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.

EDUCATORS OPPOSED TO The MEASURE. |
Board of Control for Iowa Institu-
lions Seems Probable-Appropria
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:
"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
| law would prove detrimental to the best
| interests of the schools of the state, for
| the following reasons:
"First-We believe that the power Of
| selecting the commission to perform so
| important work should not be entrusted
| to one man.
"Second-We believe that the COM
| pensation provided for In this bill Is ems
| 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.
.tFourth-We believe that the prices
for books fixed in the bill as maximum
1 are too low to secure the best books,
"Fifth-We are decidedly opposed to
state uniformity of text books, because
| we believe that any such law would not
meet the varied wants of the schools
| as well as the law now in force, which
permits cities and counties to make SCI
| lections of books adapted to their In
dividual 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,
~. 8. SEOUP,
:.GEORGE CHANDLER,
':FLORABEL PATTERSON,
GAMos N. CURRIER,
| President State Teachers Association.
y. F. SESSIONS,
chairman Executive Committee State
Teachers Association
/ Getting Nearer Together.
The two houses seem to be getting
nearer together on the board Of control
question. The committees are much
Nearer an agreement on general prin-
ciples than they were week ago. They
agree that all local boards shall be
abolished except those of the state uni
versity, agricultural college and state
| normal school. The board Of control
is to be composed Of three members, APP
pointed by the governor and approved
by the senate, to hold Office for terms of
six years each, one expiring every two
. years; the chairman to receive $500,
the other two members $4,000, and the
board, $4,000. The board is to have alb
solute control over all the state institu-
tions. 1t fixes all salaries, but does not
select any officers, except the heads of
institutions. Che superintendent Sc
lect all minor employees, and it is made
!, unlawful for any member of the board
of control to interfere in any way in
the selection of such employees. Any at
!. tempt to influence the politics of any
other state employe shall be grounds
for discharge. A state architect is tc
be employed to do all state work and to
prepare all plans for Improvements
An elaborate system of bookkeeping
: and accounting for everything that
, comes into the possession of every state
institution is required. No institution
; is allowed to buy supplies without the
approval of the board, and perfect
check is provided for, upon the institu.
lions, in the receipt of and payment fol-
\ all supplies. All purchases must be
made by contract, after receiving bids
and the contract must go to the lowest
bidder. Local boards are aholishedand
, money paid directly by the state treas
urer.
1t is proposed to have this law take
effect July !, when all local boards vii!
be abolished. and the board Of con
troll will take charge Of all the institu
: tons, including the new hospital fol
) the insane now being built in Cherokee
It seems altogether likely that some
' bill, perhaps not quite like this one
which was prepared by Senator Healy
4 chairman of the Investigating commit
t tee, will be passed by the legislature.
May Adjourn in March.
The appropriation committees art
nearly through with their hearings o:
: state institutions, and inside of two
), weeks they hope to be able to repor
their findings to the house and senate
: II they do this. bills will be placed o,
t passage at once. and the legislature vii
g adjourn probably by the e5th of March