The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-02

we have received Prof. A. l.. Wadc's
,birl annual catalogue Of the free schools
Wouonvalia county, W. Va.," including
Ii. teport as County supt, the whole
marking a luarto pamphlet Of l44 pages.
NJ. have had occasion heretofore to speak
+, birb terms of the zeal and intelligence
.i,b which Prof. Wade has laboredto to make
,bq school system efficient in his county,
and all indications are that he has acliiev-
alan unusual degree Of success. Wenotice
M,tundcr the head OF "causes and RENE.
N,. for non.attendance" he takes the
yrpnl that zone Of the most fruitful sour
e. -otnon.attcndancc upon all free schools
!. ,he extrayagant price charged for school
hoks," lie shows that while the legisla-
,ur Of West Va. provided several years
,,o that "a certain series Of school books
,bould be used in the free schools OF the
State and while they made it penal Of
sue to use any others, they made no con-
tnct with the publishers as to the prices
,bich the patrons Of these schools should
nay for the books" Owing to this great
oversight the people were completely tied
mn pM the action of the Legislature. All
nnpctition was at once done away with,
nI the parents Of the school children OF
the State were left powerless in the hands
Of agrcat publishing monopoly. As Prof.
Wade well says, "of oil the secular books
published, the text books for the masses
in our public schools should be the cheap
RI, and vet with the exception OF works
on Iawanl medicine, they are the edearest." "
While Bibles and Testaments can be fur
ui.hed at very low prices, because ,of
their production in great quantity by some
one large aud thoroughly equipped con-
rn, set when it comes to school books,
which are in almost as universal demand,
.nlshould be, in times like these, furnished
at almost as low prices,they are kept away
above the reach OF great numbers OF fami.
l,s in this and other States by the extor-
tiOnate price demanded for them.
There is remedy for this extortion, and
We agree with the Professor in his sugges-
ton, viz: that if the publishers OF the
books ordered by law to be used in the
schools Of West Virginia will make no re-
Luc,ion in their prices, then repeal the
hw, and provide that each county in the
State shall adopt series to suit itself, nc
cOrlng rs it can make five or ten years
contract on basis that will always insure
alOw OwpriCe.
Prof. Wade says that the Board OF Re-
gents OF the West Virginia University has
arranged to furnish the students who at
tend tllCre with their text. books at cost,
lie says that "a plan Of this kind might be
made to apply throughout the State" In
this, however, we scarcely agree with him.
ltmight prove very injudicious to turnthe
school boards Of each school district into
purchasing bureau, or even to clothe the
County Superintendent with this power.
ltissimpler and better for the State TO an
nul the present law, in case the publishers
who now hold monopoly over us will not
materially reduce their prices, andto invite
proposals. from other publishers on a slid
Ing scale basis,-that is, basis that will
protect us us general prices decline.
ltwiIlbe found that rs soon rs the legiss
lGture takes hold of this subject, the mon
OpoIists will, in all probability, be willing
tomakc satisfactory concession. There
sin West Virginia n school enumeration
Of about 100000. aud this enumeration
makes very important market for one
Publishing house to control.