The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-19
THE LOBBYIST AT WORK
Senator AVcock's Bill For State Adop-
tion Discussed.
ACTION POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY
This Vas Done to Give the Legislators More
Time to Study the Bill. A Brisk Dis
cussion Was Provoked il the
Committee.
The School book war is on.


There was joint meeting Of the Sen
ate and House Committees on Education
yesterday, and at the meeting there were
visible to the naked eye something fewer
than four hundred and forty seven pub
fishing house attorneys and lobbyists.
Not much fewer though.
The final consideration of the question
by the committee was postponed until
next Friday. on account of the fact that
the bill has Just been printed and the
members have not had time to maturely
consider Il:
The Senate and House Committees on
Education held Joint meeting in the
Senate Chamber yesterday afternoon. The
bill under consideration was the one in
troduced By Senator Aycock of Wayne, on
the subject OF school text books. They
decided to POSTPONE action until Friday
at o'clock.
Senator Aycock moved to amend so that
all the members OF the State Board Of
Education, should be the state Text
Book Commission.
T..
the words "three members of the State
Board OF Education.
Senator Alexander moved to amend by
naming as the school book commission
''the Governor. Superintendent of Public
instruction and ten Graded School Sup
erintendents.'
Senator Broughton moved that the bill
be recd.
After the reading of the bill Mr.. Ay-
cock said Il don't think IL out of place
to state the facts that brought about the
introduction of this bill. 1t is modelled
after the Tennessee law. ! investigated
the different laws regulating school books
and could not find any law that was bet
ter calculated to produce the desired re-
suit than the law in operation in the
State of Tennessee If our educational
policy is TO be successful we must settle
| this text book question. We may make
appropriation after appropriation, but we
will never educate the children of North
| Carolina unless we PASS a law under
which they can secure books. We must
supply the rural districts. In many places
the poor children will have to be given
| the books by the State and the proper
| settlement Of this question means at
once a great deal to the State. North
! Carolina administers her affairs more
economically than most other States do.
except in that one particular of her text
books. Our children pay too much for
school hooks.
1--WE have decided to make the State
Board of Education the School Book Com
mission. because they are responsible to
the people. We have sworn that the
children shall be educated. This is a
big step in that direction. We want to
secure the best book for the best money.
We will send lioht where the darkness
of ignorance has nourished.
Senator Alexander said that while he
had most exalted regard for the gentle
men composing the State Board of Edu-
cation. he was satisfied they were not the
most competent to choose school books
for the children of North Carolina Most
of them haven't seen a school book since
| their boyhood DAYS. and would think OF
| the blue back s9eller first thing We
ought to get the right kind of books and
| the right man to make the selection are
the Superntendents of Graded Schools.
These men can tell the Senate and the
Board of Education for that matter.
| things about books that we have never
dreamed of We want to get the best
| book
The Board Of Education hasn't time to
look into all these things, and you can I
! expect the Governor to do the amount of
labor necessary to acquire the informa-
ton a Superintendent ACQUIRES in years
OF teaching.
Mr.. Beddingfeld, of Wake, asked the
question if many Of the Superintendents
had not represented one or more pub
fishing house. and were not qualified to
act impartially for that reason.
Senator Alexander replied that a good
many legislators did the same thing and
would continue to do so when the session
was over. The book question is import
ant and the quality OF the book more
important than the price.
Senator Aycock in reply, said that he
believed the State Board are capable Of
making a wise selection, that they We're
TO have the advice Of a subcommittee Of
five some Of the members OF which
would doubtless be superintendent of
Graded schools. The State Board would
willingly listen to advice. In Tennessee
this very bill saved $250.000 a year 10 the
. children.
Mr.. Mcintosh. of Yancey, stated that
he had attended school in Tennessee and
that he knew the situation as well as any
one. Prior to the enactment the uniform