The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-01
VICTORY FOR THE
MOBILE SCHOOLS
Adverse Report Made on the Seymour
Bill.
AUTHOR OF THE MEASURE
Defended II in an Able and Straight
forward Speech.
OF THE MEASURE
REPRESENTATIVE E. M. ROBINSON
Delivered One of the Most Eloquent Ora
tons That Has Ever Been Heard
in the Halls of the Alabama
General Assembly.

Montgomery, January 31.-(Specal)-T
Mobile school question bobbed up in the
house again this morning, and the Mobile
delegation won by a large vote of S. to is.
The bill by Mr.. Seymour to better pro-
vide for the discrimination of the suppor.
of the state government by the several
counties of the state of Alabama which
bill Is intended to have Mobile county pay
the liquor license money paid into the state
treasury instead of appropriating it to the
public schools of the county, was given an
adverse report by the education committee.
Mr.. Poole. of Marengo, moved to take the
bill, from the adverse report and place it on
the calendar. Mr.. Robinson moved to in
definitely postpone this motion.
Mr.. Seymour gained the floor and made a
vigorous speech in support of the motion to
place on the calendar.
This question has received much study
by Mr.. Seymour, and his attack upon what
he claims an unjust discrimination against
the public schools of the other counties in
the state.
Mr.. Seymour's Contention
Briefly summed up the charges made by
Mr.. Seymour were that every county in Ala
hama with the exception of Mobile pays its
state retail liquor license taxes into the
state treasury, where it goes to the support
of the state government. Mobile retains
hers, amounting to about $4,000, for school
purposes. Mobile received her share of the
state appropriation for schools. The inter-
est on sixteenth section funds amount to
$145 900, S107 900 of which is divided equally
among the children of Alabama. Mobile
fyaOr hic ahn
bile with only A,O52 children receives nearly
as much money for school purposes as six
teen other counties in Alabama with 76,1E
children. Mobile receives nearly 5000 more
for school purposes than Jefferson, Mont
gomery and Dallas counties with 69598
school children The ratio of attendance to
school population in Mobile is less than
that of any other county in Alabama. Ac-
cording to the report of the county superin-
tendent, the average length of schools in
Mobile county are 131 days. Not white
teacher in the city of Mobile receives less
than $50 per month. OF the 1872 teachers in
white schools twenty-four hold first grade
certificates. OF the fifty-three colored
teachers two hold first grade certificates.
Mobile spent last year s21 ,379 of its school
funds for buildings, supervision, fuel, jan
itor, insurance, etc.
Lavretta Replied
Mr.. Lavretta, of Mobile, replied to Mr..
Seymour in an able an eloquent defense of
the public schools of his city. He pleaded
with his colleagues not to tear down the
magnificent schools of Mobile, which were
an honor to the state, and defended the
schools against Mr.. Seymour's attacks. Mr..
Lavretta is one of the best orators In the
house and his eloquence frequently elected
applause.
Mr.. Delchamps of Mobile, followed Mr..
Lavretta, sarcastically, referring to the Wig
1xrth o
upon the schools of his city.
Mr. Seymour again took the floor and
spoke at length in support of his bill
Mr. Greene, of Morgan, from the COM
mittete on education, spoke in favor OF
Mr. Seymour's bill, making fair and un-
impassioned argument in favor OF an eqult-
able distribution of the school fund.
Mr.. Arlington followed in favor of the
Seymour bill.
Mr. Robinson. of Mobile, closed the de-
bate, and his speech was one OF the most
brilliant, logical and convincing ever made
in the halls of the Alabama general assem-
bly. In reply to Mr.. Seymour he met all
the charges in a fearless and convincing
manner and his peoration In behalf or
education was one of the most eloquent
delivered in the house.
Speech of MT. Robinson
In conclusion Mr.. Robinson said:
"Men talk to me of Observation-Disclosures
They hold out the sweet hope of promise
to the ear and when the time comes, break
1t to the heart and on questions OF educa-
tion | cannot but think that with their
hands they throttle while with their lips
they bless.
"Here and elsewhere they proclaim
themselves the friends of the public
schools Of Alabama They devote the
whole recess of the Legislature to a study
of the great question of public instruction,
and give out occasional interviews, all of
which, strange to say, bear upon one SIN
gle question. Bearing the banner Of educa-
tional advancement and reform their dis
torted vision never rises higher nor passes
beyond the school system OF one single
county Of sixty-six.
.'To what end where in Gods name leads
their proud pathway of reformk They
drive the knife into the vitals OF the superb
product of fifty years of educational toll,
wreck the finest system in Alabama, and.
as result (oh, unparalleled munificence
and craftsmanship, bestow on the head of
each school child in Alabama the princely
sum of 8h cents per year. Indeed, sir,
not even that amount, because this money
would not go into the school fund at all.
''Mr. Speaker, II the time ever comes
when I must rest my claim for legislative
fame upon the destruction of a successful
system Of public education-no matter
where it may be>-God grant me the wis
dom and unselfshness to fold my arms
ana let lame pass Dy Oh Tue otnSI Sue.
And then, If need be, console myself with
the philosophic reflection that, after all,
''the path of glory leads but to the grave"
Would Rather Sit Silent
"If represented some other county than
Mobile, 1 had rather sit silent forever and
never return to my people who sent me as
their representative than go back in vic
tory, boastng the doubtful distinction of
having sounded the death knell OF a proud.
loyal and patriotic people base my final
appeal to you upon the broad plane OF
genuine education, the noblest, grandest
cause tina. ever prompted and inspired the
deliberations of any deliberative body.
81 appeal to that spirit, often elo-
quenty proclaimed upon this floor, that the
true. wise and sincere friend Of education
Is he who seeks to build up and no. to de-
stroy: he who would strengthen In places
that are weak. rather than he who would
utterly annihilate because weak places
must inevitably appear. II my neighbours