The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-21
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Jefferson City. Mo. Jan. 20-Governor
Dockery, in message to the General As
sembly this morning. declared his posi-
ton regarding free textbooks.
He recommends the submission of a con-
stitutiona amendment authorizing coun-
ties. townships or school districts to tax
themselves for the purchase of textbooks
for the free use of pupils. In effect, the
Governor proposes local option.
The recommendations of the Governor
will he opposed by Senator Rubey and his
friends. who back of the proposition to
make taxation for school purposes general
and compulsory.
The Governors message is as follows:
The House Committee ON Constitutional
Amendments took the side of Representa-
tive Atkinson. who Introduced duplicate
of the resolution offered by Rubev in the
Senate. and tonight decided 10 report the
resolution favoraby.
This resolution provides that tax of
mills the dollar be imposed for free text
books. ard is the direct opposite of the
local-option law proposed by Governor
DOCkery.
The only member of the House Committee
who voted against the amendment was
O'Fallon uiepJ from Holt.
COST
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
The cost OF eNt-books for the children of our
public schools. during the last six wears. amount
la lay 20 Of nsfy sso 8 for for a Zach pupil ero s
The present system by which textbooks have
been furnished under contract has been main
tained during the last twelve years. Its purpose
is to secure uniformity and to reduce prices for
school books.
About onehalf of the States OF the Union have
adopted the state uniformity system. thus
enabling the schools To be better graded and
artculated and the people to secure fairly rea-
sonabe rates in the purchase OF school materials
The books now in in the public schools of
Missouri Were contracted under law approved
March 81. 1897, authorizing their adoption for
five years. and until otherwise provided by
law In the absence of additional legislation no
other textbooks be legally sold to the chill
dren used In the public schools.
1t appears from the able report OF Supertn-
tendent Darlington that the books selected by
the commission in 1897 have in the main been
satisfactory, but Il is thought that the list
should now be revised. There have been diri-
cuties in some parts of .he state in securing
books when needed. and II is thought that oc.
tion should be taken looking TO reduction OF
TIE present prices
LEGISLATION.
Obviously. II is the duty Of the General As
sembly enact such legislation Will secure
the very best school books. at the lowest prices
TO be furnished to the schools without delay and
unnecessary annoyance t. the patrons
In my opinion. the contemplated revision OF
textbooks and attendant reduction Of prices
should be committed, under wise and eNactnS
safeguards, to a commission, clothed with fUil
authority to deal with this whole question win
the single purpose Of promoting our splendid
educational system. Mssours public schools are
not excelled by thOse Of any other STATE OF this
Republic and children entitled TO tho
very best text books. al tho lowest possible cost
Great should he taken In the legislation
enacted to accomplish these desired results.