The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-24
AS TO NEW SCHOOL BOOKS.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MOVING.
The School Book Law Taken Up and Read
by Sections anu Many Important Ques-
tons Raised-Some Legal Advice
to be Asked.

The state board of education met in Supt
LaFOllette's Office yesterday TO take the action
prescribed for in it the new school-book law.
This action is considerably delayed beyond the
time at which il should have been taken, owing
to the fact, so It's alleged, that the members OF
the board did not know that the act contained
an emergency clause. The members of the
board present when the meeting was called TO
order were State Supt. LaFollette, President
David 3 Jordan of the State uni
versity President w. W. Parsons OF the
State normal school, Supt II. L. Jones,
of this city, Supt. ". II. Wiley of Terre Haute
and Gov. Alvin P. Hovey. This constituted a
quorum and work was Immediately begun.
The absent members were President James Fl.
Smart of Purdue university and Supt J. Fl.
Layne of Evansville, both of whom teIegraphed
that they would arrive in time for the night
session.
Previous TO taking up the all absorbing school
book topic the life state license of ex-Supt o.
f. Arbuckle OF the Madison county schools was
revoked, he having pleaded guilty TO the charge
of counterfeiting in the U. S. court. This was
deemed by the board sufficient cause for the
revocation of his license which was secured In
competitive examination IN 1884.
Alter this business had been disposed of the
board began the discussion of the school book
question, which Supt. LaFollette stated was
the sole object of the call. He ascribed his
dIlatoriness in calling the meeting of the board
as required by the law to his failure TO note
the existence of the emergency clause.
Alter general discussion TO the matter OF
advertisement for bids and the best form Of
such Advertisement it was moved 10 take
up the act and read it through
hxye e. L. It Il
bers. The reading of the bill was begun by
Mr.. Jones, and from time TO time the members
noted points on which there might be some
question. In the discussion of the subject of
advertising for bids il was suggested that the
amount Isl, 0O0) appropriated by the legislature
10 pay for advertising for twenty-one consecu-
tive insertions in the papers named would
doubtless prove insufficient. rough estimate
OF the charges OF the papers for their space
would place the amount at 81 ,050
In section l of the bill the provision that the
matter contained in the reader shall consist of
lessons commencing with the simplest expires.
sion OF the language and by a regular
graduation advancing 10 and including the
highest styles of composition, both in poetry
and prose" cannot be met IL was claimed, as
there is no set of books published of an equal
series that comes up 70 such requirements.
Other points raised for q more extended con-
sideration, were as follows:
Will fewer books in a series than indicated by the
literal expression Of the law be accepted an
equivalent?
Does the word consecutive in the section pro-
viding for advertising to include Sunday pub
licatiOns2
the manuscript be cone Tered book?
Who IS to pay for manuscript
Does the bond 1000 apply 10 the contract or is
a new and separate bond to be required?
What is the liability of publis hers as to bonds
What Is meant by resident security
How is the affidavit of publisher to be considered?
hoard PumupIInd n tIgara fha trufh AZ
same
Can provision be made for the exchange of
books?
Does the law texts outside of the eight COM
mon branches?
What recourse has the board on trustees ct al who
refuse 70 obey the law?
Can existing contracts beween trustees and book
publishers be abrogated?
To what extent does this law repeal sec 4436,
Ii no bids are received, will schools be free 70
select their own books?
Many of the above points were carefully con.
sidered and satisfactorily explained.
The board will distinguish between ques-
tons which 1t is competent TO decide and all
others will be referred to the attorney-general
for legal opinion. Although not required by
statute, a request will be made that the various
bidders send set of books to each member of
the board, that each may familiarize himself
with the work and thus facilitate matters
The reading OF the law was continued up to
sec. S, when adjournment was had un I'll
night. On re-assembiing President Smart and
Supt. Layne were present and the residing was
continued. Most OF the latter sections refer TO
the duties of persons other than the board,
therefore il was not deemed necessary TO so
carefully consider them. An important point
was raised as TO who would be responsible for
the loss if, by any means a FIRE should burn the
stock of books on hand held by the trustees
for distribution. Another was the possibility
OF the trustees selling the books for more than
contract prices; again, whether il would be an
inducement for anybody but trustees to handle
the books.
President Smart stated that he hoped il was
not the purpose of the board TO question the
constitutiOnality of the law His colleagues
assured him it was not, and that the provision
would be enforced in letter and spirit. Ii was
suggested by Prof Smart that the board should
organize into a separate commission, and that
separate records should he kept. 1t was after
much discussion, decided TO refer the matter to
the encouragement.
A very important point raised is whether
the law is mandatory; and another: Does the
bill abrogate contracts made by the various
county officers?
Prof. Parsons moved that the questions to be
decided by the encouragement be prepared as
soon as possible, that all points raised could be
answered accurately and be substantiated by
the proper legal opinion.
Supt. Wiley moved that the letter of the law
in regard to the number o. readers, five, be man.
datory.
Adjournment was had until o'clock to-day,
when definite action will be taken and an ad-
vertsement be prepared.