Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-27
COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
General Movement on Foot to Effect a
Reorganization.
POINTER RETURNS FROM HIS VACATION
shortly After He Gets Back n Candi-
date for Warden Leidigh's Place
Begins TO ButtonhoIe
the Governor.

LlNCOLN, June Especial. There has
been quite general movement throughout
the state during the past year toward the
reorganization Of county school districts
under subdivision OF the school law, the
government OF the schools in the reorgan-
lied districts being vested in a board Of
six supervisors or trustees, instead OF three
as heretofore. This movement is being
strongly supported by State Superintendent
Jackson, who claims that many advantages
are enjoyed by the school children that are
denied them under the primary school or
ganzation. The free High school attend
ance law, which went into effect April /,
1899, provides that all regularly organized
public high schools determined by the state
superintendent of public instruction TO be
properly equipped as to teachers, appliances
and courses of study shall be open to at
tendance by any person of school age resid-
ing outside of the district whose education
cannot be proftably carried on in the dis
trict OF his residence This act further pro-
vides that when any high school shall be
unable to furnish accommodations to non
residents without constructing or renting
additional buildings the board of education
Of the district may refuse admission to such
pupils.
The law under which the school districts
are being reorganized to give nonresident
law provides as foflows:
Any district containing more than $50
children, between the ages OF and 2l years,
may elect a district board consisting OF Six
trustees; Provided, The district shall so de-
termine at an annual meeting by vote OF
a majority of the voters attending such
meeting. When such change in the district
board shalr have been voted, the voters at
such annual meeting shall proceed lmme-
diately to elect two trustees for the term
- for fha TOR m n
and two for the term OF three years, ana
annually thereafter two trustees shall be
elected whose term of Office shall be three
years, and until their successors shall nave
been elected and qualified.
1t ig estimated that there are probably
from fifty to seventy-five districts in which
High school work is being done that deny
admission to pupils from surrounding dls-
tricts unless they pay tuition, but when tney
are recognized with board OF six trustees
o.. directors all nonresident applicants
must be admitted II they cannot secure the
education they desire in their own counties.
Another argument has also been brought out
in favor OF the movement and that is that
a school district may be better governed py
a board of six directors than board OF
three. However, the state superintendent
does not claim this nor does he assert that
such reorganization would in any way
mako it necessary to employ more teachers.
Quite number Of districts have been re-
organized under the law and so far the re-
suits. Superintendent Jackson claims, have
been satisfactory. The matter OF reorganlza-
tiS is entirely matter of local option TO
be determined by the residents of the school
districts at their annual meetings.
Poynter is Back.
Governor Poynter returned today from
% lau n
tives and friends in Illinois This afternoon
the governor received call from John Hop
kins a candidate for the Office of warden of
the state penitentiary. The resignation OF
Warden Leidigh has not been accepted by
the governor nor will it be until after he
has had a consultation with the present
head of the institution who insists on hold
ing office until September l. Governor Poyn-
ter is perfectly willing to allow the warden
to retire but he is not particularly anxious
about having him wait until September to
do So 1t was reported several weeks ago
that Mr. Hopkins. who is strongly endorsed
by Michael Harrington of O'Neill. the
choice of Governor Poynter for the office,
but on account OF Warden Leidigh's eff
cient service he naturally hesitated about
removing him from office to make room for
the man from Holt county. Now that Leidigh
has resigned Governor Poynter has an op-
portunity to appoint Mr. Hopkins, but an
effort will be made to induce the present
incumbent to change the date of his resig-
patton so as to allow his successor to assume
the duties of the position by the first OF
pex. month or soon afterwards.
AS to who Warden Leidgh's successor
will be t.ere is little doubt. The only can
didate besides Hopkins who has received
really favorable consideration is Charles NJ
Branson OF Lancaster county and there are
various reasons why he cannot be appointed
He is free silver republican but Of such
an uncertain kind that the governor would
naturally hesitate before appointing him
His brother is a strong rep2blican and is
the nominee for sheriff of Lancaster county
on the republican ticket. The result of MT
Hopkins visit to the state house this after
noon was not made known but 1t is under
stood that he was given to understand that
he stood as good a chance as anyone and
that the successor would be chosen as soon