The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-17
ARNOLD BILL IS
 PASSED BY HOUSE Provides for More State
 High Schools THE CODE Under Present Law Is Counties Hay- ing Agricultural or Normal Schools Cannot Get State Aid for
 High Schools
By BERRYMAN G. BETTY

cultural schools to eSta biiSh state n1Sn schools passed the house this afternoon by vote of 5s to S4
 The present law provides that only three counties which have no normal or agri- cultural school are allowed to receive the annual appropriation of 5000 for the expenses of running high school. MT. Arnod's bill seeks to amend the code so as to give the benefit of this appropria- ton to every county in the state, irrespec. tive of whether or not these counties have any other state institution of learning Under the present law IS counties in the state are excluded from the high school provision.
 Morning Session
 Practically all of the morning ses- sion in the house was taken up in the discussion of Mir. Arnold's bill. When the measure was first called up the author stated its purpose and made a strong speech In favor of it's pas age. He said that there were eighteen counties in the state that did not have high schools owing to the fact that other state institutions were estab- lished in these counties. On account of the conditions which obtained In these several counties, he said, the nor. mai and agricultural schools had to do the work of high schools. which did not properly come under their sphere.
 Almon Opposes Bill
 The speaker of the house was the first to oppose the bill Judge Almon said he thought the bill would call for too great an appropriation. declaring that the county high schools through out the state had practically the same course of study as the normal schools offer and that he saw no need to estab- fish two such schools in one county He thought the members of the house were not prepared at this time to vote for the measure, particularly as there are several other bills pending which design to increase the high school ap- propriation.
 MT. Fuquay also opposed the bill producing numerous statistics to show that there are a number of counties in the state which are not able to meet the provisions of the law relating to the establishment of high schools He thought the primary schools of the state were more entitled to an appro- priation than the higher institutions. and he strongly opposed giving to any county in Alabama more than one state school
 MaStlns Objection
 MT. Mastin said he would not vote to appropriate any money to high school, normal school or any institution for higher education in the state until the little barefooted. red headed freckle- faced boys and girls were first provid- : ed with schools. He thought 1t was the duty of the members of the house to protect the interest of the little chfl- dren throughout the state, provide for good rural schools. and to aid in ele- mentary education before any steps were taken to improve the high schools and colleges.
 MT. Bell of Plckens opposed the bill on the ground that the establishment of these other high schools would du- pilcate the work in fifteen other sch ools in the state, as there are six normal schools and nine agricultural schools. AAr Bell said the normal scho and the high schools have para .lel courses. and for that reason he was opposed to establishing two similar institutions In the same county.
 MT. Bell was followed by MT. Arnold. who said his bill did not affect the pri- mary schools in the state; that it was not designed to take one cent from the public school fund He said there are about 30 counties in the state that have not availed themselves of the county high school. Then why withhold this privilege from those counties that arc willing to establish these schools? ?'' asked MT Arnold, 'even though an ag- ricultural school or a normal school may have been established in these counties?"
 Pitts Speaks
 MT. Pitts made a strong speech in favor of the bill, declaring that he was as much interested in the education of the little footed, red-headed Will Hams and black-eyed Susans" as any man in the state, but that he was also in favor of giving the high school to any county that wanted such an insti- tuition. "I have never voted against an appropriation for educational pur- poses, MT. Speaker" said MT Pitts and, God help me, I never will"
 MT. Richeson followed MT Pitts fir the discussion. MT. Richeson opposed the bill, declaring that the courses taught in the normal, agricultural and high schools are identically the same He said that to establish these high schools In the IS counties which have normal schools would take from the state treasury $3s.0o0 per annum, which in four years would amount to nearly $150,000. He believed that this amount of money taken out of the state treas ury would materially affect the rura and primary schools, and that he thought the house should do nothing that would tend to injure the primary schools in the state.
 Urges Liberal Spirit
 MT. James said he came from coun ty that had not availed itself of thu offer of the state to establish a county high school, but that he did not think | 1t was the intention of his county tc l. state that did want one of these insti tutions. MT. James declared that the spirit which declared If we cannot you shall not was dangerous, as h' did not believe in any such dog the manager" attitude. He said the estab. lishment of high schools in counties 1T which there was normal school wou1i allow this latter institution to engag. 1 in It's proper sphere of activity. Judge Almon followed MT. James. ant again urged against the passage of tn, bill, declaring that the proposition wal not fair. He said the more none, the legislature gave to thu l'higher institutions the greatei would be the amount taker from the lower schools, and he believed that the other bills calling for appro priations for school purposes should b' disposed of before MT. Arnold's bill was passed.
 Report From Committee on Rules Shortly after the house convened Judge Almon reported for the commit | tee on rules the senate joint resolution calling for the appointment of committee consisting of three sen ate members and five member from the house for the purpose O drafting a new bill covering the jur. laws of the state. The house con cured in the report from the commit