The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-14
COOKENLLE IS
AGAIN GRABBING
SCHOOLS MONEY
Three Great State Normals
About I'D Be Reduced to
Boost Small InstiRltion
With High-Sounding Name.

A bill which In effect will greatly i'm
pair the efficiency of the normal schools
Of the state by taking away approxi-
nately 40 per cent OF their revenue, has
been introduced in the state legislature
and favorably reported by the senate
committee that had 1t In charge in that
branch, according to Information re-
ceLyed for the first time Friday
There. Is nothing parsimonious in the
proposal as the bill provides that the
amount taken from the normal schools
shall be given TO the Cookeville Poly
technical institute, an institution loaded
on the state by the brother Of the pres
ident Of the state board of control; Q.
K, Holiday, Middle Tennessee cham
pion of the political fortunes OF Col.
Luke Lea and others who were per-
sonally liable, for considerable sum
represented by a non-going. institution
which they were relieved Of by selling
It to the state. upon the state assum-
ing their obligation.
The bill was introduced In the senate
by Senator W. j. Matthews, OF Overton
county and is said to have the support
OF the Middle Tennessee members In
both branches of the general assembly
DR.. Kincannon Aroused.
Under the present law 80 1-3 per cent
Of the revenue of the state is devoted
to education and divided among the
public schools normals and other instt-
tutlons. The normal schools, three In
number, one at johnson City one at
Murfreesboro and the one a Memphis
rSSeye SSoO per seo1 Mahswsp n ns pqGc pro
poses In his bill to. reduce the amount
10 10 per cent and divert II to the
Cookeville Institution with the high
sounding name.
The revenue received uy the normal
schools Is In excess Of $50 900 each, The
pnt VUOn1d
Of each 60 the extent Of about $25, 900
year and would add $4,000 to the
Cookeville school, which has never
grown beyond the extent Of a local en-
Dr. 4. A. Kincannon, president Of the
West Tennessee normal, was up in arms
over the proposal to cut down the reve-
nue. Of the Memphis school when he
was asked about the bill Friday.
Normals Would Suffer.
He declared that the reduction would
prevent the school from making any
extension, would stop it's development
and on the other hand II would be
necessary TO impair It's efficiency by a
system OF retrenchment that would re,
suit IN incalculable harm to the school
and Its work.
Another reason for the objection,
aside from the fact that It is the general
impression that Cookeville doesn't de-
serve the money and that tho normals
do, is that Memphis and Shelby county
pay one fifth Of the entire taxes OF the
state and the people feel that 1t Is man
ifestly unfair to make such rank dis
elimination
Hardwis Pores. president OF the city
board of education, was among the first
to send telegram to the Shelby county
delegation in the Legislature, asking
that every resource be utilized In de.
feAting the measure. II Is understood
that hundreds Of similar kilograms and
letters will go to the delegation and to
other members.
Quick, Hard Work Needed.
Senator A. L. Todd, speaker Of the
senate, is one OF the strong champions
Of education, and for many years was
a member OF the state board Of educa
ton. II was due to large extent to
his industry that the Middle Tennessee
normal was located in Murfreesboro.
and he is regarded as the most depend
able champion OF the school.
The more conservative do not believe
that the bill can be passed with the or
ganized opposition OF men like Speaker
Todd, President Jones, Of the Middle
Tennessee normal, and President Gil
breath, Of the East Tennessee normal,
Memphis and Shelby county must get
behind DR.. Kincannon and help him to
sustain the West Tennessee normal and
prevent the Cookeville school from
reaching across the state and taking
away the funds that rightfully belong
10 the West Tennessee school, the only
educational enterprise In West Tennes-
see aside from the public sch0Dls that
receives anything from the state.