Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-06
DAILY RECORD UNION
TsDNEsDAY...-... FEsauARY 6, 1889.
A DANGEROUS PRorosIrroE.

A DANGEROUS PROPOSITION.
Senate bill 1853 provides that the State
Beard OF Education, in estimating the cost
ard selling price of the State textbooks,
shall include only the cost OF materials used
IN The manufacture OF the books, together
with the cost CT press-work and binding.
This is all there is of this fve-liue bill,
upon the surface. But back of is policy,
that if adopted may work the destruction
of the whole State system of textbooks
1t will exclude the cost of compilation and
editing, type-setting, engraving, eIetrotyp-
In +, distribution, salaries OF employees en-
gagged directly upon the work, wear and
tear of material necessary TO the work,
proof-reading, etc.
Under the present policy, which is de-
fined by the Constitution, the cost of pro-
duetion includes all labor put upon the
books from the time the pen is first put to
paper; it includes also the cost of the plant
and Of distributing the books. The cost of
compilation and editing is distributed over
a period of eight years OF estimated sales
and the cost of the plant over twelve years.
The bill in question, therefore, proposes
that by general taxation all the cost of
producing the books, outside of materials,
press-work and binding, shall be distrib-
uted among all the people. Upon its face,
and at first blush, this would seem just,
since the cost of school maintenance is
likewise distributed upon the principle
that all the people are equally interested
in the promotion of public education. But
why, then, should the cost of materials,
pcesswork and binding be charged to the
parents of pupils who use State textbooks,
and not the other essential costs of produc-
ton.
When We come to look at what must be
the operation of the bill, however, it is
discovered to be dangerous to the whole
State policy of publishing the books, for to
each Legislature viii lie presented the
other costs OF production and distribution
under calls for appropriations Thus the
matter will be presented as constant
source of taxation and spirit antagonis-
tic TO the system be accordingly eacour.
aged. Herein lies the insidious character
of the measure, though its immediate
author, may not be awake to it.
If at any time it becomes necessary t.
revise book, to issue new edition with
additions and improvements, or to add q
new book to the SERIES the cost will be-
come the subject of a special appropriation
bin, and source of irritation against tn,
whole system. So, too, the costly and ne
cessary plant of type presses, binders ma
chinery and tools will, under this bill
become immediate charges against tn,
State Treasury, with no hope of repay
ment; whereas, under the present system
every dollar will be returned. So, also
the cost of distribution now chargable Il
the book sales viii become an annual Stat,
charge, and require a special appropria
tion. BY these means the enemies of thu
system will be enabled TO assail it b,
pointing out that it is constant cost t.
the State, and an element of continued
high taxation.
Now, as matter of fact, under the pres
en- system there is no complaint by tn,
p,ople. They get the textbooks from Al
l. 30 per cent. cheaper than ever before
they are freed from the opportunities
corruption and political intermeddling b,
the book rings; the parent who uses tn,
boUIs and receives the immediate benefits
pays such an infnitesimal part of tn,
cost Of the compilation, plant and distribu
tion that it is scarcely appreciable. anC
these costs are kept out of the tax rate. II
short, the plan Of the present system
makes it seif-supporting, whereas Senate
bill 353 breaks up that fundamental prin
ciple and destroys a central idea of tn,
whole scheme. There is no reason for tn,
bill and every reason against it, because i
opens an avenue of assault upon tn,
State textbooks that their enemies, if the,
have not eonspired to create, will at leas
i'm nediately avail themselves of.
Finally, the books are now furnished {,
the people at absolute cost, but the very
parties who are seeking to reduce the prie
below cost are the men who have il
the past been most conspicuous in the en-
deavor to fasten the book rings upon tn
people permanently, and wiring from then
exhorbitant prices, from which the bool
syndicates draw enormous profits.