Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-01-27
STATE TEXT BOOKS.

Our valued friend of the Rock County
Hear Id is disposed to criticise our re-
marks in regard to the state text book
question. We happen to know what we
are talking about, as we were one of
those who were interested in and helped
to pass the text book law, a measure
which we still think has been of great
benefit to the people. We know that
years before the passage of this law the
legislature had provided for uniformity
in the text books to be used in the
schools of the state, for a term of five
years, and at the expiration Of that time,
the books were continued in use, but the
prices were so high that the people cried
out against them. The legislature passed
law continuing the same books in use
for another period of five years, Q3 years
in all with little or no revision), provid-
ed that the publishers would reduce the
retail prices one-third. As the books
were in use, and the publishers had
formed combination for the mutual
protection of each others rights in the
territory occupied by them, they refused
of unsuccessful efforts to secure relief
bv legislation, the famous school text
book law was passed in 1877 BY this
law the price OF the books to he used in
schools was reduced fully two-thirds
1t is fair to say that some of the books
adopted were less in size than those then
in use, but there is every assurance that
they are at least equal to the others in
their educational value. Thus, net less
than two. thirds of the money which the
people had been compelled to pay for
books to keep their children in school
was directly saved IN their own pockets
and with which they could procure ad-
ded comforts for their families.
BY an unforeseen accident, the fund
from which the counties were 10 pay the
state for the books, was called by
another name, and it became necessary
to so amend the law as to call this fund
by its right name. This was undertaken
BY the legislature of 1878, and was the
opportunity for the combination of
publishers, or those who had cOnfederat
ed together, to make an onslaught upon
the measure. With what determined
effort to load down, cut out, dismember
and destroy this law, the agents of the
publishers in and out of the houses of the
legislature, wrought night and day, with
all the vast resources and means at their
command. no one net present at the
time can possibly comprehend. Esti-
sources, showed that not less than $50, 900
was then expended to prevent this simple
amendment giving the active force to the
law, that was intended by the next pre-
ceding legislature which passed it. The
law Of 1878 was passed in spite of
the text book publishers" with not q
single vote to spare. and it was without
any manner of doubt a measure of relief
for the people. Gov. PillsburY, in his
last annual message to the legislature in
1881. showed that this very law had saved
to the people near q quarter of q million
of dollars, aud has given to them books
as good, on the average, as are in use in
any other state. The corresponding
books now cost the people in other states
at least Is per cent. more than We are
paying.
We have said this much because we
deemed it best that little of the history
should come to the knowledge of those
uniformed. Whatever Of injury has oc-
| CURED to the schools in this state, has
come from the neglect of. or opposition
to, rather than from the faithful use of,
the benefits secured by this law. It
would not be possible that any law or
set Of books could he made to suit or
please everybody. but we believe In the
old doctrine of s'the greatest good to the
greatest number" and shall support an
honest and faithful execution of this law,
on the part Of the contractor, and all
others charged with It's execution
Martin County Sentinel. Jan. l.