The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-06-19

indianapolis Sentinel ]

.l Indianapolis Sentinel
Edwin Ginn, OF Boston, member O
! the firm OF Ginn Il Co., which has jus
0 been awarded the contract for certain
Q text books under the Indiana law, writel
the New York Evening Post that "iu
Indiana the books, perhaps, have come
: cheaper to the pupils under the contract
!, system], but Il is generally admitted
that, as whole, they are not equal in
quality, and, undoubtedly, IL the extra
|, amount paid 10 officials for handling the
same could be added to tho price Of the
books, the cost would be even more than
formerly" It so happens that what Mr..
CHM says "is generally admitted In Indi.
ana" is not admitted BY any bod y so far as
are aware. On the contrary, Il is uni.
versally admitted that tho books now in
use are fully as good as those which
we're formerly sold at more than dou bic
the price, now paid. The other state-
ment made by Mr.. Ginn is equally wide
OF the truth. The extra amount paid TO
the officials for handling the books cuts
little figure. II is, indeed, mere trifle
compared with the total expenditure for
books, and making liberal slIo vance for
this item, the school books furnished
under the existing contract cost the peo-
pie less than one-half as much Is they
paid for similar books under the old
system.
Mr.. CHM ought to come out OF hIs|
New England she'll for time and min
gle with the people OF Indiana, II bel
really wants to know how they regard
the school book law. Especially should
be d o this In view Of the fact that be has
seen fit to offer proposals. under this IL "
which have been accepted and contracts
awarded him. lt seems TO ne that II isl
poor taste, to say the least, for Mr.. Ginn
10 attack the law under which he has
been awarded contracts to supply books
for period Of five years I; TO criticise the
o6icials who awarded these contractsl
and to question the wisdom and intelli-
gence Of the people who passed the law.
The succesa Of that measure is uuiver-l /
sally conceded 10 the State and no bet
Tor proof Of Il could be desired than the|'
fact that CHM b Co., who two years sgo|'
refused 70 make bid. have now agreed
to furnish books at Is and 60 cents re-
epectively, which they are selling to|
dealers 10 other States, according toI
their published lists, at l6 cents andli
ol.10. Surely : Law which gives thel'
people Of Indiana books u about half|'
tho prices which The people OF other|l
6tstoe pay for the samo booko onnnos bel!
uDeotislactory 10 thom.
. To Aet = toot % Nv W. ovog onooto6I' L
- TILE slnto which psoVo6 - un1yosually| /
popu1ar - the school look Iav. Amer 81
tWo yesrs' tsIal the list legislature, Wigh- |!
out : dissenting vote. paoeod law ox-|!
tending the contract oyelem. Not o|l
voice was raieed 10 that body 10 criticism
Of the law, which va originally passed
only after . desperate struggle. There
is no longer any visible opposltion 10 In
diana to the school book Law. Il
Mr. Ginn says:
1.-Two Years ago, when indiana rdopt-
ed the law fixing . maximum priceI'
which the state would pay for school !
books, no reputable publisher would bid, \
for they ell feIt that these prices would
before long destroy the business; and III
they should be established 10 the state OIL
Indiana they would be the basis Of prices
for the rest Of the country. To-day II
many Of the best books In the markell
are offered to the state OF Indiana, a.
though Il is fair to cay that the prices Of
some OF them have been raised some |
what 10 the last year"
We submit that this is the best posi-
bic evidence that the law is grand sue
cess. Two years ago, o. Mr.. CHM says,
the old line publishers would not bid
Now be believes that "many Of the best
books 10 the market are offered to the
state OF Indiana" This is true, and Il is
complete vindicatiOn OF the law.