Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-30
SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS.
PROFESSOR ALLEN AFRAID OF
THE REPORTERS.
Kinne's SpelIer Rejected, but His
Readers Unanimously Adopted
Other Textbooks Discussed.

Alien, OF the State Normal school at San
Jose, and Professor More, of the Branch
| State Normal School at Los Angeles.
After reading the minutes of the previ-
Gus meeting, Professor Welcller remarked
that owing to the fact that the Governor
was going to be absent from the city on the
morrow he thought it advisable to take up
| for consideration Immediately the question
OF textbooks. The matter of granting di-
plomas, etc, could be attended to in the
absence of the Governor, but he thought
the consideration of the textbooks a
matter of SO very great Importance
to the people of the entire State
that it should be considered, if practicable.
when all the members were present.
This was agreed upon, and Professor
Allen said he desired TO say few words
relative to the geography. To make one.
! equal TO the best eXtant, and that would be
approved by the Board and accentahle 10
the people, would entail an expense all the
way from $50, 600 to $4,000. He said he
had proposed to get up handbook ON
geography, TO be used in connection
with a system of outline maps. but
| his proposition had not met with
favor from the Board He now de.
sired to renew the resolution offered bv
him at the last meeting, which at that time
was postponed until the present meeting.
The resolution was simply to authorize the
purchase OF the copyrights and engravings
of textbooks of acknowledged merit. in
| this way he deemed it quite probable that
| a good geography-one that would be ac-
| ceptabie IN every way-could be obtained
for much less than the compilation of. an
entirely new one.
Governor Stoneman-Do you say. Pro-
| lessor Allen, that it is utterly impractcable
for us to get up a geography?
Professor Allen-With the limited means
at our disposal, yes. II viii cost in the
neighborhood OF $4,000, and that would
take more than nalf Of the appropriation.
Governor Stoneman-You were appoint
i ed a committee CT one, at meeting some
time since, TO look into this matter of the
compilation of geography, and now you
tell us that you think we are high and dry
on the question of geography. Don't YOU
think we can compile, or cause to be com
piled, geography without having to pur-
chase copyright of ore now extant?
Professor Alien think not. | have
corresponded with a number of the pub
fishers, and from what they have written
base my opinion as to the expense Of COM
pilation. We cannot get bids from those
gentlemen until we dispose of this cues
/ ton by the adoption of my resolution
authorizing the purchase of copyrights and
engravings, and we have the written opin-
ion of the Attorney-General that we have
the power to do so. Now it is simply a
question whether we will do so or not. l
| am not at liberty to give to the Board the
replies of the booksellers upon this matter.
| had them when | was here before and
read extracts from them, but have eftthem
at my home.
Professor Welcker-I would like to ask
Mr.. Allen if the information he so OBJ
tanned does not belong to the Board? Is it
not the property of the entire Board. and
not of an individual member?
Professor Allen-No, sir; not unless YOU
demand it. | don't think it would be
treating those firms with courtesy.
Governor Stoneman-You were appoint
ed by this Board for that purpose, and we
most certainly should be entitled to all the
information the outgrowth of your corre-
spondence. If we are not, what was the
use of appointing such committee?
Professor Allen replied that he had been
appointed as. a cshlnittee of one to corre-
spond with certain publishing houses in
relation TO the purchase of copyrights of
existing Biographies, but had not asked for
bids.
Governor Stoneman-Then it would ap-
pear from what you say, that these publish
ing houses referred to desire the Board to
commit itself, by passing some such resolu-
ton as the one you propose, before they
make any bids.
Professor Allen-By reference to thereso-
luton appointing me as such committee
you Will see that | was not authorized to
ask for or receive proposals, but simply to
correspond with them to ascertain the fact
whether they would deal with Us or not.
No reputable firm would put in bids to
party who had no right to entertain them.
Professor Welcker = At a subsequent
meeting all the textbooks were referred to
in the same manner as were the yeopra-
phies at the meeting III question.
Governor Stoneman-Ne have power to
aud can if we so desire, reconsider our ac-
ton in the matter of appointing Professor
Allen as a committee Of one for the pur-
pose of gaining information for this Board
upon that particular textbook.
Professor Allen-Let US as Z Board put
ourselves upon record as to whether we
viii or will not purchase the copyright of
any existing book, no matter whether it is
a writing book. geography, or any other
OF the series. Let US decide the entire mat
ter, and at once, by taking vote upon my
resolution.
Professor Welcker-I will say right here
that do not believe in any such a sweep
ing resolution. Let each book stand upon
its merits.
Professor More-We have already asked
for copy and plates, and invited competi-
ton for the entire series of textbooks, the
geography included.
Professor Allen-I ask permission of the
Board 10 withdraw my resolution. Itseems
TO be incompFehensibiet to the Board The
other members do not appear TO see this
matter in the same light that l do
4
now the property of the Board. In order
to facilitate business | move thatall further
proceedings relative to q geography be post
poned until the next meeting. The motion
was carried.
Professor Welcker introduced a resolu-
ton, which. after a lengthy discussion, was
adopted, which was to the effect that all
books obtained by the Board, by donation
or purchase, should be the exclusive prop
er;y of the State, and subject to any change
or alteration, as in the judgment of the
Board they should deem proper to make,
and that the only acknowledgment of au-
thorship should be in the preface
Governor StoneInan then read the second
section of the Act of the Legislature au-
thorizing State series of textbooks, which
says the State shall accept all meritorious
books donated to the State.
Professor Welcker zpoved to accept the
donation of speller by Professor Kline.
Professor Allen-I will second the mo-
ton to bring it before the Board, but shall
vote against the acceptance of the book
when the proper time comes.
Professor More-Hand me the speller; ]
want to look at it.
Professor WeIcker-Did you ever see it
before?
Professor More-oh, yes; I learned to
spell out Of it when / was a boy.
Professor Nelcker-Wel, you have the
reputation of being good speller, be-
dieve. 1t strikes me that it is a good book
You are all aware tIat there can be but
little difference in spoilers.
Governor Stoneman-I know nothing Of
the merits Of the book. There is no hurry
in the matter. move to lay it on the
table.
Professor Aileu-I second the motion.
Professor Welcker-It does seem to me
to be proper thing TO accept this book
now. It is q good selection of words, dis
crAerly arranged.
Governor Stoneman-Well. l am not
prepared at this time to vote either to
accept it or reject it.
Professor More-We are more likely to
do something with this speller than we are
with any other book at this session. Let
Us not have any more DELAYS but take hniH