The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-29
Municipal Home Rule Among
Many Changes Proposed
TO Legislature. !

CHARLESTON, Dec. 2s.-The.
next Legislature, which Will con-
yene here January 10, will be con.
ironted with o proposal to provide
tree text books In all the schools OF
West Virginia, increasing the cost
Of education in the state by more
than 100000, according to plans
now under way here.
Anttmber % delegates 70 the Leg.
stature are committed to the free
text book plan and politicians here
see q bitter fight over the pro-
posal: The free text book question
las been brought up in the Legislas
tnr7 for seyeral years and has al.
ways been defeated because Of the
high cost It Is expected to, suffer
4 like fate isSthe next session be-
cause Of the demand for reduced
expenditures,
When the question was last
brought before the Legislature, the
matter was compromised and a per.
ntissiye text book law was enacted,
giving boards OF education the au.
thoftty to furnish free books II they
sotdesired. It Is now proposed that
the state furnish the books.
Approximately one.fourth Of the
schools Oh the state now are sup.
piled with Zee text books.
Care of Books is Problem.
a number of. arguments have
been advanced for and against the
PROPOSAL The opponents declare
the problem OF distribution and
care OF the books Is too expensive
for the state to undertake.
An effort IL again to be made to
have the Legislature create a pen.
sion system for retired school
teachers AtEthe request of a mum.
her Of delegates, officials OF the
state department OF education are
preparing q bill for a retiremen:
fund which will be introduced in
the Legislattte next month.
The need Of a constitutional con.
gentton to study and revise the
hasic law OF. the state is suggested
~ Is p Marsh, secretary Of the
State Boardgo Education. He rec.
pintnends the removal OF the con.
shtptional Limitation OF 100000
! on The permanent invested school
iind. a
a number OF other amendments
% the constitution are proposeh,
! ME proposal for constitutional
Limitation of3levles Of $3.50 IN. oft,
RS and sE25 in@towns and die.
tiets will be submitted by Walter
81 Hallanants state tax confmiFsion.
e together With a recommenda.
ton for q classification Of personal
rrppertN for taxation purposes. In
order that intangible wealth may
be feach6d. III
Home Rule SOUGHT, 'Sr4 r.,
Afpang the proposed amendments
4 that which would give 4 creator
( aesrees of home rule to municinali,
fsess and possibly also to districts
nd countless This amendment Is
signel to relieve the LeglsIa.
.itflres OF mass OF local bills which,
Sc Is declared, the members can.
not vote apon intellirently hecausn
rs theE impossibility OF knowing and.
eciating local conditions in tbs
The bone Rule Bill. chamnione6
y the last Legislature BY former
Senator Edgar B. Stewart Of Nor
stltown. was defeated,
The State Federation Of Labo,
mas approved constitutional amend
ments providing the initiative. ref.
endunt and recall of judges. be.
ialise OF much agitation in some
anarters II Is expected that there
WI be q bill introduced to change
tne budget amendment SO that f1e
possibility Of preparing budget.
lor state institutions, commissIors
and Departments would be placer
aireetly upon. the governor instead
@ the budget commission, com.
.posed of all elective state officers
Reduce Printing Bill
me legislature will be asked Il,
discontinue the plan OF printing
al of the bills introduced at the
initial session and sent 10 the
members during the interim.
The printing Of the bills was
ordered by the last Legislature In
order that the people OF the state
ttnightf be informed OF the nature
OF the pending legislation. A
An Indication of the alleged OK.
tTayagance OF, the bill printing
was given at the recent Democ.
ratio caucus here by Delegate ].
Zimmerman Of Hampshire