Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-10-16

most casual reader of the article. Politics
has never entered as a factor in selecting
or determining the price of school books,
and this is shown by the fact that many
of the books in present use are the same
books or revised editions OF the books
adopted under Republican rule.
Perhaps it is not generally known that
the editor of the Richie Gazette was a
member Of the last Legislature. He was,
however, and had he wished to do so, had
ample opportunity Of Ofering some changes
in the laws he now so bitterly denOunees-
But the truth is, that there IS not a sylla-
BILE on the records of the Senate to sho
that Senator Morris took the slightest In
terest in this important matter, when the
present law came up for consideration. The
record does show, however, that the vote of
the Senate was not q party vote on this
statute. and il also shows that the editor
Of the Gazette did not think enough Of this
measure TO vote at all.
Let us look at the law regulating the
purchase and sale Of free school
books. The present law is virtually a re-
enactment of the law of 1873, which does
not permit or merely authorize the State
superintendent to contract, but says that
he shall contract for books as the Law d.
reefs, and the law directs in substance
that the contract shall be to the effect that
the publishers of the text books now IN
use in the free schools shall be sold to the
pupils and patrons Of the school through
out the State at a special retail price, not
to exceed the wholesale price now estab-
lished, or any reduced wholesale price
that may be hereafter estab-
lished or by other publishers of similar or
equally suitable works upon the same sub
iect. The publishers shall further agree
to furnish for cash, or its equivalent, these
books to any merchant, dealer or agent in
each county in the State who may desire to
purchase, at a discount of not less than SIX
teen and two-thirds per cent. for the reg
ular wholesale price, or any reduced whole
sale price that may thereafter established
The contract shall also provide that the
price OF such books shall not exceed the
lowest wholesale price charged by the pub
fishers to any other State, firm or person.
This is briefly the substance of our pres
ent iudicious aud economic law regulating
the purchase and sale of school books. 1t
can be positively stated that, no State has
a better, if an equal law. Other States
have praised Il school book law, and
would gladly adOpta similar one. Penn
sylyania has for years complained OF her
law allowing districts Board of Education
toselect the school books iOr each district
and so has Ohio complained OF her law,
granting each county.
1t IS all the better for the people that
that the books are selected for four or
five years, rather than for 4 shorter period,
when the books are good, and the rights OF
he peOple are guarded ~ they are by the
present law. The books now used in
West Yirginiawill compare very iavOrably
with the best used in other States, and in
fact these books are adopted in many other
States.
Buff the editor of the Gazette desires TO
compare Democratic legislation with Re
publican legislation on this subject, we
are best sure il can but serve TO show
how closely and wisely the former
has looked after the interests of the people.
Under Republican legislation the State
superintendent was authorized to per-
scribe free school books for the entire State,
and there was no law regulating the pur-
chase or sale of school books, and every
parent knows full well there IS hardly a
school book now used in the free school
that did not cost fifteen to thirty per cent
more than it does now. Full power was
then vested in the State superintendent
and if there was ever opportunity for cor
ruption in this matter, it was then. Now,
the Legislature selects the books, and de-
termines the price, and the State Superin-
tendent merely performs Il clerical duty In
executing the contract for the State.