The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-04-23
A SCHOOL BOOK BILL,
Which Managed to Slip
through the Legisla-
ture.

| tNl Cs
Other Matters and Things
About the Capltai Ofthe
state.
Special Csrrespsndence to the SENTINEL
COLUMBUS, April 2l-Tho kill
ing of at least one school book bill
each day in the Legislature, with
out much regard to whether it was
good, bad or Indifferent. has grown
to be a standing joke. Some time
ago gave the readers of tho Senti-
mel a humorous but not an exagger-
ated account of the bills. Their
number was almos1 limitless-some
of them were meritorious, but The
most Of them were wildly impracti-
cal.
came to the conclusion long ago.
that the school book mnnopo lies
themselves were really at the bot
tom of having so many bills intro
duced. They expected to get each
man committed to his own bill. and
when it was defeated, he would see
that all the others were out of re-
vengc.1. This plan worked excel
lently for long time and the NOR
tality among school book bills was
something frightful to contemplat te.
But a cog slipped the other day
and Senator Oren's bill went
through bvth houses to the surprise
of a great many people.
1t is a great blow at the school
book monopoly, the full force of
which is not Likely to be realized Mt
first thought. It enables school
boards, by a vote of a majority
of members, to purchase
books and supplies direct from the
publishers or dealers, and furnish
them to pupils at cost, such pur-
chases to be made out of the contin-
gent funds ut the disposal of such
boards. This law would no: be
worth FIVE cents to the people for
next three years so long as section
1920 Of fahc revised statutes remains
unamended or unrepea' ed. But that
section is so amended by this bill as
to make the immediate operation Of
the law practicable. The amend-
mont provides that text books may
be changed by three fourths vote
of any school board. The book
ring fought that part of the amend
ment bitterly, for under the law
as 1t stood no changes could be
made under three years from the
time Of adoption of any text book.
With that law in force. Van Ant
wrrp, Bragg & Co., would have con
trolled the text books in the State
in spite of the Oren bill. But now
that the boards can make changes
If theyfnd it necessary to get books
1t fair prices, Van a nNwerp, Bragg
& Co., will have to come down or
zee their books driven out of Cleve-
land. Thanks to the efforts made
last year and this, the school board
IF Cleveland is so constituted that a
shree fourths majority can be OBJ
aimed if necessary to carry out the
intent of the bill. Changes of text
books to enable publishing houses
% sell moro books at exorbitant pri
:es are always Objectionable, but a |
change of text books to enable the !
people to obtain books at one half |
The prices now charged would be a
usticable and conmendable meas
lrs. One half the distance between
he present system Of extortion and
rec books is covered By the Oren
dill as adopted. To that extent the
.dvocates of free books can rejoice
Ind they will undoubtedly unite TO
make the most of the opportunity |
The vigor and fidelity with which
his law is carrie d out will, to a
great -extent regulate its value to
he people. That same measure to
prevent consultations of publishers
md dealers to run up the prices of
ext books upon the people, was
necessary, is fact that has long
,een reallzod.
For awhile it was thought that
he Legislature would adjourn next
but that does not seem
likely at this writing. The regular
ri weekly adjournment was taken =!
IN Friday last and at this writing
he members aro just getting back.
rhe only measure of importance to
dispose of is the General Appropri
.tion Bill, about which thore is a
difference of opinion to the extent
If 100000. If. the difference is
not harmonized, the session will
nave TO be prolonged to enable bills
10 be introduced to make appropri-
ions for the canals, tho intermedi-
,te penitentiary and for various
other purposes, all of which the
Senate incorporated by way of
amendment, into the general bill.
The Senate refused to confirm
The appointment made by the Gov
.rnor of preacher Poindexter, Of
Columbus, 4 coIored Republican
politician.
Col. Weldy has introduced a bill