The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-07
BILL PASSES HOUSE BY
 VOTE OF 49 ID 31
Bill Provides for Complete Reorganization of Public School System of
 Alabama
By l.. S. BETTY

Montgomery August 6.--tS -tSpeciai.t Action looking to a complete reor- eanization of the public school system of representatives this afternoon when that body. by a vote of 49 to 31, passed the county board of education bill. The measure provides for what are regard ed as the greatest educational reforms inaugurated in Alabama since the state was admitted to the union. The bill of the legislature.
 The most salient feature of the bill provides for the appointment of the county superintendent of education by the county board of education, which is elected by the people. Five members compose the board.
 In addition to electins the county su- perintendent. the board also elects the county treasurer of public school funds. selects teachers, fills vacancies on the board, elects district trustees, and has supervision over the entire school sys- tenn of their county
 Sharp Debates
 The bill was passed following pro- longed debate, in which the various leaders of the house took part. Speak CT A. H. Carmichael and Representa- lives John of Dallas, Shapiro of Jeifer- son and others lead the fight for the passage of the bill
 The opponents of the measure were Re representatives Davis of Walker, Tun- stall of Hale and Sorrell of Tallapoosa. The debate continued during the entire afternoon.
 An effort was made during the first session of the legislature to pass the county board of education bill but 1t was defeated by Representative Davis and others who declared that the bifi was Loaded" At that time Representa- tive Davis declared the bill was undem- ocratic in that it took from the voters of the county the right to elect their superintendent of education.
 The same argument was used today by the opponents of the bill, and was answered by the advocates of the meas ure with the statement that the present county 'superintendents of education, as selected under the old plan, are incom- petent and are usually men of the
 politician type.
 Hot Fight on Floor
 The fight on the bill was one of the hottest that has occurred on the floor of the house of representatives since the present legislative session con vened and many personal references were made during the course of the de- bate.
 The county superintendent bill is one of the many educational measures be- fore the house at this time, most of them having passed the senate at the first session Among the other bills contemplating great reforms in the educational system of the state are the compulsory education measure and the bill providing local district taxa ton for the support of the public schools of the state
 The house today passed the consolidated court bill, which was proposed by the recess committee the judiciary. Con- siderat ton of the bill consumed consid- cradle time, and was not passed until repeated efforts had been made to amend the measure. -5 The bill provides for the consolidation of the chancery court and all other courts lcf record having the Jurisdiction of chan cery courts into the circuit court, and for the removal of all pending causes Iinto the circuit courts.
 |. Rcpre sentative Sorrell of STallapoosa of- fered the principal objection to the bill The Tallapoosa representati tive wanted the measure amended so as to retain | chancery courts, and made d strong plea. for the retention of such courts Representative Davis of Walker, chair man of the recess committee reporting | the bill favored the measure in it's origi- { nal form and following long argument | it was passed by almost unanimous
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