The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-16
TEXTBOOK SITUATION
IN A kNoTIy TANGlE
Three Factions in the House Are
AL Struggling for Su-
premacy.
ACTION EXPECTED THIS WEEK.
BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
/. Jefferson City, Mo-, Feb. 15-Unless in
edications fail there will be developments
in textbook legislation during this week,
which Will show in 4 measure, at least, just
what may be expected from the present
General Assembly in meeting existing condi-
tons.
That the situation ia hardly pleasing to
any one may be taken for granted. The fact
that some wish one thing and others an
other, while a third faction has views OPP
posed to both of the other classes makes
the outcome problematicaL.
Davidson of Marion has introduced q bill
which may be said to embody the views Of
the administration This bill permits the
Governor to appoint a commission Of five
to make all contracts for textbooks. Ac-
cording TO this bill II shall be the duty of
the commission to terminate and make con-
tracts for the entire State.
This latter feature of the bill has aroused
the active opposition OF the Representatives,
Leonard OF st. Louis and Dolan Of Kansas
City, who are both fighting to exempt the
two cities from the operation OF any com
that to put the cities on the same footing
as the country would subject the parents
of school children to needless expense. II
would take about q quarter Of a million dol
lars to provide the children OF 81. Louis
with new textbooks, aside from the books
which are bought by the city and furnished
~
EFFORT TO COMPROMISE
Ar effort to compromise has been made
members q the commission educators.
proposition has not been accepted by the
city representatives. Farley Of Platte. who
is also on the Textbook COMMITTEES Of the
House. has Joined hands with Leonard and
Dolan on this proposition. and Is insisting
that there is no need to buy . complete lot
OF new books In place Of those furnished
IN nieN WhoRa panfrQeta oWniroH axf
September.
There are q few books which Farley
Eli he has named them, and provided that
the commission shall make contracts only
for these bookA TT might be all right to
the companies receiving tn: new ooniiacts
would make an exchange Of. books without
ssgs5ai1s their .,a,,,s s q A & present.; the
\ be free from finger marks and other de-
facemsnta As there are few children who
companies would be compelled to exchange
comparatively few. On the present system
of exchanges the cost to the parents
Representative Gardner has introduced a
bill which provides that new contracts shall
be made by a commission composed of the
Schools and Professor John l. Kirk Of
Kirksville, these to choose their successors.
a ah Re prS5 cWo If The Df ReDEbiican nn members sns sns' Of
the Textbook Committee have united in
support of the Gardner bill and have been
able, with the aid of Farley, Leonard ara
Dolan, to hold matters in abeyance-
POLITICAL COMPLEXION.
There is no objection to the political
complexion of the Commission which the
Governor might appoint under the provi-
sions Of the Davidson bill, for It provides
for three Democrats and two Republicans.
but there is a question raised concerning
who shall nave the privilege Of naming it
City members think hat it should be pro-
vided that the Superintendent of Schools in
st. Louis and Kansas City should be on the
commission.
All of which has made the situation a
tangled one. 1t is certain that no matter
what sort Of a report is made on the door
by the committee, a vigorous fight Will be
made by all sides OF the controversy. Rep
resentative Davidson, together with Repre-
sentative Oliver of APE Girardeau, thinks
and have active control over contracts for
all time to come, and not frame legislation
similar to that now on the statute books
which provides that the present contracts
shall hold good unless provided otherwise
by law.
Undoubtedly the companies nov, holding
contracts are doing everything In their
power to stir up trouble in order to keep
from having any legislation enacted which
would disturb their interests. Those who
are holding out for concessions and who are
working for the Gardner bill claim that
they are not concerned in the present con-
tracts and are working simply for their
own districts. Their arguments are the
subject Of discussion, for they undoubtedly
have much on their side of the question.
Likewise with others, Altogether 1t is a
situation which will occupy more than one
hour of the Assembly's time.
P. e. BURTON.