Mexico Missouri message., 1905-03-23
FARRIS BEATEN AGAIN.
Fought for County Uni
fOrmity of School Books.

senate passed the mouse OIL lnlS
morning to repeal the law for state
uniformity of school text books
and later killed the house bill fix
ing county uniformity. Without
further legislation on the subject
this will leave every school district
iu the state at perfect liberty to
select its own text books in its own
way.
The law repealed to-day WIS
passed in 1897. A set of school
text books was adopted under its
provisions by some of the state Of
ficers and a commission. There
has been a row about the books
ever since. Frank H. Farris said
the protest that arose on account
of the books adopted was the first
drop of water in the food that
swept the Democratic party out Of
power in the state"
Some of the books under the
contracts were called bad by the
best teachers, the prices were not
satisfactory aud things were said
about the contract that in these
days would have suggested a grand
Jury, altho there was never any
formal proof Of anything wrong.
A few minutes after the repeal
bill passed the senate the OsSen-
fort bill from the house was called
up for p as ag Q. Sena-
tor McDavidsaid the bill provided
only for county uniformity and
Ileft the selection Of the books to
be used to a commission in the
county. He thought the safest
thing was to beat this bill and if
the house did not pass the senate
bill for state uniformity leave the
whole matter of text books wide
open so that each district could
make such changes in its books as
seemed best to it.
Frank Farris said the house
committee had reported unfavOra-
bly, on the McDavid bill. He sup
ported the Ossenfort bill. Senator
Dickinson said the OssenfOrt bill
had no good features that would
compare with the senate bill
Rather than have the proposed eR
fort at county uniformity he would
prefer to leave the whole matter
wide open. Senator DOwell said Q
member of the clerical force hat
told how, under county uniformity
about sixteen years ago, he had
been paid 500 for his influence tC
get certain books adopted. FarriI
of Crawford asked:
IF an outside man could ge
800 to help adopt county uni
formity, how much might a mem
ber of the house get for his vOtC
= tn adoDt state unifOrmity?D
4 He might get a good deal, ;
. Dowell said, but l don't be
S lieve that there are men in thi
legislature with prices on thei
heads"
Dowell declared that with tn
OsseDfOrt bill in force the trail o
the school book promoter would b.
S scandal upon scandal and corrup
ton upon corruption.
Frank Farris declared that Dick
= inson had said he wOuld vote 70
| the Ossenfort bill.
e Dickinson: THAT statement
b not true. l said if the hous
g would not pass the senate bill,
r would vote to reconsider the Os
n senfOrt bill if it failed here, O
i. vote for it if it came up last"
It Farris: did not understan
there was any if about it. al
sert now that The senator frOl
Henry said to MIR. OssenfOrt thl
= he would vote for this BILL"
IA Dickinson: Il said it would |
l. just as stated here"
l. Farris: "YOu are telling ii
is house they must do as they direc
l. If were in the majority in Il
E. house l would see that the bi
M was in the depths Of hell before
ar would be directed on this matt,
ne by the senate"
a