Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-31
Kisses AT
HEA Rim C
ON SCHOOL
MEASURE
Crowd at Lincoln Committee
Meeting DiSapprOveS Of Rep
reSentative Maurer'S Words
in Reply to Murray.
By a Staff CORRESPONDENT.

Lincoln. Jan. 30,-Representative
George M. Maurer of Gage county
was Kissed tonight before a meeting
of the joint committee OIL education
OF the house and senate when he
replied to statements made by t. p.
Murray, city prosecutor of Omaha,
who had opposed the Burney bill,
the effect of which is to do away
with parochial schools.
Murray, who said he appeared as
a Catholic who had children in the
parochial schools, challenged any
person to prove that the Catholics
in this country were unpatriotic.
Fifteen per cent of the popula-
ton of the United States is Catholic
and out of this Is per cent" said he,
80 per cent Of the army, 40 per cent
of the navy and 90 per cent of the
marines, all volunteers in the world
war, were Catholics"
Brings Storm Of Kisses.
Maurer, greatly agitated, appeared
before the speakers desk and said:
"To get your figures you had to
count every criminal in the peniten-
tiaries, the children not yet con-
hrmed and children conceived, but
yet unborn, Several years ago Ne
braska occupied the proud place of
being the first state in the union
in the point of literacy; now, be-
cause of the parochial schools, she
is second"
Kisses and cries Of mol Nor
and "Shamel" came from the hum
dreds of persons in all parts of the
chamber, this part Of the house be-
ing packed by persons from all over
the state.
Senator Taylor of Merna tactfully
called Maurer off, and Chairman
Gerhart, who presided, remarked:
"This hearing is for persons inter-
ested who came from their homes
out in the state. There will he
plenty of time to hear from you
during the session. We will be glad
to hear you some other time"
"You will" answered Maurer,
ltNlAuAAllH Win NAtAOAAOAis
Must Change Bill.
OF the scores of persons who ap-
peared before the joint committee
to speak in relation to the Burncy
bill, none was unreservedly for its
provisions to eliminate the parocnial
schools.
With but few exceptions, voiced
by pastors of German Lutheran
churches, and one Swedish Luther
an church, all favored the case of
the English language exclusively
for elementary school training, and
all favored the supervision of paro-
chial and denominational schools by
state and county school officers, the
Standardization of curriculum and
certihcation of teachers.
All expressed themselves in favor
Of Americanization, but several de-
fciared that the bill, if passed, elm
mating the parochial and denomina-
tional schools would be an infringe
ment of constitutional and inherent
rights and would not be held valid
by the supreme courts of the state
and nation.
Agree to Inspection.
The joint committee tried to keep
the discussion confined to the school
question. but the language question
would creep in despite every pre-
caution.
All of those who appeared as
members of the Catholic church said
they were heartily in favor of the
inspection of the schools by county
and state officials, certification Of
teachers, the standardizing of cur
riculum and use of tie English LAM
guage exclusively in teaching.
Among Omahans who appeared
were: w. F. Gurley, who said he
tContlnued on Page Two. Column six.) 4