The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-07
IMPORTANT MATTERS.

|
IMPORTANT MATTERS.
School district officers, and teachers
and parents should be informed OF the
situation in regard to the matter OF
textbooks. The State has entered
into contract for a full supply OF
books for the public schools OF the
whole State, at the prices named In
the law Qess than one-half the retail
price, The names of the gentlemen
composing the commission to approve
the books, give the very best assur-
ances that they will be first-class in
every respect. The use Of the books
will secure uniformity throughout
the schools of the State, which is
greatly to be desired.
Teachers in changing their places
of teaching will then be familiar with
the books in use in their new schools,
and both teacher and pupil will be
able to do much more effective work.
Parents in moving from one part OF
the State to another will not be OBJ
liged to buy new books.
The books once in use will remain
permanently and wear out in the
schools. The people will not be sub
ject to the frequent changes incident
to the system of s'lOcal option where
: changes are made by new teachers, OF
district officers or to please the genla
: book agent.
e Undoubtedly many of the publish
o ers and book sellers will oppose this
measure with every argument. There
= is no doubt of one thing, if they cOulC
| Nv onv ,>oCcih1o inAnonca rrpvpnf I bt
, successful issue Of this plan for sup
+ plying the pupils with books. that thu
!. lower prices at which they may nov
q offer them. would soon find thei
;. former level of high prices. Thes
lower prices are still about twenty pc
cent. higher than the State prices
and are only made in few of tn
% larger cities, which were eXcepte'
l. from the benefits of the law.
r. The city of st. Paul, being an indie
a. pendent body, acting under a specla
:, charter. was exempted from the law
" and having last year introduced Hal
st veys Readers, for which their scho
hit ars were paying the full retail price
as soon as this law was passed, ian
er before an effort was made to compel
~ the use of the approved textbooks
c. they received proposals to have thes
n; books furnish at IA per cent. of
lg and the board accepted the propos
ton, but leaving the matter option;
with the board to cancel the cOntrat
he at any time. They make no chang
as in books, but get a reduction on thos
h he now in use till the State books al
n; ready.
$; 1t is publicly asserted that a lare
ur number of school book publisher
"A have combined to prevent the la
~. from being carried into effect. of tt
nv truth or falsity of this know not
ing.
no However this may he / shall furnis
es the very best of books under it's pr
ri. visions, and the enemy will not pr
N. vent their use, for the people will
glad to take them and have rest fro
the constant textbook agitation.
Perhaps l can do no better than
ED uuote from the Publishers Week.
ties their organ to show yOu their hop
on of success in defeating this measur
,r- .As the readers of the present 81
Id can scarcely be made at the price
ure named. he can only offer indncemen
zen by Offering his contract in lump
nis one publisher. 81 that one hook b
ext ances another. and no publisher G.
afford to accept even the entire &C
cir tract. except with bonds from N
I'm Merrell. since he can after all show
ill demand for his hooks. and the cons
Bill nationality of the law may be i
To: peached as soon as there is any mott
ch. to do so. We hope the fight will
thoroughly fought in Minnesota,
that there may be certainty on o
lew side or the other.
ok A bookseller did institute a s',It
MT prevent me from going on unier t
,,e 81 law to furnish the people cheap sool
es The case was most GRATEFULLY and tn
itch oughly argued in the court for t
The days, before a full bench of three d
my tinguished Judges, whose unanime
: - decision sustained the law in eve
ing particular. What / ask and hav'
.~~h -, - khrk 81.