Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-06-04
THE BOOK QUESTION.

LurHxnsBuro, Pa, May Gath, 1879.
Enron REPUBLICAN II beg leave to submit
my views upon the question Of a change Of schoo !
books. and, while they may be In opposition to
those already expressed, / have no desire to
ignore the opinions Of those who differ with me.
shall review all the preceding chapters and draw
my conclusions from their contents. Seven yea re-
ago this county made a strike for county uni
fornty which after continued efforts was secured
but by some misfortune on the part Of the COM
mitee appointed to select and recommend proper
books an inferior series Of books went into our
schools. During all this time not district In the
county has changed its books, while every other
article Of trade has been gradually falling In
price these books have been steadily advancing
and to-day the people arc paying the exorbitant
prices which are the results Of this accumulation,
thus Ignoring the competition In trade and re-
fusing to accept the improvements made In books
and prices during this speriod. o.
/ was present at q Directors Convention, on
the I'd Of January last, which was held in the
Court House Forty Directors. we're present repre-
sentng nearly all the distrcts.o of the county That
convention passed resolution, asking the county
Superintendent to appoint a committee, whose
duty II should be TO investigate the prices Of
books, and II possible, secure for the people Of
this county lower rates than they had been pay
ing for the last seven years. The Superintendent
complied with the resolution, and appointed a
Committee Of twelve responsible men to repre-
sent the different sections Of the county. This
committee Is composed Of persons who will never
betray the good people Of this county.
They ut once invited publishing houses to ex-
hibit their books and prices, and for the first
time in seven years was the monotony Of extor-
tonists threatened to be torn asunder The people,
rather than allow themselves to be imposed upon,
by outrageous prices In books should defend the
committee in its efforts to ferret out the cause
and protect the people. II Is apparent to every
thinking mind that unless violent competition be
stirred up in ali branches Of trade, dealers have
double opportunity Of exacting more than m
article would otherwise bring. No better illus
tration Of this is needed, than to price the pres
ent series Of school books at any Of our stores,
that have for seven years been furnished by one
publishing house without fear Of competition.
The committee has done n commendable act in
securing nearly forty per cent of reduction In
the present prices. And how was this done They
said We have before US better books books up
to the times, and much improved In matter and
binding and above all, books that are nearly
one half cheaper you must meet these books in
prices II not in quality, or we will recommend
to boards of Directors these cheaper and better
ones. The result was that great reduction In
prices was agreed upon. Is there laboring man
in the county that would condemn this action 7
This committee has not concluded It's work but
no Recommendation for a change will be made
until impo sitions similar to the above demand 1t,
and hope all School Boards will continue the
present books until every Board in the county IL
ready to change, and thus continue county uni
formity but, In the meantime, let us give to tn,
Directors, who secured the appointment Of 50
good committee, and to the committee ITSELF
our thanks for the benefits they have rendered
US. Yours, etc. JusrlcE.