The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-01
TEXT BOOKS ALIKE
HOUSE PASSED THE BILL FOR UNI
FORMITY.
THE VOTE WAS 1o7 TO As.
GALATIANS DELEGATION VOTED
AGAINST THE MEASURE.

Substitute, Providing for an In
vestigating Committee Was De-
feated - Provisions of the Bin
AdOpted-HOw They Are to BE En-
fOrced-Cities Not Affected - The
Convict QHestiOn-Other LegisIa-
tive News of Both Houses.
Atlanta. July S1.-The House passed
only one bill to-day, the uniform text
book bill, which is considered an inn
portant piece of legislation
The BILL as reported by the House
committee, went through by a vote of
107 to 45, much larger vote than it
was expected it would get All of the
members from Chatham voted against
the measure.
The debate was brief. being cut short
by the adoption of motion for the
previous question. Messrs Howell of
Merriwether, Steed of Taylor, Richard
son of Houston and Cam of Chatham
made five-minute speechs against the
bill. while Messrs. West of Lowndes,
Mitchell of Thomas, George OF Morgan
and Holder of Jackson spoke briefly
for it.
Mr.. West said that the great domi-
mating book company of the country,
the book trust, should be swept from
the land.
Mr.. Cam said the adoption of uni
form system of text books would cost
the parents of the school children OF
the state more than 100000.
Mr.. Holder contended that unifornni-
ty meant fewer books. cheaper books
and books just as good as those fur
nished.
The House. at the conclusion of the
debate. killed the substitute by Mr..
Cam, which proposed to appoint
Joint committee first to investigate the
question of uniformity and report to
the next session. 1t then amended and
passed, as stated. the committee sub
stitute. which bears the names of West
of Lowndes, Mitchell of Thomas and
Whitley of Douglas.
The bill. in brief, provides that the
| State Board of Education shall consul
| tute a state text book commission
without pay. A sub-commission OF
/ nNe competent tAuCdtOlS - L,
| named to consider and pass on all
books offered for use in the common
schools of the state and report to the
state commission, which is then 10
call for bids and samples
The commission is to accept the best
and most satisfactory bids. The COM
pany which gets the contract must
keep a book depository in Atlanta, with
a sufficient supply on hand to meet
nd CMph
must have at least one agency in each
county of the state. A system of books
once adopted, no change can be made
4 within five years, except by a four
fifths vote of the state commission.
/ Counties refusing to teach the books
prescribed shall not receive their pro-
portion of the state school fund, and
teachers refusing to use them shall
not receive their salaries.
The law goes into effect Jan. l, 1904
and does not apply to city or local
systems, which are supported, in part,
by local taxation.
The bill contains numerous provisions
for the protection of the public. The
Senate recently passed a similar bill,
this bill, however, is a compromise
measure, and it is thought it will go
through the Senate without difficulty.
Heard Chancellor Hill.
At u o'clock noon. the House and
Senate met in joint session and listen
ed to an entertaining address from
Chancellor Walter b. Hill Of the State
University. The chancellor spoke of
the past, present and future of the in
stitution, and dwelt upon the impor-
lance of its relations to the state. His
address was heard by many members
and many visitors in the galleries.
StOvaII's Pure Food Bill.
On Monday Mr.. Stovall of Chatham
will introduce in the Heuse a pure food
bill. This is what is known as the
Hepburn pure food bill which has been
before Congress. Mr.. Stovall says this
measure has the approval Of the United
States and the Georgia departments of
agriculture.
Mr. Stovall will also introduce a bill
giving telephone companies the right
to increase their capital stock. This bill
applies particularly to Savannah.
For Probation Officers.
The Senate to-day passed an inter-
esting bill by Senator Perry of the
Thirty-third district. providing for the
appointment of probation officers in
cities of 1000 and more. This meas
ure the author stated, is strongly
urged by a large number of ladies of
Atlanta and other cities, who are de-
sirious of lettering the condition of
the youths who may exhibit criminal
tendencies.
The bill does not require the appoint
ment of such probation officers but
leaves it to the Mayor and Council of
the city Interested The probation Off
Ger is to disappointed by the Recorder
or Judge of the Police Court, and he
is to prescribe rules and regulations
governing the officers conduct in the
care of such youthful charges as may
De committed to him.
The bill received the unanimous sup
port of the Senate.
Aldermen to BE Paid.
Among the bills passed was that by
Mr. Stovall of Chatham. providing for
salary of $40 for each regular meet
ing attended by the members of the
Savannah city Council. This bill has
already passed the House and now goes
to the Governor.
FavOrs Georgia Exhibit.
The Senate Finance Committee has
favorably recommended the Dunbar
resolution for an appropriation of $780,
600 for a Georgia exhibit at St Louis,
and the resolution will pass the Sem
ate early next week.
Compromise ON COnvicts.
The indications are that a comprom-
ise will be reached on the convict
question early next week, and a meas
ure presented that will go through
without opposition. Both Chairman J.
S. Turner of the Prison Commission
and Gov. Terrell favor measure
which will permit counties desiring II