Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-12
ROUTINE. PROCEEDINGS
OF THE LEGISLATURE.

Special to the REGISTER.
: CHARLESTON ". Va, February 8
In the House yesterday the reading oil
the Journal, on motion OF Mr.. Lilly
was dispensed with, Mr.. Brannon de-
manding the ayes and noes, by SO to
IL.
Mr. Anderson announced that he was
paired with Mr.. Davis, of Fayette.
Mr.. Reynolds moved that the journal
be approved, and Mr.. Brannon demand
ed the ayes and noes. The vote stood
81 to 9 for approval.
The following committee reports
were received:
Judiciary: -iFavorably on H. B. 245
c--.Aging time of holding the Criminal
Court of Cabell county; II. B. 26O, .es-
tablishing q court of limited jurisdic-
ton in Fayette county, and II. b. 24f
I'd secure greater accuracy in short
hand reports of judicial proceedings.
Education :-Favorably on H. B. 266
establishing the Independent school
district of Hinton.
The non-concurrence of the Senate
in the passage of H. B. SO, defining
rights of land owners along public
highways, was reported
The report of the committee on the
West Virginia University and its rec
ommendation was unanimously adopt
ed
II. b. 50, the pure food law, was
passed by a vote Of Al to l, Mr.. Fish
er of Braxton, voting against it.
H. B. 264, creating an advisory
board to investigate applications for
pardons, was passed unanimously
Substitute for H. B. 265, creating a
State school book board, was opposed
(by Mr.. Stapleton, who moved indefin-
tie postponement Mr.. Smith, of Ohio
said he had heard in the hotel lobbies
that this bill could not pass. He said
there was a notorious lobbyist who
had bet $40 that the bill would not
pass. The bill went to the cradle and
affected the whole life of the child
Mr.. Stapleton interrupted Mr.. Smith
to say that in all his legislative ex-
perience, he had never been approach
ed by a lobbyist Mr.. Smith said he
knew of no man who had a higher rep
utation for honesty than Mr.. Staple
ton. The bill left room for honest diff
ference of opinion if the details did
not suit, they could be amended. The
bill was intended to have uniformity
of textbooks throughout the State
1t would benefit the poor people, who
often have to move from one county
to another and De, under the present
system. compelled to buy new books.
The bill would save these people from
being the prey of the book agents.
What was wanted was a board that
could be appointed and discharged at
will by the Governor 1t would pro-
vide an educated board instead of an
ignorant board.
Mr.. Sinclair had consulted with the
best educators and they all said this
law would be better than the present
law. He spoke on how the frequent
changes in textbooks is oppressive to
the poor.
Mr.. Martin said there was great
need of law like the proposed one.
He referred to the frequent changes
In textbooks by the county officials
He would not say it was done by cor
ruption. The bill puts the selection OF
books into the hands of the most COM
petent educational authorities. He
said he had a wheelbarrow full OF
cast-away books.
Mr.. Hervey said he did not know
how to vote. The independent school
districts wanted the privilege of Sc
Letting their own books. The book
boards in his county were good. Mr..
Hervey said he had been a school
teacher. He did not see why the pu-
pills should not be instructed in any
books they might bring in.
Mr.. Grant was opposed to uniform
ity in school books throughout the
State, what would suit one section
would not suit another He was OPP
posed to the bill because it would nee
essitate a change in from one-half to
three-fourths of the counties in order
to produce uniformity.
Mr.. Fisher, of Braxton, said that two
years ago Mr. Martin and Mr. Grant
occupied a different position. He said
it would never have been passed if it
put that power in the hands of the
present superintendent. who was
known generally as corrupt man.
Mr.. Smith, of Ohio. said the charge
against the superintendent was false;
he was more honest in the conduct of
his office than the gentleman from
Braxton had ever been in any office
he had filled The gentleman out
voiced the views of the lobbyists.
Mr.. Reynolds said there were some
Objectionable details in the bill. but il
was on the rights line. Not all the
County Courts are competent To se-