Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-24

with those houses, that mas prevented tnc
passage of an eet -imilar to this by past
Legislatures, and the same elements are
at Werk to-day TO defeat this measure OF
relief to the poorer classes OF this State.
The exorhitant retail prices of school
books now in use in the schools OF this
State, are a strong argument i'll favor OF
the adoption of this bill, for under State
uniformity we can procure books cheaper,
by at least % per cent, than they are now
sold. The question may be asked how
can this be? BY the provisions of the bill
before us, it is made the duty of the Com
missioners, not only to fix upon the intro
ductory prices, but upon the subsequent
retail price of each, and such price to be
stamped upon ITS cover, and the House
with which this contract was made would
have TO give bonds for the iulfilment of the
contract ON their part, and any one that is
thoroughly convcrsant with the matter, is
well aware that enormous profits are real
lied by all of the book publishing houses
upon their productions and especially upon
school books. and they can afford to sell
them at least one third less than Whit they
are now sold. Vermont, in which State
uniformity has been established several
years, obtains the common school Arith-
metic for 6:i cents. aud it is recalled in this
State ut prices Varying from 80 cents to
$llO. The city of Bath, which obtains
its books by contract. gets them by at
least 20 per cent. cheaper than similar
books are obtained by other cities and
towns throughout the State. 1t is u fact
well known to those conversant with the
cost of publishing books, and especially
school books, that the actual cost is but
about one half of the regular retail price,
and one can readily perceive that an enor-
nous profit is realized from their sale, and
this is realized from the poorer elias. who
are not able to bear burdens of this kind.
especially when such profits 90 to enrich
publishing houses whose Golfers are al
ready Overlooking, and that wrung from
those of limited circumstances.
What are the facts about those States that
have adopted State uniformity. 1t is contend
cd by the opponents of this measure, that this
system has proved failure wherever it has
been established. Let us look at a few facts
in the case. Vermont adopted uniformity sew
eral years since; and do we hear from that
State any complaint that this system has not
proved of advantage to her schools. How
stand the Educators of that State, and her
school offcia,Y Do they say that the system
has been disadvantage to her educational in
terests! Not one word comes from them
against the system there established, but on
the other hand their testimony is unani-
NOUS that the law has been of great advan-
tage to them in promoting good schools and a
good degree of proficiency in those schools
All the trouble which has arisen in that State
has been solely caused by mischievons book
agents, they melted to such action by the pub
fishing houses of which they are the repre-
sentatives, for the purpose of undermining
State uniformity; then they can raise the
clamor that it has proved a failure there, and
this will have tendency, they think, to pre-
vent other States from following in their path
way; and this is why they OFF, to put their
books into the schools of that State cheaper
than that established by the book publishing
house with whom the contract has been made
and they, the book agents, have rcsorted to
all the means in their power to break down,
and to crush out the system there established
but as yet they have not been successful, and
in only one city, and that Burlington, have
they caused any serious trouble.
If the opponents of this measure rely upon
the working of the law in Vermont to intlu-
cnce the action ofthis Legislature, the friends
of this measure, in this State, are perfectly
willing to abide the result.
Maryland, MY Maryland" is another
State, they say, which once having estab-
ilsllcu the system u lew wears ago mas since
ovcrthrown it. How stands the case there
We think it rather unfortunate for the oppo-
nents of this bill that they refer to MARYLAND
AS a State whose action upon educational
matters should have any weight with us. in
our decision of this question What are the
facts about this State? We admit that she
established State uniformity, and that it has
been since ovcrthrown And how, and by
whom: When that party in Maryland which
had assisted in the overthrow of the Republic,
came into power in 1867, they not only abol-
ished State uniformity, but they struck from
existence the very life of free schools in that
State, because even they were antagonistic to
the principles in which they had been taught
from their youth, and they were not. only OPP
posed to uniformity Of text books, but to that
system of free schools which has been the
boast and pride of New England for genera
tons past.
California is another State which has estab-
tlishcd State uniformity, and in which its op-
ponents say that the system has been u fail
ure. But is such the fact? Not at all. The
report of her State Superintendent and her
school officials bear testimony to the efficacy
of the law, and its advantage to the schools of