The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-27
NO CAUSE FoR COMPLAINT.

Committee Reports No Contract Violations
by the school Book Company.
The Indiana state board of education says:
owe are unable to see from evidence now be-
fore us that there is any substantial violation
by the company OF its contract with the board
of school book commissioners, and we there
fore see no sufficient reason to call q special
meeting of said board of commissioners to con-
slider the subject further at this time"
That is the result of the great howl of the
friends OF the school book devil-fsh that for
years sapped like leeches the money of Indiana
people who sent their children to the public
schools. That is the result of ex-officio Supt
LaFollette's work against the books furnished
by the Indiana company. The "overwhelm-
ing" ~ complaints reported to have come 10
the state department OF public instruc-
ton did not appear to material
ize. Even Mr.. LaFollette himself
had no complaints 20 make-only statement.
Mr. LaFollette has presented his statement, or
at least has had an opportunity to do so.
Those overwhelming complaints" from all
over the state have been presented to the board,
or rather an opportunity has been given for
their presentation. The board considered every
thing that came before il. To their satisfaction
the members learned that not one book in
thousand sent out by the Indiana company was
detective or not up to the standard workman
ship required in the contract The committee
appointed by the board for that purpose
"Wednesday, spent the entire forenoon yester-
day examining books sent here from
Connersville, where the loudest com
plants were made, and Patoka, Jefferson
county. The whole consignment OF books
sent to Connersyille was shipped back
here, at the expense of the Indiana company.
The books were all thoroughly examined. 1t
was claimed that If the books were not care
fully handled they would fall out of their
covers, and it was especially dangerous to bend
the covers of the primary Biographies back
TIL they met Prof. Wiley of the committee
took one of the Biographies, bent the covers
back till they met. and whipped it over the
edge OF a table vigorously. Not a stitch gave
way. The book remained sound.
OF course in manufacturing 100000 books in
ninety days and shipping them in all haste, as
the Indiana company was obliged to do to sup
ply the schools by the time the term began a
few deficient books crept in. but the company
signihed its Willingness to replace all those
with perfect books. The following is the re-
port of the committee:
The Hon. II. NJ LaFollette, Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction:
The committee of the state board of school-book
by certain school officials in Fayette Jefferson and
Gibson counties, tiat books supplied under the
tract with the Indiana schOol-bOok company not
equal TO the standards fixed by the law and the
tract beg leave 70 report as follows:
l. Prom GibSOn county were sent iOur copies OF
the second reader which were labeled first reader
one fifth reader wi h several loose leaves fifth
reader with cover upside down, complete arith-
metic with several loose leaves, complete geOg-
raphv with several leaves upside down.
2. From terson county have been sent two ele-
mentary Biographies bound with wire only. and not
with both wire and tape. is the sample on which
the contract is based. The same biographies con-
tain considerable number of errors In the form Of
blurred words omitted letters, etc one elementary
arithmetic with four pages, 95 49, Iii aud 127
bered - at the bottom of the page; also showing
defective press work pages i5S and 159
3. The committee has caused 10 be shipped for
examination all the books shipped BY the Indiana
school book company 10 C0nnersville and has found
that, with one exception the books equal in all
based. The elementary Biographies are bound with
wire only, and not with both wire and tape as the
contract requires.
The company through its representative and sec
retary Edward Hawkins, states that the defects and
in printing, biading etc. are due alone 10 the
great haste with which it has been necessary 10 print
and bind the large number OF books, about 900 COO
sent out on acquisitions Of school officials and that
the mpany is endeavoring TO comply strictly and
In good faith with the terms of its contract The
company agrees and offers take back all defective
books found in any OF its shipments and to replace
them with good cOuies or 10 credit on account all
books so returned. The company further agrees to
that hereafter all elementary Biographies fur
nished by il requisition shall be bound with both
wire and tape, required by the contract.
We unable 20 see from the evidence now he
fore that here is any substantial violation by
the company of its contract with the board Of school
book commissioners, and we thereby see 40 sufficient
to call special meeting of said board Of COM
time Respectfully submitted.
WILLIAM w. PARSONS,
J. w. LAYNE,
WILLIAM II. WILEY