Evening journal., 1920-04-29
WOULD STRIP
OFFICIALS OF
some POWERS
lContInued from Flrsl Page.


The public so that everyone will have
an opportunity TO offer suggestions
to the commission.
Much time was devoted by the COM
mission ycst rday afternoon in con
sidering the feature Of the code rela-
tive 10 special districts. There was
a suggestion that all special districts
De abolished under the code, but no
q Unite aclion was taken along that
line. II was decided to recommend
an amendment providing a method for
special districts TO go under the coun-
~ system. This method proposed is
by a majority vote Of the taxpayers
of the district or by a majority sign
ing petition TO the Stale Board. The
amendment would give The State
Board the authority 10 determine the
ierms under which the special dis
irCt could go under the county sys-
tam. As the code is now drawn, the
only way a special district can go
under The county system Is by falling
in some specified obligation as a spe-
cal district under fhe code.
Another rccOmm nded change Is
that any district desiring TO add more
Territory TO the district can only do
so by a majority vote at an election
held for that purpose
In discussing those portions OF the
State code under which 10 has been
alleg d the State Commissioner Of
Education is given arbitrary powers,
the commission has decided 10 rec
ommcnd that some Of that officials
powers be taken away. The slate
commissioner Is now authorized TO
administer Oaths and this authority
viii be divided by an amendment
among the State, county and local
boards
Section IS of Article . OF the Code
reads as follows: THE State De-
partment Of Education shall hereaf-
Ter be provided with at least the
/ following clerical and professional as
sistants' These assistants, including
stenOgraphers. clerks. etc, are then
named. II was decided 10 amend that
section by striking oul the words "at
/ least"
Terms Of the county superintend-
cnls il will be recommended by the
commission, should be reduced from
Two wears 90 one year Changes Will
be recommended taking away alleged
arbitrary powers of county supcrin-
lendents and vesLing them IN the
county boards, the same as is pro
posed in ihe case OF the state COM
missioner, many of his powers being
transferred to ihe State board
At least one member of the conf
mission is understood TO favor a state
wide unit including Wilmington. in
stead Of county units, but no action
has been taken on that proposition.
/ This is even broader step Than some
Of the most ardent advocates OF the
code hope TO secure at this time.
The sessions OF ihe commission TO
I .IaN
/ feeling among the members and a
give-and-take spirit. While The indi-
I vidual members differ at times on
various important proposed changes
, these differences are generally ad-
iusted in a satisfactory manner.
! Most OF this mornings session was
taken up in consideration of that fea-
/ ture Of the Code relative 10 cOnsOlida-
I lion OF school districts. 10 was con-
/ census Of opinion that the taxpayers
Of these districts should have more to
say about consolidation than is now
! permitted under the Code. II was de-
/ cided TO recommend an amendment
whereby in case o county board should
attempt TO force consolidation petit
/ tiOn signed by % per cent OF the tax
/ payers OF the district involved would
appeal the matter 10 the State Board
OF Education.
The amendm mt further provides
/ that should the State board decide
against the petitioners, petition
signed By 30 per cent. OF The tax
] payers could force a referendum on
3 The question.
The remainder Of the session this
morning was taken with discussion
relative TO bond issues for building
new schools There is considerable
sentiment among the members TO
make the building proposition a Slate
program instead Of county program
/ as now provided under The code. The
proposition probably will be more
definitely decided this afternoon.
4 Senator Handy. chairman Of the
( commission, stated this afternoon that
/ he did not think it would be pos
/ sible FOR the Commission 10 have the
proposed amendments 10 the code in
/ shape when the Legislature recon-
vanrs next Wednesday He said. how
ever, q would be In shape to give the
| General Assembly definite idea as to
when a complete report could be sub
nilitd