The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-02-20

a large extent III you want to squeeze the
trust advertise for bids. The book trust will
surely come down if this is done. Mr.. Linck
thought Mr.. Fields made the most logical
argument on the question. He said that his
bill had not been acted upon. He did not be-
lleve there was much of school book trust.
There were seventy-two publishers in the
country, and that ought to be enough cOmpe-
titiOn. He favored free school books. The
only question was how TO get them. He then
made an unfair comparison of the California
books. He took up the state auditors report
and ripped the back of ii with his finger while
talking of the binding of the California books,
leaving the impression upon members at
distance that il was California reader that he
had torn the back from.
Mr.. Wilson said:
believe it is the desire of every member of the
grasp of the schoof-book trust The real question
IS how shall it be dOneg The object Of the
Peasants bill is commendable, but there
Objectionable features in it. We all admit that
there is not locality in the state which
has not felt the effects of the schOol-boOk
trust. The robbery they have compelled the people
70 submit to has caused them TO become alarmed,
and there is now an uni versa demand for legislative
action. The cost Of books to the parents OF the state
Is simply enormous. l have noticed some Of abe
schemes OF these trusts, and they meet most
viz: the cost OF change Of text books.
The law, as IL now stands, permits the change OF
text books once in every six years by majority
vote, and oftener by unanimous vote OF the trus-
tees The agents Of the trusts prior to the meeting
OF the board in June, visit the members of the
board and propose change Of one of the series and
by way OF inducement, the agent gives the
trustee a nice book, chart or a dictionary,
and suggests that the change will cost the people
nothing as the trust will furnish the books in ex-
ehange Tree Tor the nrt year and after that al retail
prices The result is that change Is made the trus
tees feeling that the book is in every respect
superior to the DID, the mere fact Of their being new
being sufficient argument for the same. After the
adoption the books furnished at the exOrbitant
prices which now prevail In many counties the
people robbed not only in the price but in the
quality of the books.
There is no room for discussion as to the necessity
OF striking down the book trust. But the present
bill Is not sufficient for the emergency. In the first
place, IL IS not the policy Of the state TO become
manufacturer of anything 1t has no right TO do
anything that its citizens may legitimately do. The
books required by this bill should be furnished by
competitive bids to kind and quality and not as TO
price, as the cost OF printing bad book is the same
as good one. The board OF education should have
the supervision OF the whole matter
We should accredit members with being honest and.
non-partisan The amendment proposed by the
gentleman from Lawrence is not what he intends it
to be. lie wants commission composed OF two
democrats and two republicans and the governor, so
that the books may have no politics in them. But,
oil whatever politics the governor may be, the board
will be partisan and the object sought will be
thwarted. The revolving fund provided for in the
bill requires too much machinery. The three
millions OF dollars provided for may be fictitious
but il involves loss to the state by bad sales
and other leakage. Besides, if we depend upon
persons making the sales OF books without recon-
pense they will never do il. The distribution and
sale should he in the ordinary business way. The
maximum prices OF the books should be fixed by law
and the hooks sold to book dealers of
the state giving them reasonable profit, and the
work will be done. Besides, should give the
book publishers OF the country fair chance OF COM
as 10 the revolving fund.- the distribution OF books
and the manner Of compilation. And the board Of
education nor any member thereof should not be
allowed 70 become author of any book offered for
use am in favor of recommitting the bill that il
may be amended and hope it may soon become
law.
VI II IL l.
lature should limit the price of the books, Civ
ing reasonable margin for retailers and COM
pilatiOn. He was not in favor of the California
series or any other particular series, but CON-
pilation from all the best books now in use.
Mr.. Beasley next came to the rescue OF the
school-book legislation. He said that he was
afraid that the main question had been lost
sight of. 1t was time TO do something upon
the question. He ridiculed the idea that
this was a question too big for the
legislature TO take hold of. For one he was
not afraid TO put himself on record now
upon this question. All reform legis-
lation has always met with appre-
hensiOn that some mistakes might be made.
When the Interstate commerce bill was
before congress wise men threw up their hands
in horror fearful that great harm would be the
result. The bill passed. 1t was not perfect
one, but no one demands is repeal to-day.
Instead, it is being improved. We cannot take
step backward upon this question. III the
bill is not what 1t ought to be let 1t be referred
TO p committee dh instructions to report at
an early day. There is but short time
left and 1t may not be necessary TO
defer the matter TO investigate. It was not a
new question. The bill was introduced Jan.
10. andprinted copies have been on the mem
bers' desks ever since. If it has not been read
during all this time is pretty good indication
that it will not be if a weeks time is given to
the subject. We must do our duty If we pass
no BILL the people will say that we did not
want to, or that we were not able TO grasp
the question. Mr. Beasley did not profess to
have more knowledge than any one else but
he did not want to go back and tell his people
that ne was not able TO legislate for them upon
the greatest question before the general assem-
bly,. Concluding, Mr.. Beasley said:
We owe it to our people and we must take de-
cisive step-nsta Observation-Disclosures hat a stem
bill we must admit that the schOOl-bOOk trust is
bigger than the state of Indiana If
are greater than the trust the agents they have
here. Because are not able TO agree upon one
bill is reason why we should not agree TO smash
the trust Let us make our suggestions and
compromise views. 1 want 10 emphasize
that II we are do anything must do ii quick
We will 90 home rs we come. III the question IS too
great one for this session il will be as great in the
next legislature and the after the next and
session after session viii adjourn and allow the fangs
Of monopoly TO get deeper AID deeper into
the throat OF the people. And the time will come
when men will be 10th to come to the legislature.
"A
side and the book agents on the other. Let
a bill be reported that be proud OF
and that people will thank for. Vote down the
minority report, for il means no legislation, and let
democrats and republicans offer amendments 10 be
considered by a special committee, or in committee
of the whole. But let us do something. The time
has come when the people must assert themselves.
This appeal for the peoples rights had its
effect. The bill was referred TO a special COM
mttee appointed by the speaker, consisting of
Messrs. Beasley White, Moon, Oppenhem
Brownlee, Adams Of Morgan, and CranOr, with
instructions TO report at 10 o'clock at which
time the bill will be considered.
After the school book bill had been disposed
of, the metropolitan police bill was passed I'M
der the operation of the previous question. To
prevent the republicans from breaking quo
rum the doors were locked. Mr.. CranOr in
sisted on explaining his vote, but was ordered
to take his seat by the speaker.
number of bills were then passed without
opposition, Mr. Curtis board OF charity bill
being among the number; Also Mr.. StulIs bill
appropriating $4,000 a year for five years to
liquidate the debt of the state board of agrlcul-
ture.
The senate was without a quorum most of
the time and nothing was done except TO adj
vance bills TO the third reading. The Purdue
university bill passed, and the gas bill to con-
denim right OF way was discussed for several
hours. Mr.. Byrd's nti-"pluck-me" store bill
was ordered engrOssed without opposition.
The committee on pensions left in the after
noon which left the senate with many votes
less than a quorum. As the committee will
not return till Monday the senate adjourned
-. 4 IL n.