Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1915-12-18
EDUCATIONAL SURVEY
Continued from page one)

ton my answer is an emphatic mo-
Having fathered the bill creating the
board, feel that l am fairly compe-
tent to speak of the objects and pur-
poses of the bill in so far as the legis-
lature is concerned.
First of all, if Professor Billinghurst
will look over the Supreme Court rec
ords of this and other States he will
hnd that Courts do not always rely
upon the exact language of an act, but
rather endeavor to ascertain just what
was in the minds of the legislators,
and the reason for that state of mind.
Why was the act passed, so far as
the members of the legislature are
concerned? Was it because a teach
er's institute had recommended some
such step? No.
There was much opposition to the
bill. and very strong opposition as the
legislature did not feel inclined to Gre
ate any new commissions or PUT the
state to any additional expense, which
would necessarily be incurred, by rea-
sen of the creation of any commission.
The reason is to be found in the
arguments used by tine supporters of
the bill, which were chiefly, that some
sort of action was demanded on the
part of the public, with reference to
the SUPPLEMENTARY of public instruc-
ton, a bill being then before the legis-
lature abolishing that Office, or, at
least, TO do away with the district dep
uty superintendent on account of the
expense involved.
The main arguments used to sup
port my bill and to defeat the bill
abolishing the Office of the district
deputies were that the legislature was
not in a position to act intelligently
upon the matter, and that it would be
advisable to have a commission, ap-
pointed by the governor, from the var
ious sections of the state, who would
go over the matter of superintendency
of public schools, and report their
findings and recommendations to the
next legislature.
a f,,rtbar ant ttSaH and
effectively, was that at each session of
tie legislature during the past few
years, much valuable time was wasted
and often times a great deal of acri-
mony engendered through the intro
duction of legislation, abolishing this
particular Office, and it was contended
at the last session that the creation of
the school survey board" would dis
pose of all these questions for long
time to come, at least as the report
of this board would be taken as
guide by future legislatures.
The reason assigned for the intro
duction OF bill, doing away with the
office of district deputies was 1.-The
necessity to practice economy, and
the fact that this bill was defeated
during several legislatures should be
sufficient proof alone to satisfy any
one that the legislature had had only
the one idea before them and that is,
that this act applied to the public
schools only.
No mention was ever made OF the
University, either directly or even by
implication, and | feel quite certain
that none of the members of the leg
islature ever had in mind including
the University, as that institution is
properly supported to be under the
control of the board of regents.
Hoping that the above may remove
airy wrong impressions that may ex-
ist as to the statute and authority of
the board of survey at least in so far
as this applied to the intent of the
legislature" | am,
Respectfully yours,
(Sipned) HENRY c. SCHMIDT.