The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-24
MAKES THEM CHEAPER
Is the Claim Made by Friends OF
State Uniformity
IN THE SCHOOL BOOKS OF KANSAS.

n Missouri tits said That 81 Percent
is saved-status OF the Bills on This
subject.
One Of the most important questions
before the legislature is that of the pas
sage of law providing for a uniform
series of school books throughout the
state.
The State Uniformity question was
discussed in the legislature two years
ago and a uniformity bill passed the
house receiving 1O4 votes out of l07 cast
on that question.
This bill did not pass the senate as the
senate committee on education had a Dill
of its own and in the fight between the
TWO political ends Of the legislature all
school book legislation was defeated, 10
the satisfaction of the American BOOK
company which had lobby here for that
purpose
The same bill which passed the house
two years ago, has been introduced again
this year. by its author, Representative
W. ". Price, of Brown county. This bill
is house bill No 70, and It is now before
the house committee on education, along
with five or six other uniformity bills.
The American Book company has a
lobby here this winter for the purpose OF
preventing legislation inimIcaI to lis
interests.
How the Book Company Will Act.
Just how the American Book company
agents propose to influence legislation
this year has not yet developed, but Prof.
o. c. Hill of Hiawatha. author Of Hills
Readers, who IS now Governor MorrllFs
executive clerk, says the American Book
company IS here for business.
Harry Wilson, well known and former
" Of Topeka, Is here as the agent of the
American Book company, and Prof. Hill
says 8Ir R. B. Welch is the paid attor-
ney of the company although Mr. WEIGH
denies that he is now in any way the
company's attorney.
Speaking of this matter to STATE
JOURNAL reporter, Prof Hill said: The
American Book company makes fight
against state uniformity in every state
where the question is before the legisla-
ture. In the state of Washington two years
ago when this question was before the leg
isiature one member of the state text
book board Of commissioners was offered
a check for $4,000 by an agent OF the
American Book company. The book
company's agent picked up the wrong
man and his attempt at bribery was ex-
posed.
In West Virginia three years ago an
agent of the American Book company
was called before the bar of the house
and publicly reprimanded for attem pting
TO bribe the mend ers of the legislature
In both Of those states they now have
state uniformity law.
Three of the largest book publishing
concerns in the United States outside of
the trust are bingham. Maynard & Co.
Of New York; CHM & Co., Boston, and
g ~
concerns do a legitimate BUSINESS, and
they are not represented here by any
one. The people should understand
what the American Book company is
up to-"
4 Comparison Made.
The state of Missouri has had a state
uniformity law since 1891, and the STATE
JOURNAL has a rate sheet showing the
cost of books in that state with and with
out state uniformity.
The cost with the pupils without uni
fOrmityl of Barnes brief history of the
nited States was 81. With uniformity
prices established for five years by the
state commissioners, IS cents-sa7ing
1919 per cent
Barnes first readers without uniform
ity) 20 cents, New Franklin first readers
with uniformity IA cents-savink 43 per
cent.
Barnes fifth reader without uuiformi-
tyl 80 cents; New Franklin's fifth reader
with uniformity so cents-saving 80 per
cent
This table shows that the net saving to
the pupils of the state under thu uni
formity law, is 50 per cent
The friends of the state uniformity law
have figured it out, that the saving to
Kansas IN one year under the uniformity
law would be not less than $4,000
In 1892 there were 1872. 225 school chill
dren IN the public schools OF Kansas. and
II IS estimated that they pay out on an
average 81 a year for school books
Representative Benifel says those figures
are reliable. They are taken from reports
IN the state uperintendents office. The
American Book company claims that the
entire cost of school books in Kansas is
about $4,000 annually, OF $4,000 less
than the other side alleges the saving
would be under uniformity.
They Like 1t in Missouri.
Prof. Hill, who recently wrote to tbs
new state superintendent of Missouri Il
inquire as to the success Of the uniformi
ty law IN that state and received in repl,
this answer: IL E. Wolfe, state super
lntendent of Missouri, in his report
June 30, 1898, says of state uniformity
Everywhere the people are pleased viii
state uniformity and as a rule with tn.
books adopted. They are thorough,
urea OF the frequent changes of tex
books in the past'a
state Superintendent E Stanley has
some views Of his own on the state uni
formity question.
10 STATE JOURNAL reporter SuDer.
intendent Stanley said: There are tw,
sides to this question and there are 200,
arguments for and against all the man,
plans suggested for state uniformity
The great argument in favor of stat
uniformity is the great saving in the cos
OF books; the particular argument bein,
in the saving to the poorer class of neo
pie. The renters who frequently NOV
from one school district to another an,
under the present system are required I
purchase new school books at almost
not every move
I'm abOutN62 counties in the stato ~