Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-12-08
ASrISaHOoh BOOK TRUST PETITIONS.


county, sends large petition against g
six year contract between the s.ats
officials and the school book publishers,
to adopt certain books at trust prices
for the next six years In all the public
schools Of this state.
The substance of the petition is fol-
lows:
Your petitioners, patrons Of the pub
lie schools, taxpayers aud citizens of
Oregon, respectfully petition you to
take no action to bring about adoption
of new series of public school textbooks
under the law passed by the last legis-
lature, nor to enter into any contract
at present publishers prices adopting
the textbooks now In use, or those that
might be authorised by your board at
present prices; such prices to be fixed
aud maintained by the publishers for
the next six years, as specified by that
law.
In view of the fact that by state pub
lication the people of California are OBJ
timing public school text books at an
average price OF about 30 cents apiece
for the entire series needed in the COM
mon schools, or about one-half what we
pay in Oregon, we demand state publi-
cation at the earliest day possible.
Similar petitions are received from
VIM. Bayne and 81 others, Howell
Prairie; VIM. Beaver and Is others;
Geo. Richards and 4 others; n. 8. Ray
and others, Marion; N. j, Gerber
and II others. Mary Kissling and all
the patrons of Liberty school district,
Marion county; this writer who is an
intelligent business woman writes:
"I sincerely hope that the wishes of
the common people are considered in
this matter at least, for as said before
and found out since, the enacting OF
this law would deprive not only my
children but a good many others of q
common school education, and Oregon
can hardly bear to take such q stand"
J. F. Walker, Walker. Or, and 25
oilers; VIM. ]. Fletcher aud 81 others;
G. w. Cole and l0l others, Clacksmas
county; Geo. Ashby, aud ~ others,
Staytonj Henry A. Ollerman and six
others, II. D, Jones and Mrs. g. A.
Jones, Salem; M. P. Bradley aud 10
o'hers; A. D. Holman and go others,
Coburg, ORR j. ,, Trask and So others,
UNANIMOUS petition Of district No. 03
Linn countyi b. g, Dove and llO 9TH
ers, Sublimity.
These, with other petitions, that
have been received and published rep
resent several thousand people, and the
protest Of thousands of taxpayers against
the proposed outrage upon the people
of this state in the name of legislation.
The law under which new series Of
text books is to be fJisted upon the
public schools of the state at this time
was passed at the diotation of the book
trust and should never be enforced
upon the people. AT least at the pres
ent time no costly charges should be
made.
THE JOURNAL will file these petit
tons and protests with Governor Pen
noyer and will ask that he lay them
before the state board of education.
That board may pretend that the law
requires 1t to act upon the adoption
of new books for six years at this time.
But as the gentlemen go out of office
they can easily pass the responsibility
over the men who will succeed them.
The law should be nulll6ed. 1t was
never asked for by the people. 1t was
imposed upon them after discussion
and defeat In the popular branch of the
legislature, only passing under pressure
from lobbyists and official influence
that should never have been exerted.
II this law is enforced by the state ofli.
clals who are going out of office, It
should never he recognized by their
successors II IL Involves expensive
charges OF text books. More anon.
11s7rz--fr71-- 1--iz-rra.-f--x-rm
Paris In 1900 Time and place for the
next International exDOsition. Dr