Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1927-02-03
CHARLESTON LETTER
BY w. A. Street


My main object in writing this let
ter is to ascertain public sentiment
on some of the measures that will be
acted on at the regular session, begin
ming at noon on the 10th Of March.
! will not knowingly support any
measure that majority of the people
of Barbour county is opposed to, al
though may personally favor it.
am not here to represent my personal
views.
! / have introduced three bills TINT
effect Barbour county only. One is
to give the county court authority to
lay special levy to build jail and
jailer's residence. One is to author
ize the court to lay special levy to
repair the Court House roof and one
to lay a levy to build cottage AZ
Jackson's Mill | have the utmost
confidence in our present court and
am not afraid to trust them to do the
right thing at the right time. This
is local home rule.
| have introduced bill making the
maximum school term at eight
months, leaving it to the qualified
voters Of each district to reduce it to
a minimum of six months at any gen
eral election. This is also home rule.
| have also introduced bill pro-
viding for the text books in the cle-
mentary schools at half wholesale
price to patrons; the state to furnish
these books and pay the other half
price. ! have also named the books
to be furnished. McGuffey's spoilers
and readers; Rays arithmetics; Har-
vey's grammers; Bourne and Ben
toms histories; Midas elementary ag-
riculture and Hughes civil govern
ment. have retained Frey's geog-
raphies and our present hygiene and
health lessons. There is a strong
sentiment among legislators for these
books. ] make these books to remain
for period Of ten years.
| have also bill requiring all tea-
cheers to pass the uniform examina-
tions after 1928, and that high school
credits shall not be required This
will apply to elementary schools only
No qualified teacher should object to
this. The only questions that bother
ed me was the ones that / could not
answer.
also propose to abolish junior high
schools. These have increased the
cost Of our high schools at least thir-
ty per cent. This is absolutely un-
necessary. Let pupils finish the
eighth grade in the elementary school.
Well, says one, many Of our teachers
can not teach the seventh and eighth
grade. Our schools are costing too
much for what we are getting out Of
them. The game is not worth the
candle. If the present routine is per
sisted in, the people will rise up and
take the matter in hand and kill the
"goose that lays the golden egg" The
amuttering storm in the distance is
heard.
! have introduced bill in skeleton
form, giving ell counties and munic-
qualities home rule. II | am able to
get a proper bill framed, it wodld re-
lieve the legislature Of about one half
of its work. Usually the members
know nothing about local situations;
yet we are called upon to settle these
questions. This should not be.
! have introduced several bills.
Some of my own and others by re-
quest. will not support any of these
bills If find that a majority Of my
constituents are opposed to them.
Judging from the number Of bills
concerning the "dog law" there seems
/ to be general dissatisfaction with
this law. | have introduced "skel-
eton" but wish to get in touch with
public sentiment before drafting a
BILL I want to hear from both sheep
and dog men. Want to hear from
beth sides.
/ have also introduced bill requir-
| ing all motor vehicles to take out in
surance for the benefit of injury you
may do to others through negligence
on your part.
1t may be a good plan to hold a
mass meeting at the court house and
discuss some of these measures be-
for our regular session.