The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-03
THE TRICK DIDN'T WORK.
A LITTLE SCHOOL BOOK SENSATION.
How . Publisher Tried to Work IN n
Ringer and Was Knocked Out by
the State Board of school
Book Commissioners.

There were some interesting develop
ments Friday in the competition, for
the state school book contract The state
board had advertised, under the provis-
ions OF the law, for bids on an elementary
and an advanced grammar. D. G. Heath
& Co. of Boston publish a book entitled
practical Lessons in the Use of English"
which they furnish, under contract, in
West Virginia, at prices variously stated
at from As to 60 cents, with an additional
stipulation, as alleged, that the book shall
not be sold in any other state at lower
figure.
d. G. Heath & Co. responded to the adj
vertisement of the Indiana board for bids
on grammars by rendering this book at
the maximum price fixed by law, namely,
40 cents. In order to meet the require
ment OF the law and the advertisement for
a grammar, and to evade their agreement
with the West Virginia people, they put
a new cover on this book bearing the
title 'Hyde's Practical Grammar and
Composition" and sent sample copy TO
the Indiana board, offering to furnish the
book at 40 cents. The title page in the
front OF the book was not changed, and
still reads, practical Lessons in the Use
of English"
The mem bers of the state board, being
aware that d. c. Heath & Co. owned the
copyrights of these books two years ago,
but refused to offer them at that time, and
perceiving that piece of sharp practice
was being attempted, propounded these
questions to the encouragement:
l. In constituting the bid Of d. c. Heath &
Co., herewith submitted may we legally inter
pref the sixth line OF said bid, which reads as
follows: Hyde Practical Grammar and Com
position, book 2. 40 cents" TO mean Hyde's
book herewith submitted, marked by the
commission sample ''B" (see inside first covert
the same having been submitted with said bid
as one of the sample books?
2. In tie supplemental part Of said bid Is
the sample copy OF book of the Hyde series
sufficiently defined for the purpose OF adoption
of said book, the specimen copies placed before
us being accompanied by the following state
ment:
ave further offer Hyde book and Hyde
book 2, in cloth, equal in binding, etc. in
every respect to book l, as submitted, for the
. 4 Of IS cents for the series"
Acknowledgement Smith Yesterday gave
the board the following opinion, which of
course effectually disposed of the bid of ID.
G. Heath & Co. on grammars:
It will be useful in this connection to ex-
anime certain pre- visions of the law and re-
quirements of the circular sent out By your
board.
Sec. of the act of 1889 contains the follow
ing provision: And provided further that
the foregoing books shall be at leest equal in
size and quality to matter, material, style of
binding and mechanical execution to the fol-
lowing text books now in general use:
the grammar 10 Harvey's grammar. ETC."
In sec. 2 clause l, / find the following
Quirement with reference TO books received
from the publishers of text books. which is one
of the conditions upon which proposals must
be submitted namely: Stating specifically IN
such bid the price at which each book will be
furnished and accompanying such bid with
specimen copies of each and all books pro-
posed to be furnished in such bid"
Sec. requires that the board shall fur
nish school books TO the people OF this state
"at the lowest price, taking into consideration
the size and quality as TO matter, material, style
and binding and mechanical execution OF such
books"
The same section directs that all sealed pro-
posals shall be opened pursuant TO the notice
provided for in sec. of this act"
In sec. Is of the act of 1891, page il of the
supplemental copy, it is made the duty OF those
supplying books to the state ito print in large
letters upon the outside of the first cover Of
each book which is furnished and supplied By
him or them, and upon the outside OF the back
cover, the price at which such book is fur
nished to be sold to pupils.
At the bottom of page of the circular of in
formation l find the following provision:
forms of proposals, contracts and bonds that
have been prescribed are included herein. No
other forms will be accepted and no variations
therefrom will be considered"
The contract ITSELF referring to the books TO
H. had that asaid honka 70 ha NJ
the size (both as TO form and number of pages)
and quality, as to matter, material, style of
binding and mechanical execution, as the speci-
men copies of said books deposited herewith"
From the foregoing quotation II is apparent
% that the law contemplates and definitely
fixes a standard for the government OF the
board Ia the selection of each separate text
book to be used in our common schools; ~
for, not ss O series. but for each separate text
book: (3) that each text book shall have the
title thereof printed in large letters on the out
bid on and under which the same shall be
adopted, and that upon the outside OF the back
cover, the price at which said book is furnished
to be sold TO pupils, shall be stamped in plain
letters: az that the forms Of bids, contracts.
etc, must be in conformity to the circular sent
out By the board and that no other forms will
be accepted, aud no variations therefrom will
be considered; (5) that the parents Of the child
rem OF the state shall be furnished with school
books at the lowest price consistent with the
considerations required by the law.
II is scarcely necessary for me to say that
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