Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-14
STATE TO FURNISH
. FREE SCHOOL BOOKS {?
Senator Chase Proposes That
Commonwealth Shall Sup.
ply Pupils.
GOVERNOR SIGNS REPEAL BILL
Bank Examiner Bill KiItSa IN the
Senate Committee by a. Close Vote
Plan to Have State Board of
Charities and Corrections Approved
by the Assembly.
Especial to The Daily Press. F.,


RICHMOND. VA. Feb. l3.-Sena-
tor Chase offered today in the SEN
ate bill providing for free books for
the public schools of the state This
bill is Senate bill No. 402 and was
referred TO the committee on finance.
Senator Chase. when seen today MS
To this bill, said:
Free books will not cost the people
in Virginia Il cent more than they are
paving ut present for text books for
their children. There must be so
much money spent each and every
wear BY the people OF the state for
books and supplies. whether each in
dividnal nlys the books for his own
children or whether he pays this
money into the state treasury, and
the rich taxpayers would have to pay
more than they would pay II they
bought the books for their own chill
dren, and the poor would have TO pay
less; but the rich are able to do it.
and no objections should be urged on
this account.
Free books provided by the state
at reasonable rates based on single
list, will cost far less than the people
are now paying on the multiple list
AT present there are som 5000 or
G.00o INDECENT children heing supplied
with free books at n cost of about
fifty eight cents for each pupil. There
are some 100000 now in school at
tendance. Al this estimate of fifty
eight cents for each pupil il woul1
cost the state about 100000. Would
II be possible to invest to better adj
vantage. say 100000 of the large
surplus now in the state treasury.
than to furnish free books? The OBJ
lection to the present law. which fur
! nishes free books only to INDECENT
children. is that thousands of children
rather than claim the books us indi-
gent. even where their parents are not
able to buy them, remain ont of
school. And Il very small part of the
school population in the poor country
districts even know that we now have
law TO furnish free books to INDECENT
children. and, therefore. they do not
ask for them. The state spends $780,
900 in many other ways. and thinks
nothing OF it when it should be spent
on free books.
Bank Examiner Bill is Killed.
The committee on insurance and
banking Of both houses. sitting in
joint session this morning, disposed
of the till providing for state bank
examiner. and by a vote of 10 II
decided that no bill for that purpose
be recommended to this general as
sembly.
The bill. which was originally Of
fered by Colonel Wingo in the House.
provided for the creation of a de-
partment of banking under the SUI
pervision OF the state corporation
commission and for a tax on state
banks graduated according to assets,
to defray the expense of the depart
ment and salaries of the bank ex-
aminers.
After hearing the bankers and their
representatives the committee went
into eXecutiv session. and shortly af-
terward announced its determination
to recommend no additional legisla-
ton at this session for the regulation
OF state banks.
Survey Bill Special Order.
On motion of Senator Rison today
the bill providing for bureau of geo
logical survey to be located at the
University of Virginia was made the
special and continuing order at 1890
Friday. the 14th. and to continue as
such until disposed of. The bill has
been favorably reported by the com
mittee OH public institutions and edu-
cation, and is now on its second read
ing
IT would seem now that the bill will
certainly pass. though the friends of
the Virginia Polytechnic Institute will
probably be heard from before the
vote is taken.
Make Clerks Pay $4,000.
A bill was introduced In the House
today, with Delegates j. w williams
and E. p Cox as patrons. fixing tho
salaries of the corporation commits
sioners. clerks and others connected
with the office.
It flxes the salary OF the chairman
ut $4,000 the other two members at
$4,000; the baillff at 81 200: clerk. So
900; first assistant clerk. $500; sta