The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-16

State alnifcrmity during the five years for
which 1t was enacted.
1t has been charged by its enemies that
the law is a patchwork and q bundle OF in
consstencies. 1t Is TRUE that in running
the gaunulet to enactment the original bill
underwent many changes as to minor fea-
lures. The original bill was not perfect; |
! never claimed perfection tor it, but invited
suggestions from every sourGa friendly TO
Its general purpose and was favored with
liberal response. | received during the
tendency Of the bill letters containing ad-
Nioa and suggestions from college preSi-
dents, authors of books and agents OF pnb-
lts|ling houses, as we'll as from country
teachers, farmers, bxGksmiths. so Tor the
gradual perfecting OF this bill. l may say
with st. Paul. Il am debtor both to the
| Greek and also to the barbarian" for re-
ceived good suggestions from vari ID
sources, many OF which are ingrafted in
the present law. For instance, f.om Prof.
Prltchett of Sam Houston Normal insti-
tute, | learned that the Standards pre-
scribed in my original bill were distinctive
ly inferior and the maximum prices too low
to secure good books. Acting on this ad-
vice substituted for standards and prices
the general requirement that the books fur
nished should be equal to the samples fur
nished to the board and 10 the books in
general use in the State. and that the board
should not mako contracts at prices in ex
cess Of the lowest prices at which the same
| pmblishtr sold the same books under con
tract to any State. county or school district
in the United States. and again | received
!, letter from an old country school teacher
in Fayette county who informed me that
in many German and Bohemian neghbor
hoods through that section English was not
| taught at aAl. and that h5 knew grown men
and women raised In his county and edu-
Gated in the public schools who could not
| talk nor read nor write English. This
| caused me to restrict the amendment al
| lowing German, Bohemian, Spanish. Latin
| French or Greek to be taught In the public
! free schools. by adding to the amendment
But the teaching of such languages shall
not be allowed to supersede the use OF tn.
| text books prescribed under the provisions
of this act" and on the whole the bill wal
carefully guarded and greatly bensdited b,
many aliibMons and changes while 1t pro
crossed to enactment, with the exception
| OF the matters covered by the two amend
ments here recommended the general pur
| nose of the law was kept steadily In view
and finally attained, 80 that under Its ope'
| ration we have secured go3d DOCKS a.
greatly reduced PRICES, and their unllorf
use over this entire State TOR Liked GERM
| of years.
The law has gone into effect with less
| frlction and dissatisfaction than ! expect
ed The people everywhere INSTEAD o. com,
planning about having to Grow aside OIL
books and buy new ones have under tn'
exchange feature OF the law naan lhI
change with little loss and are delightss
with the low prices and the quality OF tn'
hooks and the argument made by the enc
mics of the bill that 1t would render use
| less and confiscate about million doi.ar'
worth of discarded school books IS explol
| ed or II 1T has happened the people DON
seem to know it--nobody's howifng abou
| It. .o,,
The superintendent of Our public SCHOOLS
having an enrolment OF over 700 students
remarked to me recently that the COST o
| coming to the State adoption was very NJ
| tie more than WIS usually expended To-
hooks under the old prices at the beginnin,'
of session. 1t is a good law and WI
he pleased If you can agree with me ina
| it neads amendment only in the Two re-
spects cftai viz: Add more books am
strike cut the exemptions. II this can D.
done ami the law let alone In other re
spects. saved from its enemt7s who woni
IKE to be allowed to perfect 1t by knltin,
Inc life out of 1t. It Will save not less tnai
| si0. 900 600 In the FIVE years and VIII prov
| * more direct and practical bsnedt TO I'M
masses OF our peorle than any law nlace'
an cur statuts book in the last ten years.
Hoping that we may have an era OF pros
| nerIty under your administration. am
Yours truly, " ~ f'osts''