniformity of text books. are
unanimously Of the opinion that the enact
ment Of the principles Of this bill into a
law would prove detrimental to the best
interests of the schools Of the state, fol
the following reasons:
"First-We believe that the power of
selecting the commission to perform so
important a work should not be entrusted
to one man.
"Second-We believe that the com,
pensation provided for In this bill Is en-,
tirely inadequate to secure the services
of men competent to perform such duties
as the bill imposes.
"Third-While we are decidedly in ia
vor of encouraging Iowa authors, at the
same time we are opposed to any legis-
lation that will restrict us from select
ing the best books in USE
''Fourth-We believe that the prices
for books fixed in the bill as maximum
are too low to secure the best books,
"Fifth-We are decidedly opposed te
state uniformity of text books, because
we believe that any such law would no,
meet the varied wants of the schools
as well as the law now in force, which
permits cities and couAties to make Sc.
lections Of books adapted to their In
d!vidual requirements.
''Sixth-From information In our pos.
session. we are satisfied that we rep
resent the views of nine-tenths Of the lead.
ing school men of the state.
'HENRY SABIN, Chairman
~. B. KNOEPFLER.
~. s. SHOUP.
"GEORGE CHANDLER,
"FLORABEL PATTERSON,
stAMos N. CURRIER,
President State Teachers Association.
u. F. SESSIONS.
Chairman Executive Committee Stat,
Teachers Association"
Getting Nearer Together.
The two houses seem to be getting
| nearer together on the board of contro
question. The committees are mucf
nearer an agreement on general prin
| ciples than they were week ago. They
agree that all local boards shall b.
abolished except those of the state uni
versity, agricultural college and stat,
normal school. The board of contro
is to be composed Of three members, ap
pointed by the governor and approyes
by the senate, to hold Office for terms O.
six years each, one expiring every twt
| years; the chairman to receive $500
the other two members $4,000, and tn
| secretary, who is not member of tn
board, $4,000. The board is to have alb
solute control over all the state institu
tions. 1t fixes all salaries, but does no
select any officers, except the heads o
institutions. The superintendent Sc
lect all minor employees, and it is mad.
| unlawful for any member of the boart
of control to interfere in any way il
the selection of such employees. Any at
tempt to influence the politics of an,
other state employe shall be ground
for discharge. A state architect is t
be employed TO do all state work and t.
prepare all plans for improvements
An elaborate system of bookkeeping
and accounting for everything tina
comes into the possession of every stat
| Institution is required. No institution
is allowed to buy supplies without TIL
approval OF the board, and a perfec
check is provided for, upon the institu
| lions. in the receipt of and payment TO
all supplies. All purchases must b
made by contract, after receiving bids
and. the contract must go to the loves
bidder. Local boards are aholishedan
money paid directly by the state trea:
urer.
1t is proposed to have this law tax
| effect July !, when all local boards wi!
be abolished, and the board OF cor
troll will take charge of all the institl
tons, including the new hospital fo
J the insane now being built in Cherokee.
It seems altogether likely that som
bill, perhaps not quite like this on,
! which was prepared by Senator Healy
chairman OF the Investigating commi
tee. will be passed by the legislature.
May Adjourn in March.
The appropriation committees ar
nearly through with their hearings {
state institutions. and inside of tw
weeks they hope to be able to repol
their findings to the house and senat
If they do this. bills viii be placed Q
t passage al once, and the legislature wi
, adjourn probably by the e5th of Marc
at the very latest. and sooner If ii
board of control bill does not proyol
: more controversy than is now expecte
! The legislature caunot be held in Sc
sion very long on any subject after IL