Smyrna times., 1907-02-20
DELAWARE SENATE FAVOR
A COMPULSORY EDUCATION
BILL PASSES WITH BUT ONE DIsSENTINY
VOTE BY AN OvERWHELM MAJORITY
Under Provision of the Bill All Children Be-
tween the Ages of Seven and Fourteen Years
Must Attend School - Superinteudents.

Must Attend School - Superintendents.
The Senate of Delaware passed Fri
day the compulsory education bill,
which requires all children between
the ages of seven and fourteen years of
age to attend school, strong speeches
being made by Senators Conner (who
introduced the measure), Sparks, Mon
aghan, Rose and Hart. The latter was
the only member of the Senate voting
against the measure. Mr.. Conner said:
s'The whole state apparently wants
this law. have received innumerable
letters from women's clubs, labor or
ganizations and educators. Wefurnish
school houses. We heat them. We
furnish capable teachers, yes, even all
the necessary books, and yet, in the
midst of plenty, boys and girls are al |
lowed to run wild without knowledge. |
This law is not after the good citizens |
of the state. But it is after those bad
citizens who are by their negligence,
bringing up anarchists about us. The
bill is almost a counterpart of the i
Pennsylvania and New Jersey laws"
Mr.. Rose asked the question why, at
first, it did not limit the time to three
months for compelling attendance.
Mr.. Conner pointed out a provision
where the school directors or boards of
education, can, at elections, vote to re-
duce the time limit from five months
to three months. Many other ques-
tions and suggestions were forthcoming
as the bill was read for the third time.
Itpassed IA to 1, Mr. Hart refusing to
record his vote in the affirmative. The
bill was referred in the House during
the afternoon.
Plea For Better Paid School Superintendents.
Superintendent A. R. Spaid, of the
New Castle county public schools, ap-
peared before the House and made
statement regarding his administration
OF that Office to correct some mistaken
impressions that had gained. He said
he never had assessed any teacher for
any purpose, and that not a cent of
money had ever been received by him
from teachers. On the contrary Mr..
Spaid pointed out that he had given his
own private time, had given innumer-
able lectures, etc., for the improve
meut of the teachers, and often had
taken his own money to carry on this
work, in addition to receiving financial
contributions from individuals. In
cidentally he read letter from George
S. Messersmith, president of the New
Castle County Teachers Association
who stated that Mr.. Spaid does not as
sess or does not collect the institute
fee, and referred to Mr.. Spaid as a
"most efficient yet extremely under
paid servant of the state" There is
pending bill to increase the county
superintendent salaries from $1,000 to
$500 year, over which there has been
some discussion, and Mr. Spaid point
ed out that New Jersey pays its county
superintendents $4,000 year and allows
each $3.50 as an expense fee. Superin.
tendent Spaid's statement was entirely
satisfactory to the members, and on
motion of Representative Conwell re.
solution was adopted expressing conf
dence in the county superintendents
During his statement Mr.. Spaid mad,
it plain that he would have to 60 else
where if his salary Is not increased, a
he does not consider he can ,continu,
his duties as county superintendent a
the present salary.
Senator Conuer's Local Option Bill Introduce
Senator Conper's famous local optioi
bill for the entire state made its ap
pearance in the Senate Monday. I
was read amid much quiet commen
and consigned by Lieutenant Governo
Parker to the committee on enrolled
bills, which will deliberate upon an
report the measure back to the Senate
Senator Rose asked that 5000 copies G
the bill, which he designated as til
'sgold brick local. option bill costin
the state $50, 900 for special election,
but the Senate voted down that motion
Senator Sparks suggestion that $50
copies be printed was adopted, how
ever. AS has been explained, the Cor
ner bill provides for special electio
in November next throughout the er
tire state to pass upon the ques
tion of slicense" or mo license" fo
the sale of Intoxicating liquor. The RI
suit is to be determined according t
districts = Wilmington, rural Ne
Castle county, Kent county and SUISSE
county each being a constitutional di
triet, One district might vote to cor
tinue to sell liquor and another vote |
go "dry" under the measure. A pei
atty of from three to twelve month
CONTINUED ON FIFTH PAGE.