Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-02-13
American Book COmpany's Reply to the
Charges of the Pilot.

From the reply of the American
Book Company to the charges of the
Norfolk Pilot, which occupies nearly
four columns of the Alexandra Times,
from which we copy, we publish the
following extract =
Virginia enjoys from us to day as
low prices as we give in any State or
section of the country. We guarantee
that cur wholesale list prices shall be
maintained as the rates at retail, and
we give her booksellers sufficient dis
counts to insure these low retail rates.
If any lower retail prices prevail in
other States,-and less do prevail in
two or three,-it is because the school
authorities are charged by law with
the responsibility and expense of the
distribution to the people, thus fixing
their own retail rates by making the
distributing charge public expense,
instead of depending upon the local
book-dealers, as in Virginia. to do this
work in return for the discount and
concessions these dealers receive from
us. AS publishers we receive from the
prime buyers substantially the same
prices for our publications in all parts
of the country, all statements to the
contrary by our enemies notwithstand-
ing
The following is an illustration of the
Pilots falsehoods, let out in it's original
article, and repeated in an editorial
several days later. 1t says that We
furnish Longs Language Lessons.
Parts l and 2, at one price in Louis
lana, and the same book at another
and higher price in Virginia. The
books are not the same. The old
edition is used in Louisiana, where it
has long been in use. The new edition
was entirely rewritten, is larger, and
more expensive in manufacture. Both
are sold at their regular advertised
prices, and no one has been deceived
or wronged.
The charges, therefore, that we are
receiving more for our books in Vir-
ginia than in South Carolina, Louisi-
ana, and other States where we have
contracts, or that our prices average
higher than those of other school-book
publishers, are absolutely false, and
without any foundation in fact. We
have guaranteed in our contract with
Virginia to give as low prices as any
where. This clause of our contract
has not been evaded or broken in the
slightest degree, and we have placed
in the hands of the Virginia Board of
Education the full. authentic. and in
disputable evidence on this point
Meantime we advertise in all our
catalogues to send our books at the
guaranteed rate to any one in Virginia
by mail, postpaid, as an insurance
against imposition in retail prices.
As further safeguard towards in
L.. ~, t,..I L..
retail rates, the Virginia State Board
of Education furnishes to each public
school teacher, to be posted up in each
school room in the State, a large
plaeard II by 81 inches, containing a
full list of the books adopted. with the
authorized retail prices annexed.
AS to exchange rates. The Pilot
charges that we make exchange prices
less in South Carolina than those con-
tanned in the contract with Virginia.
What are the facts in the case? There
were good reasons for low exchange
prices in South Carolina. 1t was that
the books adopted were not already in
use throughout all the schools, and
many would require to be exchanged
and introduced; and for seven years.
adoption we could afford a little lower
exchange rate. In Virginia the case
was quite different, and the exchange
prices were not an important factor or
consideration, for the reason that the
books adopted were already in use,
and would require little or no ex
changing for introduction. Indeed, it
would not have affected the interests
of the people if the exchange price had
been entirely omitted.
AS matter of fact, a careful exami-
nation of our Introduction accounts
shows that our transactions at Tex
change prices throughout the whole
State of Virginia in the entire year of
1894 amounted to less than one hun
bred dollars
Exchange prices are nowhere. among
any publishers. an established and I'M
varying rate. They are only tenn
porary expedient to get books intro
duced and into use, and vary largely
according 10 the circumstances sur
rounding the case, as to the length of
the contract, conditions of sale and
credit. ETC."