The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-03-27
The School Book Law.

1t appears that the lien of the school
book trust upon the editorial columns of
the Journal did not terminate at the ad-
journment of the legislature. The lien is
still in force. as evidenced by the follow
ing editorial paragraph in the Journal of
yesterday:
The [school book law is practically inopera-
tive in that it does not require local school
boards to adopt the new books nor provide
any means of putting them into the hands of
the people. School boards, teachers and people
may continue to use old books il they choose
to do so, and no doubt many will.
The school book law is not practically
imperative" much as the trust and it's
hired organ would like TO have it so. 1t
does explicitly require the adoption of the
new books by local school authorities. and
it does provide ior putting the books in
the hands OF the people. The law pro-
vides for the making of contract by the
state board of education for furnishing
textbooks to the people, and makes it the
duty OF the governor to issue his proclaim
alton announcing that such contract has
been made. Sec. is as follows:
When such proclamation shall have been
duly issued 1T shall be the duty of the trustees
of each and every school corporation in the
state within thirty DAYS thereafter, and at such
other times books may be needed for use in
the public schools of their respective corpora
tiOns, 10 certify 10 the county superintendent
OF their respective counties the number of
school text books pTOUided for IA such contract
required by the children for use in the schools
OF their several school corporations. Such
county superintendents shall, forthwith make
such acquisitions for books as the schools in
the said several counties may require upon the
state superintendent OF public instruction, and
the said state superintendent of public in
struction shall Immediately thereafter make
acquisitions for said books upon the contractor
who shall, within ninety days. ship the books
50 ordered directly to the county school super
intendents of the several counties of this state.
Upon the receipt of such books il shall be the
duty OF such county school superlntendents to
Immediately notify all the school trustees of
all the school corporations OF their counties of
the receipt of such books.
II shall then be the duty of such school trus-
tees 20 Immediately procure and take charge
and custody of all the books assigned to their
several school corporations, receipting therefor
to the said county school superintendent; and
upon the receipt of such books by said school
trustees, they shall furnish them on demand to
the school patrons or school children OF their
respective corporations at the price fixed there
board of commissioners and said contractor;
and it shall be the duty OF such school officers
70 sell such books for cash only; and if they
shall sell or dispose of any books other than for
the cash price thereof, they shall be held per-
sonally liable, and liable upon their official
bond for the price Of such book or books.
Provided, That any patron or pupil of any
school or schools other than the public schools,
and also any child between the ages of sir and
twenty-one years of age the parent, guardian
or teacher Of such child, shall have the right TO
purchase and receive the books, and at the
prices herein named, by payment of the cash
price thereof TO the school superintendent of
any county in this state; and il is hereby made
his duty to make requisition upon the con-
tractor Of any and all books ordered and
paid for by any such person or persons.
And provided further that nothing in this act
shall operate to prevent the state board Of ed
ucation, boards OF school trustees or boards OF
school commissioners from devising means and
making arrangements for the sale, exchange or
other disposition of such books az may be
owned by the pupils Of the schools under their