Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-02-12
Acted Upon Request of State
Superintendent.
KILLED BY LEGISLATURE
councllmen Were Indignant over
Measure Giving School Trustees
Right TO ASK for Bond Issue, and
President Called specia! Meeting.

Much indignation was expressed
Yesterday morning by several mem
hers OF the city council when they
learned that a bill. which was re-
ported TO have emanated from a
member of the local board OF schoc
trustees and which gave school
boards the right to go over the heads
OF the city councils and apply to the
courts for vote on a bond issue to
build school buildings. was pending
before the leg stature. The matter
was taken up with President ID. )
Jones and Mr. Jones Immediately di-
rected City Clerk Floyd Hudgins 10
issue a call for a special meeting
of the common council for Monday
right TO adopt resolutions urging the
legislature to defeat the measure
While Clerk Hudg' ns was preparing
the call news came from Richmond
that the legislature had killed the
bin. Mr. Hudgins immediately COM
munieated this fact TO President
Jones ard the issuance of the cali
was held up so President Jones can
confer with the clerk and members or
the council this morning.
Would Investigate Matter.
Il was reported in the afternoon
that the council might investigate the
source Of the bill and take steps to
prevent a recurrence Of such action
by any members of the local school
hoard. but City Clerk Hudgins said
last night that he did net think the
council would hold any special meet
ing for that purpose,
Several members of the common
council expressed themselves very
forcibly on the bill yesterday after
noon. During the conference between
the council committee on schools and
the finance committee Of the board in
the High school yesterday afternoon.
Councilman Fellows vigorously de-
nounced the bill.
Supt Jenkins was asked who drew
the bill, but he laughing'y replied
that he did not However. he virtual
w said that he knew who did draw
the bill, but declined to give any
names.
Mr.. Bachelor Drew the Bill.
Later ii was reported that Trustee
o. ID. Bachelor drew the measure
When asked about the report last
night, Mr.. Bachelor readily stated
that he did draw such a bill for
State Superintendent of Public In
struction j. d. Eggleston. Jr.. but
that he could not say that his bill
went before the legislature. as he
had net seen copy of II.
Mr. Bachelor went on to say that
when Mr.. Eggleston was in. this city
several weeks ago the superintendent
asked him to draw bill OF the ma
ture OF the one voted down by the
legislature yesterday and that he
complied with the request. He de-
clared emphatically that none of the
other members of the school board
knew anything about the bill. Mr..
Eggleston had Senator Sale, of Nor
folk. introduce the measure in the
house OF delegates.
Mir. Bachelor said further that he
had no idea that the bill would be
reported so soon, and was sorry that
Il had been as he had intended to ask
the school board and council to en-
eorse the measure while il was before
the committee.
Counties Have Authority.
Continuing. Mr.. Bachelor stated
that this measure is similar to one
already on the statute books. the only
difference being that the one refers
TO cities and the other TO counties.
Tae county school boards now have
the right to apply TO the courts to
have an election on bond issues for
new school buildings and Supt.
Eggleston thinks that the city school
boards should have the same right.
Mr. Bachelor asserted the belief that
MT. Eggleston will not give up the
fight and. that he will nave another
bilr Of similar nature introduced at
this session.
As the law is now. Mr.. Bachelor
continued. the school board Of this
city must ask the council to seek
permission from the legislature 70
have an election for the issuance OF
bonds Cor new schools and IL bin
similar to that voted down yesterday
is not enacted at this session. this
CITY cannot hope TO have an election
on a bond issue for a new High school
building until 1912 and the building