The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-13
Legislative Committee
Begins Investigation.
Makes Progress.
THREE WITNESSES
GIVE TESTIMONY
Former Superintendent Southall,
Mr.. Glass and Captain West
on the Stand - Prices
High, But They Do
Not Believe in
Single List.

Fine progress was made by the special
joint committee with the schoobook in-
Quiry at the initial session yesterday,
though nothing came out in the evidence
which smacked IN any way OF a sensa.
tion.
Three witnesses were examined. and
Indications are that the matter viii
probably be wound up this week. All
the members were present Chairman
Richard Evelyn Byrd. Of Winchester,
presiding. and Librarian Of the senats
Jeter acted as sergeant-at-arms.
Senator Strobe. OF Amherst. and Dele
gate Cox. Of Richmond. who. with Mr..
Byrd. constitute the COMMITTEES. asked
some questions but the examination for
the most part was conducted by tho
chairman.
The witnesses examined yesterday vera
Or. Joseph w. Soutran. of Amelia. for
mer Superintendent Of Public Instruction:
Messrs. r. {. Glass. OF Lynchburg. AMI
John T. West Of Norfolk county. mem
bers of the State Board OF Education.
DR.. Charles W. Kent. of the Univer-
sity Of Virginia another member VIII
be here this morning. and will probably
be the first witness when the committee
reassembles at 10 o'clock. Other pronli-
nent Witnesses will be former Coverno.
OF Staunton; Acknowledgement W. A An
derson. and Dr. Lyon q. Tyler, OF VII
bamsburg.
Prominent among the spectators during.
most of yesterday We're Mr.. Frank p
Brent. former secretary to the Board OF
Education. and Mr Joseph D. EgEleston.
Jr, Superintendent OF Public Instruction.
May Call Mr.. Brent.
Mr.. Erent may be a witness. though It
has not Yet been fully determined
whether OF not he Will be needed
DIR. SouthaI was the first witness. and
he was followed by Mr.. Glass. Captain
West was on the stand up 10 O'clock
when he completed his testimony. and
the committee rose.
While Chairman Byrd went into the
matter in his usual hammer and tongs''
style. he did not draw any startling tes-
umony from the witnesses. nor did any
thing Of an unpleasant nature develop.
Tho feature Of the testimony OF Mr..
Glass was the statement OF his uncorns
promising belief in the multiple hook
list system. and OF his reasons why ha
so believed
Captain West, on the other hand. said
while he had voted for the multiple lisr.
ne could easily imagine circumstances
which would make him favor a single
list in a modified form.
DR.. Southall had long since been con-
vinced that the multiple list was the
best system for Virginia.
All the witnesses admitted that books
cost more under the multiple than under
the single list system but they contended
that the former had other advantages
over the latter which outweighed this.
There were some sharp exchanges ac
times between Chairman Byrd and Mr.
Glass. but they were always made in good
temper.
II IS understood that number of rep
resentatives of book publishing houses
VIII be summoned as witnesses.
DR.. Southall First.
Or. Joseph W. SouthaIl. OF Amelia. for
mer Superintendent OF Public Instruction,
WIS the first witness.
He answered the usual questions pro-
pounded by Chairman Byrd. and then got
into the meat OF the subject
lie had taken part in two adoptions.
When he went in he found the multi
pie list In vogue, and Il was not changed.
mainly Tor the reason that the members
Of the board thought TO make the change
would involve great cost upon the patrons
OF the schools.
"rhe change would have been too
violent. too abrupt" said the witness.
Doctor. I have before me the adoptions
of 1894 and ls9s. said Mr.. Byrd. T md
that YOU did change a large number
OF books The chairman called over the
list at length. and asked why these
changes
In answering. Dr. Southau said he had
selected number of strong educators
10 review the books and report to him.
They had recommended stepping Stones
10 Literature" which was one book put
on and IL was adopted because it was
very highly regarded.
Johnson's Readers were put on be-
cause the board wished 20 patronize a
Southern house.
1--WE adopted stepping Stones % Tit-
eratuce' because of it's superior qualities.