The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1896-09-19
The WORST LEGISLATION
Ever Put on the Statute Book is
the School Book Law.
General Complaint From the People at
the Hardships lmposed-A Practical
Example OF How the Thing Works Ia
Practice-A Sample Of Republican
Legislative Work.


14-Since the new school book law
went into effect and the people are
beginning to see how it works, there
is general complaint from those who
have children to educate. 1t is gen
orally admitted that it is about the
worst piece Of legislation ever put
upon our statute books, and the late
Republican Legislature which i'm
posed this monstrosity upon the
people is being severely criticised
and condemned. The school patrons
are beginning to realize the difficulty
Of putting the new law into effect.
They are begging to
SEE THE INJUSTICE
of having to be taxed to buy books
by the School Board and then after
wards compelled to purchase the
books from the depository to place
in the hands Of the children before
they can send them to school, thus
paying for the books twice-first to
the sheriff by taxation and then to
the depository for the books. A rep
resentative of the Register, in con
versation with an intelligent tax
payer yesterday, got his views upon
the subject. In answer to the argu-
ment that had been advanced that
the money paid to the depository
this year would be turned over to
the sheriff to be placed to the credit
of the school district to be used in
buying books next year, thus olivia
ting another levy for books, this
gentleman said:
"But | have bought the books for
my children already this year. |
have paid my taxes and have also
paid the depository for my books.
These books will last my children
as long as they attend school. ! can
NEVER GET THE BENEFIT
of future levy, because will not
need the books for my children. So
it will be with every one who buys the
books this year. Is this right? Is
it Just? How can I endorse party
whose representatives foist such a
burden of increased taxation upon
meI Inc IDEA oil cheaper text DOCKS
under the provisions of the new
school book law is delusion. The
prices named in the act for these
books do not cover all of the cost by
considerable amount. mere Is the
I A . 4 y
depository commission Oh ~ per
cent; that Is 10 De paia' not py Tue
publishers OF the DOCKS, put by tne
taxpayers ana thefe is the snerlh
commission Oh D per cent lof iiano-
ing tne money, wlich also comes
OH the taxpayers. lhink OIL IL
per cent additiohai money 10 DE paio
oy the taxflaoen people on 90 .ne'r
DOCKS; not - Genus on the @ioV' pu'
- cents on the SL. FOR example,
the general history "hich - quo'eu
IN the law at Sl.lo, actually costs a
traction over @i.zo, WINE Tue one
supplahtea ny 'nls ne" one eost eie
schooi patron only ~ ana ne uio not
nave TO pay lor IL twice, eleher.
NOR Is inns al. L ne cos. vi 'hese
DOCKS, ior the cost 10 tue Sea'e iol
pruning ana sendiIS out 'iie various
blanks necessary 10 carry this Ia"
INTO erect
Is IMMENSE.
uhaer the provisions oi tnis law 'h'
BOOKS nave 70 De ordered direc. IRON
the puonshers by tne repositories
ara as the contracts are WIN s'
many diiieren. publishers II necessi
tates tne making Oh tue ORDERS 81
small tnat the charges On 'ieil
amount to more than the commis
slons on the sales. therefore, boara
OF Education In some OF the counties
are nndlng IL Impossible 10 get per
sons to act as repositories.
) The law, he SAID works anoth
er disadvantage IN TINS particular
TO the farmer. When the iafmel
takes his fall produce TO the county
seat or some other good Market ne
could there BUY the DOCKS when hi'
Shiiu'on "SSoS" ~ VIZ "''
he can not DO under the presen
law. The depository at the county
seat can sell only to the persons iiv
ing IN the district for which he II
made depository, If he sells to par
ties outside OF that district, the tax
payers OF his own district are bur
dened with the IL per cent deposl
tory commission and the per cent
sheriff's commission ON these sales
OF books to the people OF another
district, or it may be another coun
ty. To this the taxpayers OF tina
special district will never submit
and the boards of education will b.
compelled to order each depositor,
to sell to no one outside OF his dis
trict. Hence this farmer who nigh
have bought his books at the plac'
of market with his produce, will hav'
to go home and pay the cash to hi
home depository for his books, ant
as he cannot get the cash for hi
produce, in many instances the child
rem will be compelled to
GO WITHOUT THE BOOKS.
This same trouble will be found
in many places in the country dis
tricts. Here, for instance, is de
lpository in one end of a district
and it may be much more conven
lent for large number of persons
living in an adjoining district t.
buy books from him, but he canno'
/ sell to them without causing thu
taxpayers of his district to pay tn,
commission on the sale of book,