The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-04
PI.ANSFOR SCHOOL
/. BETTERMENT GET
UNITED SUPPORT
Various Interests Represented
in Hearing Before LegisIa-
tors Urge Better Conditions
4 for Schools.


Pleas for betterment in con-
ditions surrounding the conduct of
the public schools in Memphis were
made before representatives of the
Shelby county delegation to the legis-
lature at a meeting in the courtroom
: Of Second chancery court Saturday
morning. To judge from the ufani-
nifty Of the various interests making
the requests and the very evident
sympathetic attitude of the delega-
tion,' the schools OF the city will
work on constantly broadening
plane for the next two years at least.
Members of both the old and new
boards of education, City Superin-
tendent Wharton 8. Jones, represen-
tatives of the Parent Teacher asso-
ciation, the educational committee of
the Chamber Of Commerce, the city
commission and various private citi-
gems made talks before the deiega-
tion.
The program regarding finances,
agreed upon at a meeting between
the city commission and representa-
tiyes of the two school boards were
presented by Bolton Smith, repre-
senting the educational committee OF
the Chamber of Commerce, and were
indorsed by representatives of other
interests. Charles ]. Haase, former
member of the board, appeared before
the delegation in the interest OF a
fund for teachers pensions. and was
appointed to select committee 10
draft bill embodying q pension, 70
be presented to the legislature.
Prof. Jones said that he was In
communication with the superln-
tendents OF the Nashville and Chat-
tanooga school systems, who are pre-
pairing bills providing for pensions
and he suggested that the delegations
: Of the three counties of Shelby,
Davidson and Hamilton work in con-
cert for the bills. 1t was agreed to
leave the prorating of funds for all
such purposes to the disposal OF the
In the matter of providiny free
Aextbooks II was discovered that a
general act had been passed in 1877
providing for all boards OF education
to furnish free textbooks, but the
question was raised as to whetner
this general law amended the enar-
ter Of the Memphis board, which pro-
vides the methods in which all reve-
nues are to be expended. Ie mattsr
was referred to Marion q. evans.
counsel for the board, to determine.
Hits Book Commission.
MRS. Berney Harris as q represent
tative of the Parent Teacher associa-
tions of the city, suggested among
her Endorsement Of the various moves
for Improvement which had peen
made, that the textbook commission
which selects textbooks for use in
the state at fiYe-year periods De
abolished and the selection of text
books be left to the educators of the
different school centers Of the state
She said that it was agreed among
authorities on the subject that the
maintenance of textbook commls-
sion furnished an excellent oppor-
tunity for graft and imposed a big
expense upon parents of children OF
the state in changing textbooks from
time to time, and many times the
books were not improves.
1t appears certain that the delega,
ton will seek to have passed plll
authorizing the board to issue VI, 000, :
600 in bonds at the rate of s500,O0o
ner wear. the amount to be used in
repairing old school buildings ana
completing new ones.
Judge J. M. Greer asked the dele
cation for several changes in exist
Ing laws. He wished to have the
speed limit fixed for automobiles at
Is miles outside incorporated limits
and 10 miles within corporations. He
urged that the criminal laws changed
so as to allow the state the same
number of peremptory challenges as
the defense; that law making 1t
SO that the reading Of newspaper ac-
counts Of any occurrence or trial
resulting therefrom would not dis
qualify one from serving on the jury;
capital punishment be changed to
life imprisonment; that women be
made eligible to hold any office in
the state and be made to pay poll
taxes and that the law be changed SO
as to take away from a judge the
right to issue peremptory instruc-
tions to jury.
Harry Holman made several prac-
tical suggestions regarding changes
in the criminal laws of the state, cal
culated to remove certain inequalities
and abuses that occur now simply
because the judge and jury can not
but be guided by the law covering