The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-28
HE SCHOOL BOOK TRusT.
some of Its scandaIous Dotngs in Tir,e'
Gone BY.

some of It's ScandaIous DOlngs in Tines
Gone BY.
On May 10, 1855, the Chicago tribune printed
a special telegram from Baltimore from which
the following extracts are taken:
There was held in Philadelphia. Saturday
April IS a trial by jury which, though
appointed by any legal institution Of the state
or nation. will render decision OF interest 70
every taxpayer in every state, city and county
in the United States. The jury Is composed OF
a number Of members OF what Is known among
those who compose 10 as The Publishers
Board of Trade" There are few people who
know Of the existence OF such an organization
while the articles OF association which gov
ern the school book trust were guarded with
jealous care, and even the agents OF the asso-
citation and is members cannot secure The pos
session of one of these precious documents
Some time ago the agent OF Messrs. lvison.
Brakeman, Taylor a Co., the large schOOl-bcok
publishers of New York, engineered the text
books OF Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co. another
large publishing house OF Cincinnati. out OF
thirteen counties OF Georgia aud supplied in
their stead the textbooks Of his nrm. Both
houses are prominent members OF the syudl-
cate. Inis was done In direct violation OF the
articles OF association, and the injured htm
waited for an opportunity TO retaliate. This
occurred several weeks ago when IL was learned
that the school board OF Baltimore county.
Maryland, had decided 10 adopt Whites arith-
metic, a publication Of Van Antwerp, Bragg
IL Co. and drop the two they had been
using one OF which was the work OF
Prof. Robinson, and was published by Ivison,
Brakeman, Taylor d CO.. the other being the
publication OF non-syndICate hTm. In this
case syndicate house was interested. and &C
cording to the law OF the trust ought 10 have
obtained the permission Of the latter % sup.
plant their books and nay 10 Ivison. Brakeman.
Taylor L Co, an amount equal TO that which
the school authorities of Baltimore county have
appropriated for the purchase OF arithmetlcs
during the current year. In the present case
this sum amounted 10 5000. For this outlay
they would reimburse themselves at the coun-
tvs expense. Smarling under the blow they
had received from tyison, Brakeman. TAYLOR
q Co. In Georgia, they regarded this as a good
opportunity Tor revenge, and 30, without con-
sultug the rival concern. they signed the con-
tract 20 supply the Baltimore county schools
with Whites arithmetics at a reasonable price.
When IviSon, Brakeman, Taylor & Co. heard Of
the transaction they Immediately brought 1t to
the attention OF the syndicate. The result was
q charge and a counteT-charge, a reference to
the arbitration committee, and an appointment
by the latter Of jury Of disinterested members
10 try the case at Philadelphia at the date above
mentioned. They have 4 given time 10 render
their decision. The other firms are awaiting the
verdict with great interest.
An onerous rule of the trust makes its
burden still heavier on the taxpayer. Accord
ing to this rule the system OF exchange which
has hitherto been IN vogue has been stringetly
abolished.
Previous to 1874, when the school authorities
saw fit to introduce a better textbook into
their schools, an arrangement was effected with
the publishers by which the old textbooks were
taken IN exchange at certain price By this
means the change was elected readily without
( disturbance to the regular working of the
various school systems and at a COM
I paatively small cost The better textbook
[ IN and z no eraa -earH ant
This has been broken 10 by the trust.
The methods Of the syndicate's working has
recently been experienced in the Baltimore
/ city school board. Ii decided, upon the
recommendation OF competent critics, 70 add 10
the readers in use in the pU0lic schools Of this
/ city the Butler series OF readers, they being
I considered an excellent edition. The matter
/ was as usual referred 10 lis proper committee,
I and at the last meeting OF the board in April
/ the committee simply reported that they lid
/ not deem II expedient TO add the Butler series
/ TO the list
/ This was all there appeared on the surface
but big fight had taken place which was
known only to q few.
During the interim the agent in this city for
I the reader now in use-a syndicate book
notified the headquarters OF the syndicate OF
/ the contemplated change and the result was
/ the prompt dispatch 70 this scene of Mr.
/ Tucker. the secretary and authorized travelling
/ arbitrator OF the syndicate. Mr. Tucker was
/ present At the meeting OF the school board, and
by virtue of his authority forbade the
agent OF the Butler reader TO make any
| proposition whatever that might lead the
board to adopt his readers. Upon the success
/ OF the scheme the members Of the school board
enjoyed set out" their unknown host being
/ the Publishers Board OF Trade"
Another illustration of the working OF the
4 trust occurred in Baltimore county in 1875,
when the school authorities were compelled 10
I sell the old biographies for waste paper and
$1,000 for the privilege OF buying better ones.