The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-02-13
hEPLY OE EIlE AVitsIOiN
BOOK tGlipANl

The VIRGISIAN publishes in Its
issue this morning, the reply Of the
American. Book Company, to the
ohrges sRd attacks made upon the
business Of the company in connec.
ton with its contract with the State
Bo,rd OF Edncation of Virginia, to
furnish schpol books TO the pupils
Of the public schools OF the Com.
monwealtl.. These attacks were
made through the columns of the
Norfolk Pilot newspaper, and the
answer to the charge is made, as
state by the company. in justice to
themselves as. q publishing company
and to its friends, the people of Vir-
ginin. It is: also made in response
TO the challenge Oh, the Pilot, without
waiting Tor .:'itAe Slow and volumi
nous processes. Of n'iibel snit and to
meet the issue and try it by the pub
lie. before whom the methods of its
business are arralsned. >"
The answer of Textbook Company
is very complete, aud in the opinion
OF IKE NEGIN1AN, meets with great
clearness the charges which have
been made. As to their prices, it
INSERTS thAt.itR one. and leading aim,
constantly adhered to. was to ell
sure. so far as it was in its power,
the placing OF It's publications. in the
hands of actual consumers, ut the
trade list prices, and in. establishing
tins rate 1t has secured to the people
q practical reduction in the retail
prices of school books from 81 to 10
per cent, for which action, it as.
serte,it would seem to deserve credit
aud not abuse.
1t makes the statement that Vir
gina enJRyssss; from the company to-
DAY, as low prices as the company
gives to any State or section of the
country, 'and guarantees that its
wholesale-prices shall be maintained
as the rates at retail, and that to
assue these low,retail rates, sufficient
discounts have'been given the book
sellers of the State. 1t Garages as
absolutely false and without any
foundation in fact, that the com
gany is receiving more for its book.
IN Virginia than III South Carolina
Louisiana or any other State.
where 1t has contracts. and to prove
ana demonstrate this, the company
hes placed il, the hands Of. the Wiz
ginla Board ;!of Education the full,
authentic aud indisputaple evidence
on this point.
as to the Assumption made by tn,
Pilot, that 100000 was expended
annually in. the purchase by the
pupils of the public schools of VIr
gina, the company states that i
can prove that,it never has SOLD
more than 100000 worth of school,
books IN any one year in the State
OF Virginia. and to the con trary O
this. the evidence in its possession
shows that the entire sun
annually expended in Virginia
foF school books from ell sources
cannot be more than $4,000 As
an absolute fact, 1t is prepared tc
prove by its account books that ir
1893 the entire amount of the com
pany's sales Of school books in Vir
ginia, including all supplies for pri
vate, as well as public schools
amounted to only S52, 900, and in
1884 TO only 500, 600; and tina, there
lore firms outside of the American
Book Company must sell yearly
from $40, 900 to so, 900. Therefore
lt cannot be said that the American
BOOK Company monopolizes Gil the
trade, or EFFORTS hundreds of thou.
sanda OF dollars from the people of
Virginia.
The statement will receive care
ful reading. The company has dis.
charged duty to itself and
the people Of Virginia in the publ.
cation OF the same.