The Tupelo journal., 1908-03-06
Mississippi
Legislature

The chairman of the committee on
education reported, recommending that
the bill providing for the establishment
of a State Normal College do not pass.
There was a decided minority of seven
members, who filed a report against the
majority, the committee standing being
IL to Z against the bill.
Representative G. l.. Jones, of Union,
who headed the minority report, sent his
report to the speakers table, which was
read, setting forth the following facts:
First-The million and a quarter dol
liars expended by the State for eduea-
ton is used in paying the salaries of the
public school teachers; therefore, the
proper returns are to be had only through
trained teachers.
Second-That Mississippi is the only
State in the Union that does not make
full provision for the training of her
teachers.
Third-Approximately 991a per cent
of the children of Mississippi are taught
outside of our State colleges, and these
children should be taught by trained
teachers.
Fourth-Deines the functions of a
State Normal College and need therefor
in Mississippi, and shows that schools
are now suffering for the lack of such.
Fifth-A delay now means a delay for
at least five years, as it will take a year
at least to equip and build the college,
and two years before the need for teach
ers can be filled.
Sixth-The normal departments of the
State colleges m now begin to sup
ply the need of rural teachers. and very
few of those so graduating are to be
found in the States rural schools.
Seventh-Sixty-five of the county SUI
perintendents in their reports, and four
State superintendent (kincannon, Pres
ton, Whitfield and Powers), are united i'm
recommending it.
The teaching profession of Mississippi
has for a number of years, through its
educational association, recommended the
establishment of the school, and we be-
lieve they are in a position to speak with
authority.
If the struggling childhood of Missis-
sippi is to have a square deal, we must
provide for its necessities, for we believe
i'll the fundamental principles that it is
always better to spend money to make
strong men M women than it is to sac
ritice our children in order to save money.
A resolution was adopted relieving the
Iazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad
Company from any culpability with ref
erence to the proposed free trip to
Natchez for the Mardi Gras festivities.
This resolution was similar in terms to
one adopted just prior to the trip to
Eicksburg.
A bill was offered by Mr.. Broyles, to
nrOVIdp that tho ny-unyavnnr ha aHIal
to all boards of trustees of educational
and eleemosynary institutions, provided
that he hold no State nor Federal office.
Mr.. Quin introduced a bill to require
all nonresident fire insurance companies
to make a deposit with the State treas
urer upon being admitted to do business
by the insurance commissioner.
Chairman Nelms, of the committee on
banks and banking. reported back house
bIL No. SIS, which has for its object
the further promotion of the stability
and integrity of the State banking insti-
buttons, that it do pass.
Mr.. Fatheree, from the ways and
means committee, presented a report in
dicating the slaughter of a number of
bills which had been considered, among
them house bill No. 40, which seeks to
VAeIlpG D per ceilt loaned from taxation.
Just before adjournment an announce
ment was made by Chairman R. w.
Morrison, of the committee on appro-
priations, that he desired to be released
from duty on that committee and form
ally submitted his resignation. This
brought forth a protest, and, notwith-
standing the resignation in writing was
in the hands of the speaker, it was
taken out of his hands by the House,
the majority of whom opposed the step.
The fact of his committee having been
the target at which considerable censur-
ing had been aimed, on account of the
recent bill pairing, was the cause of Mr..
Morrison's action. Subsequently the
resignation was withdrawn, and Mr.. AL
corn, who had been designated to sue
coed Mr.. Morrison, was relieved of the
responsibility.