The Alaska daily empire., 1913-03-17

The House Committee on Education has decided ravorably regarding Rep, resentative A G. shoup's bill making attendance at school compulsory. It has been made special order in the House for tomorrow. The text of the bill. with the committee amendments, all proposed by Mir. Shoup, himself, incorporated is as follows:
 Sec. 1. That every parent, guardian, or other person having possession or con trol of any white child or child of mixed blood living a civilized life in the Territory of Alaska, between the ages of eight and sixteen years, with. in two miles of any school outside of an incorporated town where a pub, lie school is maintained under the pro- vision of the act of Congress approved Jan. twenty-seven, nineteen hundred and five. or within the limits of an in- corporated town where a public school is maintained, shall cause such child regularly to attend such school during the entire school year, unless the phy- sical or mental condition of such child is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable, or such child has been excused for other cause by an excuse in writing signed by a majority of the school board. Pro- vided, That children shall not be re- ouired to attend the publical schools in the following cases CD Any child who has a certificate from reputable physician stating that such child is not able to attend school, or that its attendance is inadvisable; (2) Any child who produces satisfactory evi- dence tc the school board that said child is being taught at private or parochial school, or by private tutor such branches as are usually taught in the primary grades of the public schools of the territory; (3) Any child who gives evidence satisfactory to the school board that such child has completed a course of study equal to that covered by the public schools of the territory.
 Sec. 2-That every parent, guard ian. or other person having possession
 
 or control of any white child or child of mixed blood living a civilized life, as herinbefore described, who shall without legal excuse, neglect to cause such child to attend school for a to- tai of five days on which session are held during any one school quarter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemean- or and be punished by a fine of not less than five nor more than twenty dollars and the cost of the prosecu- ton, and shall be imprisoned in the county jail until such fine and costs are paid: provided, That such person so convicted shall be imprisoned one day for every two dollars of such fine and costs; and each absence of five days shall constitute a separate of fence; provided further, That the court may suspend sentence, stay or post pone the enforcement of execution, or release from custody any person found guilty in any case under this act up- on such condition as shall seem to be to the best interests of the child and fair under the circumstances, but no sentence shall be suspended or final judgment or execution stayed in the case of any person guilty under this act for a period to exceed the end of the school year during which such person is convicted. If at any time prior thereto it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court that such per son has complied faithfully with the conditions of any suspended sentence, judgment or execution, or is for any cause in the opinion of the court, en-