The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-03

ing out the provisions Of this law so ss to give
full force TO the intent OF the lGw-msker, and 10
enable the parents of school children of the
state To avail themselves of ell the advantages.
- is the duty of the board to guard and pro.
tect these important interests. The law places
stress upon the mechanical execution of text
books, as we'll as upon the merits thereof, for
the evident purpose OF providing children with
books which are not only coed in matter butt so
substantially put together as TO be of lasting
service to them and thereby avoid the necessity
OF buying q new book every few weeks or
months. The requirement that the price shall
be stamped upon the cover is legal pre-
caution TO prevent dishonest officers or dealers
from imposing upon unsuspectIng purchaser
These conditions were deemed to be OF suf-
fcient importance that the general assembly
gave expression 70 them In clear terms in the
law itself, and it is the duty of the board to see
that they are faithfully executed.
The text book in controversy is a grammar
The standard is Harveys grammar. In max.
ing contract for such work each specimen
should be carefully compared with the standard
and IL must be at least equal to that book be.
fore it should be considered; and the law has
specified as to the particulars 70 be considered.
IL must be equal in size and quality as to mat
ter. Not only this, bit the style Of binding
and mechanical execution shall be as good as
the standard fixed by the law. If the standard
be lestherbound work, q board or cloth.
OOunu DoOh can not ldWlully De CONSIDERED IN
competition. If the standard be q CLOTH
bound, leather back book, . bosrd-bound copy
can pot be contracted for. Each sample laid
side by side with the standard must in all these
particulars be at least equal before the board
can even consider its adoption. Indeed IL
matter is the only thing TO be looked 70, then q
text book may be introduced into our public
schools bound in paper or in any manner how
soeyer himsy.
The sample copy of the text book must con-
form to the bid. Your board has no other
means of self-protection. Otherwise a bid
may be submitted for an inferior work and the
contract awarded on a superior sample. II the
publisher in the future shall fail to furnish
books equal in standard TO the sample and
protest should arise, he would Immediately
refer TO his bid as an evidence that the contract
was based not upon the sample but upon the
bid filed.
We have here bid on "Hyde's Practical
Grammar and Composition, Book 2-40ceuts."
Filed with this is q book designated on the first
outside cover in large letters as "Hyde's Prac-
tical Grammar and Composition. Book 2" The
bid and the sample conform. Now II the sam
pie is ''at least equal" to the standard in all
particulars. that book may be accepted and
contract made therefor. But you ask whether
a book designated on the first outside cover 90
Practical Lessons in the Use of English"
(which same designation is used on the title
leaf on the insidel fled at the same time as
the bid, can be construed as q sample book
filed under such bid? 1t is needless TO say that
the title of the last book referred TO does not
conform TO the title of the book designated in
the bid. Whatever may be the relative character
of the matter inside of the cover of the books,
the titles are different. The law says "the
name OF the adopted book shall be printed in
large letters on the outside of the first cover"
This is a convenient and proper requirement.
Il would be exceedingly dangerous to let q
contract for practical Lessons in the Use of
English" on a bid which called for "Hydes
Practical Grammar and Composition" There
is no similarity between these titles.
1t is not evident TO me why publishers should
present TO the public the same matter under
two distinct and different titles. It is doubt
less intended to enable the publisher to treat
the same work as two different works in differ
ent states, but probably for the purpose OF
fitting two different laws as to price. but this
version, if contested, could not stand. The
first question would be answered in the mega
tive.
That which you designate as g supplemental
bid, is submitted, not upon text books sever
ally, but upon series Of books. This the law
does not permit.
The bid must state specifically the price at
which each book will be furnished. Other
wise q school officer in purchasing supplies
would be compelled TO buy, not by the text
books, but buy the series or text books. This
the law forbids. Further, If the circular and
the rules there laid down by the board are 10 be
observed at all, bids are not to be accepted by
fragments; by slips, but they must be submit
ted on the forms prescribed, and no other forms
will be accepted, and no variations therefrom
will be considered.
sample of a book, take il, can not be
submitted by reference. The bid before me
proposes TO submit a sample of Hydes book
2. (which is in board bindingL which shall be
in cloth equal in binding. ETC., in every respect
to book l. which il submitted. This is not sub
hitting sample copies as the law contemplates.
The thing itself should be before the hoard 10
enable them to compare II carefully with the
standard and to examine il as to material, mat
ter, binding and mechanical execution for
themselves.
1t would seem under a fair construction Of
the law, that the only samples legally before
me under the bid OF d. c. Heath 4 Co., are
book 1, sample "a" and book 2. sample &C"
/ can see reason why under the very
plain terms of the law, and the care with
which the board has published and furnished
forms to the several publishers and compilers
of the country, that there should be such a
wide deviation of it's plain requirements set
forth as appears in the document before me.
The second question must also be answered
in the negative.
The trick resorted to by the eastern
firm above mentioned was characteristic
of the school book trade, but the tricksters
selected the wrong gentlemen for the eX-
pertinent. The Indiana state board is
composed of men of too much intelligence,
experience and rectitude to be imposed
upon by any such legerdemain or to tolerate
it. The bid of d. c. Heath & Co. was, of
course. dismissed from consideration by
the board upon receipt of the attorney
generals opinion.
The board was in executive session yes
terdav afternoon about two hours during
which the opinion of the attorney general
was received. At 1880 in the evening the
board reconvened and held another exc
cutive session, but the members declined
to say what, if any, conclusions they had
reached. This morning at 80 the board
will meet in open session when il is prob
able that the final awards of contracts for
the primary and advanced grammar will