Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1915-03-03
From jefferson City.
Ed. JOURNAL:


Legislation has moved along a
little more lively the past week.
We have passed a number of bills
of minor Importance and few
that are of interest to the people
of the state generally. One that
was of interest to our county was
the apportionment of the public
schools among the different coun-
ties. The members from South
Missouri were in favor of the
funds being distributed accord
ing to enumeration, but were de-
feated by those from the cities
and towns and from the counties
north of the Missouri River. All
the influences of the State Uni
versity and the Normal Schools
were brought to defeat the bill,
and I have been informed that an
ex-s state Superintendent of
Schools was on the floor of the
House laboring for the defeat of
the measure We are told by
parties from the State Schools
how badly they are treated in the
way of appropriations. [ have
received letters from our county
asking me to favor liberal d. =.
priations for the Ste te Unlversl..
as one has a son there study ing
medicine and another has sons
there seeking professional edu
cation, and so on. My reply to
them is, while I am in favor of
liberal appropriation for the
different educational institutions,
l think our first duty is to 'ook
after the little fellow, ~ COIN
try, vino has to get ~ ..4ucation
in the common schools. | am
utterly opposed to the State edu-
eating doctors, lawyers and pro
fessional men generally. [ think
we are going too far in higher
educations in our state in
>titutions. There will have to b.
a halt, or the children in the coun
try will get but little show for az
education unless their parents
do As they did when | was boy
Washington County is we'll re
presented here in the way Of en-
,loyees | have met Mr. Castle
man and sister, Mr.. Settle, M.
White. a guard at the pen; Mr..
Ronald, who was born near Gale
donia, and Will Lewis, who halls
from St. Francois County, but
was born in Potosi. His mother
vas Bette Hornsey Lewis.
The bill to raise rates on the
railroads was reported out of
committee giving the Pubic Ser
vice Commission authority to
raise the passenger rate to three
cents a mile if, ir their Judgment
after receiving the report of the
Interstate Commerce Com
mission as to the valuation or cost
of the different roads, it is best.
The committees had several
tedious sessions, both as joint
and separate committees, listen
ing to arguments, and great
many speeches which were void
Of them. The house committee
met on the 10Th at noon, deter
mined to come toa conclusion.
There are sixteen members, one
Progressive, eleven Democrats
and four Republicans. Two Dem
ocrats lodged, three of the Re-
publicans and the Progressive
Joined with four Democrats and
reported out the bill favorably,
the others wanted to report with
out recommendation, but not be
ing inclined to shirk a duty, we
could not see our way clear to do
it. I doubt if the bill will be en-
crossed unless the rate is put at
two and one half cents as a maxi
mum. That rate was offered the
roads four years ago. Some of
them we're inclined to accept, the
Missouri Pacific system wonld not
listen to the proposition, now l
am informed by some of the
officials they will be glad to do so.
Friday we sent to engrossment
q bill authorizing the auditor to
appoint twelve auditors whose
duty it will be to audit the books
of the different county officers
every two years. also those of the
different state institutions, with