The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-03-13
EDUCATIONAL.
The Bill That Smashed the Book Trust
Township Institutes.
The school book bill is as follows:

Township Institutes.
The school book bill is as follows:
Section /. Be il enacted by the general as
sembly OF the state of Indiana, That the state
board of education shall constitute a board of
commissioners for the purpose of making a sc
lection or procuring the compilation for use in
the common schools of the state of Indiana, OF
a series of text books in the following branches
of study, namely: Spelling, reading arithme-
tic, geography, English grammar, physiology,
history of the United States, and graded ser
les of writing books.
The matter contained in the reader shall con-
sst of lessons commencing with the simplest
expression OF the language and by n regular
graduation advancing to and including the high
est styles OF composition, both in poetry and
prose.
Provided, That none Of said textbooks shall
contain anything Of 4 partisan or sectarian
character.
And provided further, That the foregoing
books shall be at least equal in size and quality
as to the matter material, style OF binding and
mechanical execution to the following text
books now in general use, namely: The speller,
TO McGufey's spelling BOOK; the reader to
Appletons readers; the arithmetic, to Rays
new ARITHMETIC series; the Biographies, 70 the
eclectic series of biographies; the grammar, to
Harvey's grammar; the physiology, To Daltons
physiology; the history OF the United States, to
Thalheimers history OF the United States, and
the writing books, equal to the eclectic copy
books.
Sec > The said board of commissioners
shall Immediately upon the taking effect of this
act, advertise Tor twenty-one consecutive days,
in two daily papers published in this state hsy-
ing the largest circulation, and in one news
paper of general circulation in the cities OF New
! ork, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago and
ST. Louis that at a time and place to be fixed
by said notice, and not later than six months
after the first publication thereof, SAID board
will receive sealed proposals on the following:
/. From publishers of school textbooks, for
furnishing books to the school trustees of the
state OF Indiana to use in the common schools
of this state, as provided in this act, for the
term of five years; stating specifically in such
bid the price at which each book will be fur
nlshed, and accompanying such bld with specl-
men copies OF each and all books proposed to
be furnished In such bid
,. From authors of school textbooks, who
have manuscripts Of books not published, for
prices at which they will sell their manuscript,
together with the copyright of such books Tor
use IN the public schools of the state OF Indiana.
3. From persons who are willing to under
take the compilation of a book or books, or a
series Of books, as provided for in sec. I of this
act the price at which they are willing 10
undertake such compilation OF any or all OF
such books to the acceptance and satisfaction
OF the said board Of commissioners.
Provided, That any and al bids by pub
fishers herein provided for must be accom-
with resident freehold surety, to the accept
anoe and satisfaction of the governor of this
stare, conditioned that If any contract be
awarded to any bidder hereunde-, such bidder
viii enter into a contract to perform the con-
ditiOns of his bid, 10 the acceptance and salts
faction of said board:
And provided, further, That no bid shall be
considered unless the same be accompanied BY
the affidavit of the bidder that he Is in nowise,
directly or indirectly connected with any
ofla if-b h., - for
books submitted to such board nor has any
pecuGiary interest in any other publisher
firm bidding at the same time 81t that he is
not party to any compact, syndicate or other
scheme whereby the benefits of competition are
denied TO the people of this otsto.
And be it further provided, That If any
competent author or authors shall compile any
one or more books Of the first order of excel
IencC and shall offer the same as a free gift to
the people of this state, together with the
copyright OF the same and the right TO manu-
tacture anC sell such work in the state of
Indiana for use in the public schools it shall
De the duty 0f such board of commissioners
TO nay no money for any manuscript or copy
right for such book books, on the subjects
treated of in the manuscripts so donated and
such board shall have the right to reject
any and all bids, and at their option such
board shall have the right to reject any bid as
to a parI of such books and to accept the same
as to the residue thereof
Sec. s. 1t shall be the duty of such board TO
meet at the time and place mentioned in such
notice, and open and examine all sealed pro-
pOsals received pursuant 10 the notice pro-
videG Tor in sec. two Or of this act.
And it shall be the further duty of such board
to make full, complete aud thorough investi-
CATION of all such bids or proposals, and TO as
certain under which of such proposals or prop
ositions the school-bOoks could be furnished 10
the people of this state for use in the common
schools at the lowest price, taking into cOnsid-
Grafton the size, and quality as TO the matter,
material, style of binding, and mechanical ex-
ecution of such books.
Provided, always, That such board shall not
in any case contract with any author, publisher
or publishers for the furnishing of any book,
manuscript, copyright or books which shall be
sold 70 patrons for use in the public schools of
this state at price above or in excess of the
following, which prices shall include all cost
and charges for transportation and delivery to
the several county school superintendent in
this state, namely:
Cents