Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-28
NOT A BOOK TRUST,
Bat Only an Innocent Corporation
Found on Investigation.
A REPORT AGAINST UNIFORMITY
The Republican Steering Committee Con-
fers With Pattison.
DELAY In ACTION ON THE SHIP CANAL
rrRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT. ]

rFROM STAFF CORRESPONDENT
HARRISBURG, March 27.-The sub-com'
mittee of the joint committee appointed to
investigate whether school-book trust had
been formed has its report ready, and it will
be presented to the Legislature when it re-
assemblies.
The committee first finds that the Ameri.
can Book Company, of Cincinnati, which
was formed by the conso lidation of d. Ap'
pleton & Co., Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co.,
A. S. Barnes & Co., Ivison, Brakeman &
Co. and Harper Bros, the first and last only
so far as their school publications were con-
cerned, is not trust, but corporation.
There are 1S1 other book publishing firms
in the country, none Of which have any con-
nection with this corporation. The evi'
dence adduced by the committee shows that
since its iormation it has reduced the price
OF its books to dealers.
An Argument Against Uniformity.
TIE Individual publishers and firms also
hold that the American Book Company is
not trust, and that they are able to protect
themselves against 1t. provided the State
does not interfere by requiring State or
county uniformity in text books. With
State uniformity the American Book Com
pany would be given great advantage, Ow-
ing to the great number of school puolica-
tions which they control, and with county
uniformity this TACT and their great capital
would hurt the smaller publishers.
As result of their investigation. the
committee reports against uniformity Of
textbooks and in favor of local school dis
tricts purchasing all books out OF the State
appropriation and furnishing them Tree to
the pupils. Under the present laws this is
permissive, but they recommend that it be
made mandatory on the school boards. 10
carry their recommendations into effect they
urge the passage OF Mr.. Ellwood's bill,
which contains the mandatory provision,
but allows five years for the gradual adop-
tion of the system, thus avoiding bearing
too heavily upon the poorer districts. This
latter provision is incorporated at the re-
quest of State Superintendent Waller.
AS showing the practicability of the sys-
tenn proposed, it is set forth that under it the
schools in Philadelphia are provided with
books at an annual cost of 81 cents per pupil,
and in Lancaster at 10 cents, while two
thirds of the districts in Montgomery county
have adopted it without any increase In
taxation.
A Conference With the Governor.
a OepuLaIlOn from IQe ntpuOllcdu SleeT-
ing Committee has had consultation with
Governor Pattison relative to the delayed
issions of State Superintendent of In
struction Waller. State Librarian. Egle and
Factory Inspector Martin. While they de-
cline to state definitely what passed between
them and Mr.. Pattison, it is generally
understood that he gave them due assurance
that the commissions would be made out and
delivered.
Senator McCerary, of Erie, is of opin-
ion that nothing more eau be done in the
ship canal business until Congress meets in
December. The report of the commission
was not filed until February 20, and the
joint resolution of the Legislature request
ing Congress to authorize the Secretary of
War to detail two United States engineers
to 60 over the report and maps ana examine
into the results of the commissions labors
got to Washington only few days before
adjournment and was not acted upon, Sec
retary Proctor would willingly detail the.
officers had he the proper authority, which
can now only be granted when Congress
meets.
The delay in presenting the report does
not rest with the commission, but is rather
chargeable to the delay in appointing it.
The resolution creating it was passed early
in the session of 1889, but the commission
was not ready for organization until Sep
tember of that year. There is still about
s., 500 OF the appropriation left, and an
other resolution has passed the Legislature
authorizing the commission to go ahead and
perfect its work, but not to incur expenses
beyond this sum. HENRY HALL.