The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-02-20
SMASH THE BOOK TRUST.
LEGISLATORS TAKE A TILT AT 1T.
The Peasants Bill is Finally Referred to
Special COmmittee-A Partial VIC
tory For the People-Other Do
inGs of the Assembly.
fridays sentinel.l

fridays SentineLl
When the house convened yesterday morning
there were ninety-six members in their seats.
The seats reserved for guests in the rear and on
each side OF the members were all occupied
long before the hour of meeting. The occupants
were not the usual class of people who visit
the legislature to see what's going on. II is
true that many were there who spend day after
day in the legislature pretending to be looking
after some unimportant measure, and at the
same time throwing up their hands in horror
when some member suggests that the state ought
to take charge of the school books But there
were many strange faces notwithstanding.
intelligent-loOkingm who seemed unconcrned
and not aware OF what was soon TO come up.
Among the latter class was a fne-looking,
scholarly and clerical-looking individual of
about fifty years His genial and smiling cOun-
tenance was not recognized by many. But those
who have been teachers within the last twenty
years knew that face, which reminded them of
the good old days when they attended county
institutes together with the country school
marin. They remembered how kind he was to
neglect his business and devote q whole
week to institute work free of charge HIS
name was on every days program. His
generosity would not stop at that. On the last
day of the institute he would always head a
subscription with s. or So iii which all the
teachers joined, to buy gold watch, gold
headed cane or a set of encyclopedia, and
surprise" the county superintendent, by pre-
senting him with the article But his gen
crosby did not stop, even at this. At the best
hotel in the city he kept open a parlor, with a
long table loaded with electic readers, geograph-
les, histories grammars and other school
books published by Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co.
He also kept a good supply of books relating
TO teaching. Teachers we're invited TO his ''lit-
tie parlOr and never left without souvenir OF
the institute in the form of bundle of books
But those days are gone. 1t was when the
book trust only comprised three publishing
firms. Harpers d. Appleton d Co. and others
not in the trust had little hold on the state
and were fighting the trust. Subsequently ID.
Appleton x Co., in consideration OF an agree
ment that the latter firm would not be
molested in certain southern states
joined the trust and gave quit claim
deed on the state of Indiana
to Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co. After Harpers
had been driven ont of the state and the quit
claim deed granted TO the Cincinnati octopus
by the trust recorded in nearly every county
superintendent Office of the state the gen.
ial institute lecturer thought the school
teachers of Michigan desired his services more
than the HOOsier schOOlmaster. When he
crossed the state line he found himself in the
territory coded by the book trust to 4. s.
Barnes & Co, and of course kept nothing
but Barnes books in his little parlor at the
hotel for the accommodation of teachers.
The teachers of Indiana have missed this
pleasant body ever since, but they will be re-
assured by the announcement that their old
friend, Prof. Cyrus Smith is again with us-at
least he a disinterested p listener in the
house yesterday when the great question of the
session, "Shall the book trust be smashed?"
came up the first thing in the morning
Mr.. Peasants bill, modelled on the Califor-
MIA system, to publish the school books by the
state and sci them at cost price,
came up as a special order. The majority re-
port OF the committee, signed by all the demo-
Gratis, reported in favor OF the bill, and the
minority report. signed by all the republicans
recommended that the bill be indefinitely post
pOned.
Mr.. Peasants opened the discussion by ex-
planning the features OF the bill. He preiaced
his remarks by saying that he would not lose
any time by denOuncing the trust, as il
conceded by everybody that all the school
books now used in the state were supplied by
publishers who are in combine"
to keep up the price. That some
thing ought to be done 10 relieve
the people from this burden no one would
deny. The majority came here with bill
framed after law of another state, which had
been found successful, and the minority came
IN with report 10 indefinitely postpone the
bill which. il adopted, would leave the house
without any relief measure. lie hoped the mi
nority report would not prevail but that the
majority report would be adopted and then the
bill could be amended if it was not perfect.
Livery member could then have chance TO be
heard upon the question; but if the minority
report was adopted il would be the end of the
school book legislation
He replied to the objection of the minority
report, and convinced the house that il ought
not 10 be adopted. The mOnOrity objected TO
state control, because inferior books might be
imposed upon the people. In reply TO this he
exhibited a set of California books, which CON-
pare iavOrably with any books published by
the trust. The minority claimed that the state
could not obtain a copyright on the books, yet
the California books were all copyrighted in
the name of the state.
Mr. Willard reviewed all the systems OF fur
nishing school books in the various states, but
did not believe any system now in existence
correct The system proposed by the Pleas
ants bill was an improvement on the California
system, but il involved the expenditure of a
vast sum OF money. The minority recon-
nended the Massachusetts, system-free text
bOOks-but he would not favor that system be-
cause it would be unjust to tax
a certain class of our people who
lie admitted that Peasants bill was the best
one presented, but il should not pass in its
present shape. He believed that honest men
could be found in the state TO compose a COM
mission which would make contracts for good
school books. He paid a glowing tribute to
the state house commissioners, who left such
grand monument as the capitol for less than
100000. What had been done by state-house
commissioners could be done by schOOl-bOol1
commissioners. Let a law be enacted giving
the governor power TO appoint two
commissioners from each party and with the
governor make a selection of school books and
open the competition to publishers and authors.
Then adopt the remainder of the Peasants
bill with provisO that nothing political or re-
ligious enter into them. Advertise in the
newspapers Of New York, Philadelphia, San
Francisco and other cities for bids TO furnish
school books. Open the competition to all
and invite authors to compete for the
prize of furnishing school books for
Indiana Under the existing system no
matter how good book an author may get up,
he cannot have il published because the pub
fishers would have to displace their own books
TO introduce it. Under an open competitive
system we would not only secure cheap books
but better ones than we now use. Do not let
the contract for the whole series in one lot but
advertise for and contract for the readers sep
arate, and do the same with the rest of the
books.
Mr.. Cullen said the question was too i'm
poTtant to act upon and moved to have
the bill referred TO a special committee of five.
Mr.. Harrell did not think there were seven
members able TO report upon bill in so short
time. lie thought that the house was about
10 embark upon an unknown sea. As for him.
self he felt that way and he did not propose TO
be intimidated by any newspaper. He was in
favor of crushing the trust and the remedy
I 10 ha NJ T1aa nfc1