The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-07
TEXT BOOK BILL
PASSES HOUSE
Continued from 1st page.)

support of 1t. Almost every sentence was
applauded, both by the members on the
floor and the spectators in the gallery. A
few Of the most striking expressions were
caught, as follows:
There must not be upon that sub-com-
mission to select the books any man who
has represented glittering gold and not
the will of the people. No person who
had a manuscript or book to submit be-
fore the committee should be on that
commission.
We ought not to deprive the poor chill
dren Of North Carolina of their pride. 1t
is duty we owe them not to cram such
a law as this down their throats. Who
are the people here asking for the State
adoption? There are no petitions from
the masses of the people asking that
the State take from the poor children
such books as they now have. With my
amendment, am in favor of the bill;
without it, / am opposed to 1t. / don't
want the poor children of North Caro-
lima to be compelled to buy books be-
cause some book cmpanies wish it,
It has ever been my pleasure for
twelve years to stands by the poor and
oppressed people of North Carolina, and
I shall stand by the principles / be-
lieve to be right, if stand
Mr. Simms. of Wake AS the bill is
drawn, it provides that every company,
with it's bid, shall state at what price it
will redeem the books now in use, and
this seems to cover the ground on that
matter.
come from crowd of people in Wake
county that are willing to abide by the ac-
ctr Int NV
the General Assembly.
That amendment would give the COM
panies now supplying the books tremen-
dous advantage in the bidding.
Mr.. Shannanhouse: If the amendment
Of the gentleman from Rowan were pass
ed would not the companies make their
price on the books large enough to cover
the expense of redeeming the old books?
in the General Assembly. / want the
time to come when we can say to the
poor people of North Carolina that we
have fulfilled the pledges we made to them
on the stump and platform
Mr. Curtis: The Democratic party has
always stood by honest dealing I could
not face my constituents and say l had
voted that their children should compel
these book companies to give them new
books for the old ones. Suppose were to
go to clothing store and tell the dealer
would buy a suit from him If he would
give me the full price for my old, worn
out clothes?
Mr.. Watts: l want to ask the gentle
man from Buncombe if that clothier might
not be willing to make the trade If he
were under contract to buy his clothes
from him for five years.
-. On the roll-call, Mr. Wrights amend
ment was defeated by a vote of 76 to 20.
Mr.. Carraway' amendment was then
put to. the House and lost.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Ebbs
met the same fate. He urged strongly
that 1t be passed, saying that the Garland
Institute and schools of Hot Springs were
attended by pupils whose homes were not
in the State, and they bought their own
books with them.
:. Thompsons amendment then came
This was to insert in section Is,
5 the word 'may'' instead of shall.
u, he said, heartily in favor Of the
down to section 3, providing for sub
commission but ] pass over that and
come down to section Is.
That section ought to be headed ITO
prevent INDECENT children from getting an
education" Let's make bill Just. Shall
we say to those poor children who can
not pay for books: ''You shall not enter?"
Under the act as it stands, teacher will
be compelled to say that to a child coming
to school with a book not adopted by the
State Board. That is arbitrary, unjust,
an outrage.
Judge Conner said he found himself in
a dreadful predicament. Whichever may
ne turned he would be against the poor
children OF the State, it seemed. You all
know there are some features of the bill
Twas opposed to. But it is the best meas
ure we could draft. Let us get down to
business and vote down all these amend
ments and pass this bill.
Mr. Thompsons amendment was then
put and lost.
Mr.. Collins. of Haywood withdrew his
amendment, in view of the explanation
made, that q supplemental bill would be
introduced.
Mr. Zachary then introduced an amend
ment, providing for place in every coun-
ty town where the books could be pro-
cured.
He said his only object was that these
books should be left on sale in every coun-
~. II not these contractors will set
price including the postage to carry them
to those counties
Mr. Whitaker, of Guilford, who had
charge of the bill for the subcommittee,
said this was provided for in section IL.
Mr. Zachary: / think it would be much
better to avoid all this expense of post
age, which the contractors evidently in
tend TO charge in. Then there is no
provision made for postage in sending
back the old books.
s Mr. Zachary's amendment went the way
OF the rest.
Then the bill itself, without any amend
ments, passed its second and third read
ings without q roll-call.
Mr.. Watts introduced a act supplement
al to the act for State adoption, proyld-
ing that the act should not apply to the
graded schools of Statesyille, Asheville
and Kinston, Charlotte, and Hot Springs
This was amended by Mr.. Wright, to in
clue Salisbury also, and was referred to-
the Committee on Education.
Judge Conner moved that the vote by
which the State adoption bill was passed
be reconsidered, and that this motion
-. 4ohtod Carriod