Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-01-29
rs 70 FREE TEXT BOOKS.
Special Message Sent to the Missou-
ri General Assembly by
Gov. Dockery.
REFERS TO FREE SCHOOL TEXT BOOKS.
The Submission of q Constitutional Amend
ment Recommended Authorizing Coun-
ties, Townships and School Districts to
Tax Themselves for the Purchase of
Text Books.

49, oSS
Tax Themselves for the Purchase of
Text Books.
Jefferson City,, Mo-, Jan. 20.-Gov.
Dockery, in a message to the general
assembly this morning, declared his
position regarding free textbooks.
He recommends the submission of a
constitutional amendment authorizing
counties, townships DR. school districts
to tax themselves for the purchase of
textbooks for the free use of pupils.
In effect, the governor proposes local
option, The message follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
The cost of textbooks for the children
of our public schools, during the last six
years amounted to nearly $4,000, or an
average annual outlay OF about W cents
for each pupil enrolled.
The present system by which text
books ave been furnished under contract
has been maintained during the last
twelve years. Its purpose is to secure uni
formity and to reduce prices for school
books.
About one-half OF the states of the un-
ion have adopted the state uniformity
system, thus enabling the. school to be
better graded and articulated n the
people to secure fairly reasonable rates
in the purchase of school materials. The
books now in use in the public schools OF
Missouri We're contracted under q law ap-
proved March 81, 1897, authorizing their
adoption for five years., and until other
wise provided by law" In the absence OF
additional legislation no other textbooks
can be legally, sold to the children or
.,,oI IN tho frI1in cnhnn1c
1t appears from the able report of SUI
perintendent Darlington that the books
selected by the commission in 1897 nave
in the main been satisfactory, but 1t Is
thought that the list should now be re-
vised. There have been difficulties in
some parts of the state in securing books
when needed, and it is thought that &C
ton should be taken looking to a reduc-
ton of the present prices.
Obviously, it is the duty of the genera!
assembly to enact such legislation as will
secure the very best school books, at the
lowest prices, to be furnished to the
schools without delay and unnecessary
annoyance to the patrons.
In my opinion, the contemplated revi-
sion of textbooks and attendant reduc-
ton of prices should be committed, under
wise and eXacting safeguards, to a com
mission, clothed with full authority tt
single purpose of promoting our splendid
educational system. Missouri's public
schools are not excelled by those of any
other state of this republic, and our chill
dren are entitled to the very best text
books, at the lowest possible cost. Grea
care should be taken in the Legislation
enacted to accomplish these desired re
suits. There should be no element O.
chance. The enactmentS on this question
should clearly be in the interest of gu
people, whose aim has ever been to at
ford the youth of this state only tina
which is best in educational advantage:
and facilities.
In submitting this recommendation fol
q textbook commission, / shall not pre-
sent further argument, inasmuch as thi:
important question has been so fully q n
so impartially discussed in the annual re
port of the state superintendent of schools
In this connection 1 desire to adver
briefly to the suggestion that book
should be furnished to the children o
the state without cost.
Properly speaking, there can be no sucl
thing as free textbooks" Some on,
must print them, and some one must pa.
for them.
Until very recently no other plan wa
proposed than that the parents SHOULD
by some people hat this duty shall de
volve upon the state. After the propose
system is fully installed, at a cost eN
ceeding one million of dollars, 1t will re
quire from 100000 to 100000 annually t.
maintain them.
Massachusetts was the first state t
provide for district ownership. of text
books for the free use of public schoo
children. This new departure was mad
in 1884. Under this system the books ar
paid for by taxing the people of the dis
trict. Massachusetts, New York, Penn
%sylvania, Nebraska and six other state
own textbooks. Many other states hav
what Is known as local option owner
ship" leaving it to each county, town
ship or district, as the case may be, to de
n,ro;,o ryIatIAp - rufI1 n = it,n1f Gov Ait
purpose.
1t is proposed that Missouri shall suppl,
school books, free of charge, to all tn
children, the purchase to be made by tn
proposition is impracticable under gu
present constitution, which now limits tn
levy for state revenue purposes to /
cents on the 500 valuation, one-third o
tain the schools.
1t is estimated that the receipts into tn
state revenue fund will not exceed SIS,
50O,O 900 during present biennial period
Every dollar of this income will be abso
lutely required to meet existing demand
upon our state revenue fund. 1t Is nc
wise to enfeeble and enervate our elee
mosynary,- educational and penal institu
lions by diverting any part of, this In
come to new objects requiring large or
preparations, it matters not how worth
they may be.
] desire to emphasize the treasury sitl
alton by refteratfng the statement the
the estimated income of $500, 900 for tn
biennial period upon which we are enter
ing is scarcely sufficient to meet existin
liabilities and properly equip and mair
tain the Institutions Missouri has airead
authorized.
The state should not d~issipate it's r,
sources and imperil the growth and e.
ficiency of its institutions by enterin
upon new fields of e%ndeavor, requiring e3
tensfve appropriations, unless at tt
same time the necessary revenue is pre-
vided to meet the new liabilities. Coz
centratfon Of effort and intelligent cal
and oversight of existing institutions al
preferable to the dissipation of u Ii
come.
I anl a jealous friend of the publ
school system, but nothing car justify tt
state in failing to provide ample and ii
creasing facilities for the care of the Ii
sane the feeble-minded, the deaf, tt
blind and other unfortunate classes Of oil
people.
In view, therefore, Of the constitution
limitation upon the taxing power, I re
Ommend the submission of a constit1
tional amendment authorizing countie
townships or school districts to tax then
selves for the purchase of textbooks Fl
the free use of pupils. Respectfully,
A. M. DOCKERY, Governor.
State of Missouri, Executive Departmeu
Jefferson City. January 20. 1909