The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-08
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEXT BOOK BILL
PASSES IN THE HOUSE
EFFORTS To AMEND DEFEATED
The House Passes the Bill Just as 1t
- Came from the Senate-BiIIs Intro.
duced Excepting Several Cities from
the Provisions OF the BiIl-Another
Bill for a General stock LAVA State
Banking BnI-LocaI Bills Passed.
SENATE.
Especial to the Messenger.)

SENATE.
Especial to the Messenger)
Raleigh, N. c., February 6.-The SEN
ate met at IL o'clock.
Bills were introduced as follows: By
Senator Warren, to change township
lines in Craven county; by Senator
James, to incorporate the Greenville
Banking and Trust Company; by SEN
ator Speight, to provide a general
stock law; by Senator Morton, to pro-
tect merchants and millers in North
Carolina; by Senator Foushee, to en-
large Durham county and to incorpor-
ate the Marion and Northwestern Rail-
road Company; by Senator James, to
appropriate funds for the North Car
olina school for deaf, dumb and blind;
by Senator Long, to provide a state
banking system, with power to issue
money: also to regulate fees of no
taries public and others in protesting
instruments; by Senator Mcintosh, to
prevent imposition on clients by at
torneys.
The bill to amend the charters of
Southport passed it's second reading.
The senate bill relative to the COM
pensation of the commissioners of
reading.
The house bill to authorize Bruins
wick county to levy a special tax pass
ed it's final reading.
The house bill to authorize Scotland
county to issue bonds passed it's third
reading.
The senate bill to restore to the gov
fk,a tn int iro0 tnr
of schools for deaf and blind passed its
third reading.
The house bill to amend the stock law
in Edgecombe county passed it's final
reading.
The house bill to extend the time to
compromise and settle state debt
(time extended to 1909 passed it's final
reading.
The house bill to incorporate the
South and Western Railroad Company
passed it's second reading.
The house bill to prevent running at
at large of live stock in Robeson coun-
ty passed it's second reading.
The house bill for the protection of
cutters of mill logs in Hyde, Onslow
and PamlicO counties passed it's final
reading.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
The house met at 10 o'clock.
Bill were introduced as follows: By
Mr.. Mclean, to appoint cotton weigh
er at Laurinburg; also to amend the
charter of Laurinburg; by Mr.. Daugh-
teridge, to elect Amos Wooten a justice
of the peace; by Mr.. Craig, for grant
ing teachers certificates; by Mr.. Nichol-
son, to allow Beaufort county to levy a
special tax; by Mr.. Nash, to provide
for waterworks for Elizabeth Citv: by
Mr.. Duls, to incorporate Oasis temple,
Mystic Shrine; by Mr.. Moore, to ap-
portion the congressional districts.
Bills passed final reading as follows.
To extend the time for registration of
land grants to three years from Janu-
ary 1901.
The special order was taken up, be-
ing the text book bill.
Mr.. Watts, of Iredell, offered an
amendment exempting the Statesville
graded school, and had letters read
from the school trustees requesting
this.
Mr.. Carraway offered an amendment,
exempting the graded schools of Le-
noir.
A number of other amendments were
offered.
Mr.. Rountree said he had no disposi-
ton to interfere with local matters of
Iredell county. The representative from
there was more calculated to look af-
ter that, but this bill is intended as a
II may IOl De perfect,
but / confess on examination. 1 see no
objection to it. 1t is a great surprise
to me tnat / see so much opposition to
such a righteous and simple provision
that school books for public schools
should be not only uniform but cheap
er. 1t seems to me there must be a
great profit somewhere to justify such
an expensive and disgraceful fight as
we had here two years ago, and have
had some repetition Of the same this
year. II you allow amendments to this
bill you help to defeat 1t. I can see no
reason why, If this bill Is good enough
for graded schools Of Wilmington,
Goldsboro. Winston, Raleigh, Charlotte
and Asheville, it is not good enough for
Statesville and Weaverville. The bill
provides for supplementary books in
graded schools. 1t only requires that
they shall not exclude state adopted
books Unless the law of supply and
demand has been abolished it is COM
mon sense that the more books you buy
the cheaper you can get them. i have
no earthly interest in this matter ex-
cept for the children Of my state who
are In need Of practical relief OF this
kind Do not allow this bill to be I'LL
ed In this insidious way. Stand by
committees report and you take the
only safe course in this matter.
Mr.. Stewart said he had no interest
IN this matter except that of the poor
children. This is one OF the first and
best steps that could be taken fol
them Why is it that children OF
North Carolina have to pay from 81 tc
50 more every year for books than dc
children in Tennessee? You find paid
attorneys and school superintendents
in every county. Yes, and you have
found agents in Raleigh since this leg
islature met. 1t takes big money tc
pay this array. Let this great expense
be taken from book publishers and ouI
books will be cheaper. The main reason
for non-attendance of children a
school is the high price OF the books