Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-10
AFTER SUPERINTENDENT KIRK.
superintendent OF. schools An
!. .-.-- nual Renort. -.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, Jan. e.-(Spe-
cialo State Superintendent Of Schools Kirk
raised all sorts of trouble to-day in. The
lower house. and ii all came because of his
report, which was largely aeceptuated by
large map of the state which hung over
the speakers desk. This map was peculiar
in its markings. for it showed plainly the
location of the high schools and colleges
throughout the state, the most marked feat
ure being the total lack of the higher edu-
catonai institutions IN the southeastern
section of Missouri. While little dots, snow
ing plainly from every portion of the room,
manifested the presence of the institutions
in every other portion. there was total
absence. OF them IN the southeastern coun-
ties, And the whole trouble grew out OF the
fact that MIR. Kirk asked that this map
be published exactly as Ii was in his annual
report.
The members from that section Of the
state didn't like the matter little bit,
and they fought it all the way through.
When Hall. or Saline, called up his reso-
luton to print 40o0 copies Of Kinks report,
saying that 1t stated facts; ana d,,IasE Iae5s
offered a resolution to send the report and
the map to a committee of hve in order
be .'inadvertantIy sIandered." He called at
tentien to the TACT that the map did not
contain the location OF the college at Cape
Girardeau. where Mark Twain received his
education and said that it was otherwise
Incorrect. In his speech he said that the
residents OF that part OF the the state eo were ere
report. and they did not propose. TO be
Siandered in that way.
Mr.. Myers delivered a very forcible
made in the map. This Barnett, of Pettis.
would not hear to il, saying that 1t was
none Of their business if the map was in
was responsible for his own reports. and if
anything was the matter with them he
was the man to correct them. He said
haf " L frlr lnnu uld to arrNr ff.r
which he had no sympathy, and repeated
that he did not think they ought to take
upon themselves the responsibility of
Myers was on his feet in a moment, in
answer to this, and hotly replied that they
had right to investigate, any state of
ficer whose deeds required investigation.
Ellis. of Bates, spoke in a very conserva-
tive manner. and compelled the attention
Of the house, He started In by saving
to a. party with whom they were not in
sympathy was no reason why there should
be an objection to passing his report. He
called attention TO the fact that never be-
fore had there been any objection to the
report of other state officials and said that
moreover the publication of the map
Southeast Missiuri. as it would bling fore
IDLY to the attention Of the state their
most pressing needs.
Tribble, of Dunklin. deprecated that the re-
port of any state official should be open. to
map had been changed since it had been
brought into the room. He offered a reso>
luton that 300 copies of the report be print
ed for the use and information OF the
house. The resolution provided that the
printed copies should be used by the MEM
bers of the legislature before any final ac-
ton was taken upon the report. But this
resolution was out of order. on point
made by Bohart. who attacked in turn the
substitute offered by Myers.
SickIes arose to say that they had moth
ing to do with the matter one way or the
~ hAv HJVnr hoV ary1cs ha ~
be printed.
Then there was trouble all around. Johns
ton of st. Louis wanted 1000 copies printed
In German, and Hall put in a very strenu-
Gus objection. calling attention to the fact
that this was America. and then he said
that he thought the language of the couu-
try was good enough for anyone. The two
had little tilt. after which Lee added con-
fusion to the chaos by offering resolution
that the report be printed in Germa n only.
He hit the state university several hard
shots, saying that he found that 1t was nec-
essary for all high schools ito be In line
with the university or they were ignored"
He stated that II this condition of affairs
was to continue, he was prepared to fight
the university tooth and nail and he pro-
posed to do it, D.,
The amendment to print 300 copies. fatleu
by close vote, 65 to CO. Finally the South
east members Modified. and the original
resolution to print Superintendent Kinks
report for public distribution carried, 81 to
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