The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-13
STRONG SENTIMENT

STRONG SENTIMENT
Continued From First Pake.)
children TO school ne should be re-
uevsd of the requirements Of the bill. u
said Mr.. Williams, but there are
many parents who do not care for the
welfare of their children, and in such
cases II Is up to the State to compel
them to assist in making as perfect
citizenship as possible. when a child
10 within reasonable distance of q
school desk he should be required 10
use that desk The school boards
must consider all reasonable condi.
tons Enforcement Of tho measure
will cost the State not q penny The
moral effect is the point. The law is
net going to the home OF worthy men
and drag them into court for failure
to send their children to school, when
there are good reasons why they can
not do so"
Mr.. Walton wanted to know how
Mr. Williams could tell what the
school boards would DC.
Must Have Some Faith In Mankind.
We must feel that we can trust
mankind somewhere and Some time.
replied Mr.. williams. and the House
broke into applause
we are moving along lines to Ger
mamie our State" said Mr.. Gordon
of Louisa I'VE are getting to the
point 30 We cannot hire or discharge
our cook without the consent of some
one When the Legislature adjournS
the State will be a much better Com
monwealth. Parents know more and
care more about their offspring than
school teachers. We are having toe
much eompulsion. Nothing can hs
done by Individual initiative. but
everything must be done under the
bonds OF compulsion.
Freedom OF speech.
THE gentleman has Indicated that
he is strongly in favor of freedom.
said Mr. Leedy, OF Page, especially
the freedom OF speech. Education Is
not Il luxury. but a necessity to every
cAild IN the State of Virginia"
Can the gentlemen deny that 20
Per cent of parents are tahi'ag care OF
their children as well AZ they can ba
taken care Off" asked Mr.. Gordon.
Possibly So" replied Mr.. Leedyl
.-out the other one per cent must be
taken care of by the state"
MIR. Epes. OF Nottowsy, said; II
we are 10 have free books and een-
pulsory education let us regulate COM
pletely. Let us give the children
free lunches. free transportation. Let
us compel them TO go to- the Sunday
school and church. and pass resula-
ton fixing the hours for retiring al
night and getting up IN the morning.
This remark was not appreciated,
and was received without applause or
comment
Mr.. thurman. OF Botetourt. suggest
ed that in some sections OF the state.
there would be trouble experienced
because OF the difficulties of trauspor-
ta,ion.
INQUIRIES Meaning of ~Destitutton.~
Mr.. Walton said that he could not
understand what was meant by "des-
titution" in the bill, but that Il the
measure, which imposes a fine and Jail
sentence upon derelict parents were
passed. there would be many men sent
10 Jail, for being unable TO meet the
fnes, or unable to send their children
TO school.
Mr.. white. OF Rockbridge. said he
was opposed on general principles TO
compulsory education, but that this
bill appeared TO be liberal, and III an
amendment which he would ofer
would be adopted, he would support
the bill.
My amendm snt,'' explained Mr..
white, will relieve parent or guardian
from punishment, where II is shown
that financial inability prevents the
ssnding of the child TO school. do
not object to those who are able to
send children to school. and do not.
being compelled to do So"
Mr. Walton stated that there is now
pendtne constitutional amendment
in the shape of referendum, and that
local option ON compulsory education
row exists in the State. II any To-
cality wished compulsory education.
let that locality pass upon the meas
ure itself"
Amendment In Adopted.
Mr.. Whites amendment was then
adopted. This relieves parents who
are financially unable to send their
children to school, from the. penalties
prescribed. which are a fine of not
more.than SEQ and a jail sentence OF
not iore than thirty days, either or
bott&
amendment striking out the section
which pr@vides that the clerk OF the
.5istrict school board shall receive a
To- of three dollars for every prose-.
c,,io, This was adopted and the
b,u was sent to it's engrossment. Dele .
Gates Walton and Gordon being the
crlv members voting In the negative.
Mr. Reed. of Portsmouth. asked that
hill No. 1874, imposing license tax
IN nersons. firms or corporations en-
raged in the business of mining btu
r,nous coal, be passed, notwithstand-
srr the committee on finance recon-
u,epds that it do not pass.
Ne spoke at some length of the dis
examination in taxes of persons in
ane section of the State as compared
10 those In other sections and stated
that the counties of.-the great South
west received more favors from the
state in the shape of offices and other
concessions, than any other section,