The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-16
UiIIeY s. Rh06zJs.

There was a lively fight over the pro-
vision exemptins cities from The require
ment that textbooks should be selected
bv the State Board of Education. CITY
members excepting Mr.. Meredith, fought
for the exemption, but it was struck out
In this contest the book agents and the
superior intelligence OF city school boards
over county boards were discussed, ana
the book agents and city boards went
down with a crash under the county cry
of feed US; all out of the same spoon.
Election of school officers by the people,
COMPULSORY education AND disposition or
the literary fund were subjects of olS-
cussion and amendment. and at the time
tbe University snag was reached in sec
lion twelve the article on education "Ss
in a fair way of being completed yestef-
day onlv one section remaining ana that
not contested.
THE DAY IN DETAIL.
The convention was opened with pray
81. nv DR.. w r. l.. Smith. of the second
BAPTIST Church, siXty-seven members pc
ing present On motion of Chairman X.
Walton Moore. consideration Of the Leg
islative Article was made the speclai
order for Thursday.
The convention took up the report on
education.
Mr.. Lindsay moved to strike out from
subsection four the provision allowing
school boards of cities of over o,eyo poPu-
lation 10 select text books. he saAd lhS {
should be no distinction between Ie
county and city schools
Chairman Ncnwaine said he ha0 been
informed by the Superintendent OF olly
Schools of Richmond and one5of the most
prominent teachers that the exception
in favor of cities was the most important
10 y
do to take away from city boards the
right to select their own textbooks
Judge Hancock made a very strong
speech in support Of the Lindsay amend
ment He protested against the state
nent or idea that people in the counties
had less Intelligence than city people.
PROTECTION FROM AGENTS.
Mr., Myled.t44 said No pelle, ca N the
doctrines OF "IeaG US not into temptauoA'
and earnestly urged ,nat the cltJ schooi
boards be proceed from the n.ahoish-
plents and Influences of book agents. 40
ole. ed an amendment s-V-hs 10
the STATE Boaiu thG "lac;Ss4on VI 9s'e -
ING a dllereut class OF teXt-poehs LOT
= 1TeTant cities. tie declared that 1t
was extremely unwise 10 adop. law
si,npIv on the sugge stion or desire OF
,i-al,,ars He thought the p1opie VINO
naid taxes Should also be coAsldered'
Mr. class said the city of Lynchburs
desired The new law. II had not aeeh
recommended by the committee on the
suggestion of school officials alone, Inc
section required that city ooarus sAouio
make The selections under rules ana reg
nIations adopted by the State Board, ana
his would meet the objections made oy
Mir. Meredith.
Mr. Hamilton contended that the rep
,aea,7ratiyes of the cities had listened to
RI. demands OF the county members OF
The convention. ana it was nothing out
RIGHT for the cities to have the priTl-
lece they asked OF selecting their own
textbooks.
Mr. Pollard, speaking for Richmond,
said the provision was the unanimous
desire of the educators of this city
Judge Ingram said that in reply to
.Ir5ge Hancock he wou state that the
city Of Manchester wished the privilege
or selection of teNt-books-
Mr. Thorn said he was sure the city OF
Norfolk would be satisfied with the
Recommendation of the committee
Mr. Parks, speaking for the counties,
raised the hair on book agents and SAID
school boards should be protected from
tfem and their lawyers. He opposed
making q distinction between the coun-
ties ard the cities in the fundamental
the Meredith amendment, saying it would
give relief 10 tho cities without making
any distinction
Mr. Lindsay accepted the amendment.
Ii was ID pit DIS. &c. t5; noe. IS
a motion TO reconsider was voted down
aud subsection four was ADOPTED. As
amended it reads:
S b-sect' on four.-It tthe stare Beard
shall select textbooks and educational
.YNs,ft. 31,r. Mi
schools Of the State, exercising such dis.
erection as it may see fit in the selection
OF books suitable for the schools i'll the
cities and counties respectively.
I'm PROPOSED
Mr.. James " Gard IL # re a sub
slit fni he VIII / NIB sec ion, whica
pr ctica II ,c egatet the section Il
textbooks to tie school boards. He
,natie an earnest s1eeech in support of it.
NJ WeTcott as vigorously opposed it
Repeated efforts We're made to have
the substitute and the debate ruled ont