Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-10-05
SCHOOL BOOKS.
Meeting of the school Directors Mr.
Hopkins Explanation.

Meeting of the School Directors MIR.
Hopkins Explanation.
A special meeting of the City Board of
Education was held at the Office of the
Superintendent last evening to consider the
question of the sale of school books.
Nearly all the pupils in the city, at least 95
per cent. of them, have already purchased
the books at the retail price charged by the
dealers.
Director Martin said he had called upon
County Superintendent Howard, who had
agreed to furnish all who call at his office
at the Court house, with books at State cost
In accordance with this arrangement he
had inserted the following advertisement
in the daily papers:
SCHOOL OKsl
The public is hereby notified that by courtesy
of b. +. Howard, County Superintendent of
Schools, State textbooks can be obtained at his
Office at State cost price. ED. NJ. MARTIN
Chairman Committee Course of Study.
Director Hopkins said he wished to
place himself right before the people. The
booksellers had gone back upon their agree
ment with the Board If they had done
| as agreed there would have been no cause
for complaint. Before this matter of the
at all, Mr.. Howard, County Superintend-
eAt, offered to furnish the city schools at
State cost, the same as he will furnish the
districts throughout the county. 1t was the
intention all the time of every member of
the Board that the pupils should be fur
nj he'd the books at State cost. 1t never wss
the intention for single moment that deal
ers should in any way profit by Their intro
ductlon. The matter was referred to me TO
, ascertain the best terms upon which the
dealers would handle them in order to es-
cape having to form a revolving fund
which would incur more or less expense.
Mott of Croker & Co., offered to
handle them for 5 per cent.
Houghton wanted 10 per cent. for handling
them. AT the next meeting of the Board
the book firms were asked to state the best
terms they would give to become the agents
of the Board and have the exclusive sale of
the books at State cost. Mr.. Megerle came
before the Board and voluntarily said he
intended TO keep the books and sell them
at State cost. Mr.. Sawtelle offered $50 for
the exclusive right to sell at State cost and
Mr.. Houghton offered $50 for the same
privilege. MIR. Houghton, who was the
best bidder said he would prefer that all
the dealers be allowed to sell. No other
price was mentioned than State cost. That
was well understood, and the fact that it
was SO understood is evident from the
action of the booksellers themselves, who
commenced and did sell at that price for the
first half day. 1t was so understood at that
meeting and l went south believing that the
dealers would do as they agreed, and that
school books would be furnished at State
cost.
The Saturday before school commenced
l returned. | heard then that the dealers
vx-l- trx-T 10 form, I
to Mr.. Houghton and spoke to him about
it. Mr.. Houghton said there was some
such talk but that he proposed to stand By
his agreement. The booksellers have acted
in bad faith. They are entirely to blame.
They failed to stand by the agreement en-
tered into by them with this Board II
they made up their minds afterwards to 90
back upon their word, if they had simply
informed us of that fact we could have
started revolving fund that would have
answered every purpose and saved to the
parents this unwarranted charge. He said
he thought the dealers had made great
mistake; they had by their acts forfeited the
confidence of the community, at least those
who have bought school books will not
feel so kindly toward them in the future as
they have in the past He did not think
the booksellers now would compel chill
dren to go the County Superintendent to
get the books, but sell them at State cost.
Mr.. Martin said the only thing that the
Board was to blame for, was that they did
not make the agreement with the dealers in
writing.
Mr.. Conklin said he did not care how it
was done, but some arrangement must be
made whereby the books could be fur
nished at cost and not have to go to the
dealers.
Mr.. Petrie thought the arrangement with
the Superintendent the best thing to be
done, at least for the present
Mr.. Chipman-If we had them in the
door they wouldn't dare do it. They had
chance to squeal and make something by
it, and they did it.
The report of Mr.. Martin was unani-
mously adopted accepting the proposition
ofthe County Superintendent.
The rule relative to the furnishing of
books to INDECENT children was discussed at
some length, and Director Martin gave no.
tice that he would move an amendment at
the next regular meeting.
Eighteen new desks were ordered for the
Sacramento Grammar School. The Fur
niture and Supply Committee was also in
structed to furnish the necessary desks for
other schools.
At meeting some weeks ago the teach
ers of the High School were furnished for
their use certain textbooks. A motion
was introduced last night to furnish all the
teachers in the schools with set of such
books as they used, but it was voted down.