The Portland daily press., 1867-11-21
School Books vs., faxes.

MR. EDIToR,-I have no desire to impugn
the Judgment of those gentlemen who are
styled the " conservators of the public welfare"
in regard to school books, nor to unfairly treat
the matter at issue. By all means, if the COM
mitteQ within committee have pet project
in hand, let them report.
Inc call for information on this important
SUBJECT was answered by reference to a Phila-
delphia School Report utterly out of reach of
great majority of your readers, in regard to
which we are given only single item unac-
companied by attendant circumstances.
1t would seem that only a single city has
adopted so radical measure, and the number,
kind or quality of books furnished each schol-
ar is not given. Neither is it apparent what
number OF pupils were previously supplied
with books, or at what per cent. the "wear
and tear" Of books will require annual drafts
upon the City Treasury.
Thus much, Mr.. Editor, admitting that the
principle is sound or " constitutional" but this
is by no means clear. MANY Parents" would
no doubt be delighted to have the dog -eared"
school books i'll the If children's hands replaced
by clean new copies at the city's expense. But
is it not little cool for the fathers of families
present and in prospect, to ask those who
have educated their own children and cheer
fully paid the expenses, to foot the bills for
another crop? Is it not moreover little uu-
kind in those who have their "quivers full of
arrows" to insist on sticking them in the backs
parents similarly not blessed, or of bachelors?
Many PARENTS who, by the way are more
| likely to be one parent with too many children,
ask what objection rests against this project
| which may not be urged against the public as
| sumption of the cost of school buildings, SC.
! There are many, but ore will include all 9TH
| ers, which is that the State should never as
sumo what can be be better done by the indi-
vidual. There should be, and 1 suppose is, a
provision heie as in other cities, furnishing
books for poor children; beyond this it is not
clear what hardship there can be in requiring
those who receive all the benefit to pay their
| own bills. TAX PAYER.
Mr.. EDIToR,-The article in the Press OF
Monday signed Many Parents" and the one
of Tuesday signed "Tax Payer" hardly reach
the great monopoly of the School Book Trade
in our city. A combination is formed by the
booksellers in Portland, all agreeing on a GER
tain price at retail, for the books used in our
city. Sc their cards announcing the prices,
signed by all of the booksellers. These prices
pay to the dealers from IS to 80 per cent profit
This tax is felt most by the mechanics and Ia
boring classes; the school is made luxury
| which the poorer classes cannot enjoy. Is
there no remedy for this evil? We understand
that the School Commute last spring took some
steps toward providing a remedy, but as yet
there are no results. If there is no other way
to escape from this monopoly, let the Commit
tee advertise for proposals opening the school
book trade for the schools of Portland for one
year. If this should be done, the bac kbone OF
the monopoly would be broken and the par.
ents who send their children to our public
schools would pc able to get their books at as
reasonable prices as they do their dry goods
groceries, any of the neressaries of life II
is quite time that the School Committee should
take this method into their own hands and il
so doing, they will have he good will and sup
port of $ Hr MANY FAMILIES"