The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-08
LIST NOT YET MADE PUBLIC
crArus OF THE VIRGINIA
scHOOL-BOOK AFFAIR.

,v suprrintendent OF Educa-
A., Cav. the Names Of the Studies
Cannot BE Told because OF fec""'"'s
Interests Involved.
I, seems that the action OF the state
poard Of Education is doomed to be attend
ed with unaccountable strangeness through
ou, For months the people OF Richmond
and all over the state have waited with
anxious expectancy for the board to make
ND a list Of school books for the coming four
wears. and wondered why it was that the
able statesmen who composed this board
had not agreed upon list Now the
people are even more at loss TO account for
The delay in announcing the list since IL mas
been made up. Tho
II has been four long days since the
hoard. after three hours star-chainDer
session. finally agreed upon list, bnt "hal
the list is the superintendent declines W
saw. THE TIMES. however, gave an eNciu-
siys renort the morning after the meeting 81
the principal changes made in the oiu list
rECUNIARY INTERESTS.
Yesterday afternoon a reporter Tor inle
paper saw Mr.. Massey. and inquired oi nun
he reason why the official adopted list was
kept from the public, 10 when ne leplleu'
1--WE are withholding ii for pecunary III
forest to the patrons Of public schools. ]
am irving to get the prices of the publish
ers down 10 the lowest figures before i let
them know that their books will he used.
The reporter replied that he was informed
that il had been the custom OF state DOaIds
Of education not 10 entertain an application
from publisher for the adoption OF his
hook unless his lowest price accompanied
if. Then the price could be considered III
choosing the book.
Mr.. Massey answered eyasiyely: "ln
some cases they do
THE BOOK TRUST.
Further in the conversation Mr.. Massey
said that he did not know any thing about
the school book trust, but he thought II was
the custom Of trusts TO lower the price OF
the articles they sold and manufactured;
Mr.. Massey. il seems, ana not regard
the pecuniary interest Of the patrons
Of the public schools when he advocated q
change i'm copy books ut the meeting OF the
board. for the Graphic copy books, when
had been taken Of of the list 10 give place
for the Sponcerian, published by trust
bouse. was offered at a lower price than
the Spencerian book. and Mr.. Massey
is i'm possession, il is believed, Of
reports from nearly all Of the coun-
ty superintendent in the Commonwealth.
stating that the graphics had given perfect
satisfaction in the schools during the past
four wears. These books. however, are pub
lished bv a non trust house and that Is the
ONLY reason that can be assigned for their
beng thrown aside.
UNSUCCESSFUL ELSEWHERE.
The trust now known as the "American
Book Company" is not meeting with the
success i'm other states that IL sin virginia.
In the new state Of Washington, few
days ago. her state Board Of Education
completely ignored the great combination
and threw OFF what books the firms that
now compose the trust had on their list, and
| throughout adopted nOn-trust books. The
state Of Delaware has done the same thing.
The people OF Virginia had earnestly
hoped that the Old Dominion would sustain
her spOtless record as an advocate OF honest
trade in preference to monopoly. II Is q
source Of Qualification. however, to the peo-
ple Of Virginia that all Of the members OF
the Board are not favorable to the book
| trust.
Notwithstanding the Superintendent OF
| Education has seen lit in "A communication
to state otherwise. THE TIMES can repeat
| that its report OF the changes made IN the
| old list adopted at the meeting wednesday
| was in every way correct.