The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-11
CURRENT QUESTIONS.
Concluded from Third Page.)

we had before. So far as the books them
selves are concerned, and the price paid
not complain, but it is what they are COM
PEELED to pay in an indirect way that hurts.
Would it sound reasonable to the citizens
if they should be told that they are paying
annually in the way Of taxes the enormous
sum of $4,000 in the way of expenses Incl
dental to the handling of the schoolbooks
of this State? Let US see: In the first
place, the law gives every trustee in each
of the 1,016 townships in the State not to
exceed S. a year for the furnishing OF books
to the poor. He is also required to make
to the county superintendent q quarterly
report showing the number and kind of
them, which amount must be turned over
to the county superintendent. This requires
four days time for each trustee. He is also
required to make 81 report at the end of
each month in which he sells any books to
dealers, which report must show the num-
Der and kind of books sold and the amount
received for them, which amount must
be turned over to the county superintendent.
This requires at least five more reports
each year that must be taken in person to
the county superintendent, who swears the
trustee as to their correctness, and receipts
for the money. Last month 1 made my
monthly report out, and have made two
trips to the county superintendent office,
which is fifteen miles from here, and found
though 1 had but ss.1S to turn over to him
1t has already cost my township 81 in my
efforts to obey the law, which makes no
distinction as to the amount received for
the month; whether it be 10 cents or $40,
the report must be made, and any trustee
failing to comply with the law is at the
mercy of the book company, since the law
gives them the power to employ an attor-
ney and sue the trustee on his official bond
and get judgment against him for all costs,
including attorney fees. Then, each of the
ninety-two county superintendent must
make their quarterly and monthly reports,
which requires no less than nine or ten
days for each of them. Then, when books
are sold to dealers trustees give them a
discount of 10 per cent, of which s per
cent. is paid out of the special school fund.
with the sale of the books, and yet / have
not considered the school boards Of the in
corporated cities and towns, nor do ! un-
dertake to say how many days are charged
against the townships by farmer trustees
who have been compelled to leave their
teams stand for hours while they went to
the house to sell a ten-cent book. The Lord
only can tell the amount that the people
are paying indirectly for their books, but I
am quite sure that the above-named amount
is none too high. These are facts that
cannot be disputed, and, after all, while
we think books are cheap, there ought to
be something done to make them cheaper.
How would 1t do to take them entirely out
OF the hands of school officers and let the
book company appoint at least one dealer in
each township to handle their books and
pay them a reasonable profit, even if 1t in
Let the dealer furnish bond and make his
reports and remittances as often as the
company requires. and thus put a stop to
SO much CT this expensive red-tape business.
NJ. BELT.
Macy, Ind, Feb. Q.