St. Paul daily globe., 1893-08-03
SCHOOL BooKs FOR ST. PAUL.
How Great Saving in Their Cost
Can Be Made.

Can Be Made.
The text book problem was about all
that the board OF school inspectors con-
Sidered at the regular meeting held
yesterday. At the last session of the
Legislature a free text book law was
passed. 1t empowers the board of edu-
cation TO purchase books for the schools
and provides for tax levy to cover the
cost. ST. Paul cannot avail itself of the
advantages that this law presents.
There is no fund available, and it is not
considered eXpedient to levy special
tax to meet the cost that would be en-
tailed shO2ld the text books be supplied
the pupils free of cost to them.
President Smith and Inspector
O'Brien were at the last meeting OF the
board appointed special committee to
WreStle with the problem. Figures ob.
tanned from the state superintendent of
public instruction show that a saving of
something like 80 per cent in the cost of
school books can be made by buying di-
rect from the Eastern book concerns
In compliance with the provisions of
the new law, the state superintendent
advertised for proposals to supply the
books. and some twelve or so of the best
publishing houses sent liz bids. These
are Oh file in the Office of the superin-
tendent, and they were inspected by
Dr. Smith. who noted the great saving
that can be made if the books are bought
the same as the country districts all
over the state are buying them
But how to attain the desired end
That was the questsOn. A plan was
evolved by this special committee how
ever, and President Smith reported it
to the board yesterday afternoon. He
stated that he had written letter to a
dozen reliable book houses and asked
them for proposition. He explained
that the beard cannot buy, and sug-
geSted that the houses could conSign
the books to the board, and that they
be sold to the pupils for cash and then
the money paid over TO the publishers
at the end of each month. All save one
of the houses agreed to enter into such
an arrangement. and the house that dis
sented offered to give the board years
time to pay il 1t so desired. Then Mr..
Smith in all oral report stated that the
ID. ID. Merrill book house of this city
has offered to handle the books for the
board for ten per cent commission.
Mr.. Smith seemed to be inclined to
favor this proposition, but Inspector
Willrich is opposed to that part of the
plan. He believes that if it he posi-
bic this 10 per cent should be saved to
the people, and that the board can
encompass this by handling the books
without the interposition of local
house. The books can be secured from
the publishers at The scheduled rates as
given in the lists on file in the office of
the state superintendent of public in
StructlOn, aId then sold direct to the
pupils for cash, and at the cost price.
After the matter had been discussed for
4 half-hOur or so the committee was
continued with power to act, and In
spec;Or Willrich was added to the com
mittee.
The committee on schools reported
the resignation of f. R. Rogers. as
supervisor of the manual training
school, .and of Miss Meta l.. Pierce, as
model teacher i'll the MaXfield school,
and this brought out rather desultory
discussion upon the salary of Miss
Darrow, teacher in the training school.
1t was related by Inspector Wilrich
that her salary had been cut from 81 900
to Sl,400, aud it is claimed that there is
injustice in this course. Preside mt
Smith disapproved of discussing such
questions in a public meeting of the
board, and the matter was referred to
the committee on schools to report at
the next meeting, and there is some
talk of a special meeting, indeed, to
adjust the trouble.