The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-22
Mr.. Wallis Bill.
Providing for a School Text
Book Commission.

We publish below the bill introduced
in the House of Representatives by Hon.
H. c. Wall and to be entitled "An Act
TO Establish State Text Book Com
mission and to Define its Duties" 1t is
an important measure and worthy of
consideration, and il enacted into law
will go far to prevent a recurrence Of
''school-book scandals" that have not
been unknown to the people of the State
in years past.
Talking with a gentleman who has
read Mr.. Wallis. bill, he said:
MIR. Wallis idea is that uniform
series of textbooks should be adopted
for the public schools by some central
authority instead of by the various
boards of county commissioners or coun-
ty boards of education as provided by
the Fusion Legislatures of 1895 and
1897 That State adoption" will be re-
sumed seems to be conceded, but by what
authority shall that adoption he made?
1t will not do to leave the appointment
to the present Governor of the State nor
to the State Board of Education as at
present constituted. nor to the Supreme
Court as at present constituted. ncr to
the President of the Senate. Happily,
the Honorable Speaker of the House.
Judge Conner, is man in whose in
tegrity and discretion the whole State
has confidence and commission APP
pointed by him. as Mr.. Wallis bill pro-
vides. will be composed of men above
suspicion OF being connected with or
under the influence of any school-booI
publishers North or South. Mr. Wallis
bill provides that no one interested in
the publication or sale of school books
shall be eligible to appointment as a
commissioner.
- great responsibility is upon the
General Assembly in respect to the en-
actment of Il General Public School Law
that will subserye the interests of the
children of the State and we are sure
it viii be faithfully met"
The text Of the bill is as follows:
The General Assembly of North Car
DINA do enact:
Section /. That the Speaker of the
House of Representatives shall appoint
seven competent persons none of whom
the publication or sale of school books.
to be known as the State Text Book
Commission. which shall be corpora
ton and as such may enjoy the privi-
leges and be subject to the responsible
ties of other corporations created under
the laws Of this State.
Section 2 That the persons so ap-
pointed shall hold their office until the
first day of January, 1904, and in the
event of the death or resignation of any
member tire vacancy shall be filed by the
other members of said commission, and
that after the year 1903. to wit: on the
first day Of January. 1904, and quadren
nially thereafter, the members of the
said commission shall be appointed by
the Governor of this State.
Section 3. That said commission shall
provide fer uniformity Of text books,
maps and charts in the public schools
of the cities, towns and counties of the
State, except i'll graded and high schools
supported by special local taxation, by
the adoption on or before the first day of
June, 1899, of a single series of text
books, maps and charts for the public
schools of such cities, towns and coun-
ties in this State, and the same shall 10
uniformly and excuively used in all
such schools for such periods as the
commission shall designate The said
commission shall also from time to time
adopt such books for supplementary use
in such schools as it may be wise TO
add to the list; but said books shall be
used only for supplementary purposes
and shall not take the place of or inter
fere with the use of the regular tex.
books prescribed for uniform use.
Section 4. Said commission may re-
auire the publishers of the books adopted
TO execute bonds with good and sufficiens
security for the faithful performances OF
their contract; they shall enter into IA
written contract with the publisher fr
publishers of the books, maps and charts
adopted under the provisions of this act.
in form to be approved by the Attorney
General, setting forth the prices OF such