The record-union., 1896-01-07

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should be charged against the system
itself, or the original plan of the pub
LEGATION of the series.
The expert finds that plan to be sound
and it is fact well known that it is
impossible for the system to become
bankrupt. The revolving fund meets
the scheme and responds to it perfectly.
with the solitary exception caused by
the deliberate and objectionable refu-
sal OF certain school districts to obey
the law. That these were inspired to
their rebellion by the book ring and the
enemies Of the State system the Rec
ord-Union" has repeatedly charged, and
to its own satisfaction has proved. In
deed, it will be recalled that during
that very rebellion and notification
Eastern publishing houses were print
ing columns of lies and assaults upon
the system in San Francisco papers
and paying for the same at lively prices.
The "Reeord-Union" itself succeeded in
showing this up by securing paid for
column of these book ring attacks, and
publishing it, and in parallel column
exposing the whole miserable business.
The experts report shows that,
with the rebellious interruption taken
into account, the loss on the school
books to July 1, 1895, has been to the
State just $17,o69 %, and the balance
due the State from the textbook ac-
count, which in due time win be paid
up, is 500, ,229 This loss of $1,000 is
an Insignificant sum when 1t is re-
called what the old system cost the
taxpayers of this State under the rule
and ruin policy of the book rings,
when their lobbyists, carrying
sacks, swarmed in our Legislatures,
corrupted our Boards of Education,
tampered with our teachers and fieeced
the parents. The power and wealth of
this book ring may be gathered from
the fact that one firm pays the editor
mot author) of its series $4,000
year, another firm pays it's editor $S,-
for the MS. Of a geography, whereas the
California geography, a better book,
cost but $4,000.
It is to be borne in mind also that in
the present contemplation of the ac-
counts of the State textbooks, there
is the very large item to be considered
of revision and addition made by order
of the Legislature, and not contem-
plated in the original scheme of the
system. The experts report also
shows that all the money expended in
preparation and issuance of the books
is distributed over the number of
copies that by estimation will be and
have been sold in period of eight
years. If this is not done, or has not
been done, the fault does not lie with
the system, but is chargeable to inter-
ruptions and ordered changes in and
additions to the series, for which the
financial system can not be held ac-
countable.
The expert adds that "the books,
from financial standpoint, are now in
a good position to make an excellent
showing in the near future if the State
printing plant viii answer its purpose
and the demand for books increases as
it should do with increased population,
and if revision is discontinued" AS a
matter of fact the printing plant is
good for the purpose, though that it
depreciates in wear and tear is mat
ter of course, and revision, if ordered,
is a new matter that should and must
of necessity stand upon it's own bottom
If" says the expert, 1.-The quality of
the present books is satisfactory to the
pupils of the State, then no complaint
should be made against printing them.
That really concludes the whole ques-
tion. We are convinced that whoever
dispassionately examines into the State
textbook system on the basis of the
economy of their production, as COM
pared with the cost to the people under
the scandals Of the school book ring
system, of which we are now happily
rid, will arrive at the conclusion that
we have made a wise and economic
change.