Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-11

N'"r WORKING on Inc propositions
the committee on prices announced by
report In February. 1915. that Il re-
Iduction OF practically 10 per cent in
prices had been made by the B. f.
Johnson Company, of Richmond which
reduction Was based upon a sevcn-ycar
adoption. Tho Governor, the Attorney
General and the Superintendent OF
! Public instruction voted for the accept
ance OF the Il. +. johnson officer be-
cause they fclt that a substantial saw
ihs IN price would result. and from the
reports received from educators they
Judged that the books involved in the
johnson offer were Of equal merit as
competing texts.
The other five members Of tho board
voted against accepting tho Il. i. John
son Companys offer because they we're
convinced that competing books pos
scsSed such superior merit as to moro
than compensate for the difference in
price.
FINAL ACTION HELD Up FOR
GoEERNON'S CONSIDERATION
y few alterations were made i'm the
wording OF the report as drafted By
Mr. Hart. and when finally IL satisfied
the board IT contained the salient fea-
lures OF both statements This was the
hrst actual chance for the two factions
10 get together, and the Attorney
General announced that he would not
DC willing to accept 1t as final nor to
allow vote upon II. in so far as 1.
excluded him from further action. until
Governor stuart shall have seen the
hna! draft OF the answer TO the SEN
ate. and shall have approved it,
Possibly the nearest the board came
10 anything like final action was when.
after the proposed reply had been
GRATED in the rough, a motion was
passed that after the secretary of the
meeting had rewritten the answer to
tho Senate. that all members adopt f..
subject TO the approval of Governor
stuart. Attorney General Pollard was
unwilling that this motion be voted
upon. stating tina, he approved of try
ms to complete a draft that would
meet the ideas OF the board, but tina.
he wished Governor Stuart TO pass upon
the plan before II Was adopted, even
tentatively.
: In the first three hours of the sese,op
II seemed that there was not the slight
est chance for the two sides IN pet
together upon the proposition II an
pchrcc as though tn" minority would
demand TO be heard at all hazards and
indications were that the answer would
De a lengthy one. or, rather. il appeared
mat tho minority would force the ma
II )oTity TO turn in a lengthy explanation
OF the johnson proposition. Attorney
General Pollard time after time, when
asked what the minority would rcp.rt
replied that he would be unable 70 say
that the minority either might or might
not he governed by the nature of the
report as turned In by the majority.
Al the game time every member Of
inc BOARD seemed ready and anxious TO
get together. on minor details both
sides were magnanimous. and It was
this spirit which finally did get them
together on all details. practically, ex-
cept the Johnson proposition.
WILL TRY TO SECURE
FINAL ACTION TODAY
Al the meeting to-day at II o'clock
the final report Will be submitted 10
inc board. Superintendent Hart left
Tor Roanoke last night and Or
Page will also he absent having not
been In any OF the special meetings
OF the past few days.
The matter of appearing before the
Senate In open session was discussed
III the early hours of the meeting, but
II was decided that that body did NOT
| wish to hear the individual reasons
why the members voted as they did.
ana they believed, after considerable
discussion. that brief and dignificd
statement would cover the ground.
The Attorney-General announced
that the General Assembly did NOT
! have the right to say what textbooks
should be used in the schools, that
| this matter was placed by the Con-
stitution in the hands of the State
Board of Education.
Before adjourninE, when IL was
seen that the final answer to the Sem
ate resolution could not be completed.
resolution was passed notifying the
Senate that the board was actively en-
gagged in formulating an answer to ITS
| resolution. and that as soon as nos
sible the complete answer would he
submitted to that body. The members
| felt that they ought not longer SEEM
inGly to ignore the request from the
Senate.
MUST GIVE THEIR REASONS
IN VOTING HEREAFTER
The first draft OF the subcommittee
| report was not completed on Wedncs-
day night. nor did the board meet on
yesterday morning. as announced
owing TO the sickness of Supcrinten-
dent Stearnes. He was hardly able to
preside over the meeting on yesterday
| afternoon. but did 40 because he was
anxious to have the matter completed
y resolution was offered by Dr. Will
son which makes It rule Of the board
that in the future all members must
record their votes and give reasons
! therefor. to be filed In the minutes of
tho meeting. whenever textbooks arc
adopted.
Upon motion OF Attorney General
| Pollard, the board passed a resolution
asking the General Assembly to enact
a law providing that all textbook adop-
lions must be made six months prior
TO their use. and must be on sale at
the individual school-supply stores
two weeks prior to the opening of the
schools in that locality.
Or. Alfred Morrison. Of IIampdcn-
Sidney College. appeared and was
heard by the hoard regarding a work
which he has just completed on the
history of the primary schools Of Vir-
einia prior TO 1860. The work is com.