The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-23
SCHOOL BOOKS TO BE CHEAP.
THE STATE MAY PRINT THEM ON
ITS OWN ACCOUNT.

Gov. Atkinson to Ask the LeGislnt ure
to Have the Plan Investigated,
state School COmmissiOner Glenn
in Complete Accord With the Gov
ernOr on the Subject-Fifteen
Thousand school Children to BE
Present at the Inauguration of the
Governor.
Atlanta, Ga, Oct. Gov. Atkinson has
begun the preparation of his annual mes
sage to the legislature. One Of the most
important recommendations which the
governor will make will be for the pass
age Of an act authorizing him to appoint
a commission to investigate and report
upon some plan by which the text books
used in the common schools of the state
can be made cheaper to the people. 1t IS
the idea of the governor and of State
School Commissioner Glenn, who has been
consulting with him on the subject, thar
the books used in the common schools
can be printed especially for their use
on contract by the state and in that way
be greatly cheapened. The idea of making
the state practically the publisher of the
saving the publication of the new code.
Heretofore the code in one volume mas
cost the state Sc per copy, while the public
paid $40 Under the contract for the pun
lication of the new code, which is in three
volumes and which will contain about 70
per cent. more matter than the old one,
the uniform price will be $3.50. This great
reduction where the state stepped in ana
invited competition among the bidders
has convinced the governor that the peo-
pie of the state can be saved thousands az
dollars every year if a similar plan can
be adopted in supplying the text books
for the common schools.
Gov Atkinson. in his message, does not
contemplate that the legislature shall act
hastily in the matter. What he wants is
either a commission, to be appointed by
himself or by the legislature, to investi-
gate the subject and report upon some
practicable plan to the next session. He
believes that some home concern would
engage to publish the books needed on a
contract for years at a price that would
astonish the patrons of the schools.
Elaborate preparations are being made
by the school interests of the state for
the Inauguration of Gov. Atkinson, which
will take place on Saturday, Oct 81.
State School Commissioner Glenn has
taken hold of the matter. and will have
from 10000 to 1900 school children gath
cred on the capitol grounds to do honor
TO the occasion. He has asked all the
children of the city schools to be present
and take part in the programme. Com
missioner Glenn thinks that it would be
wholesome object lesson to the school
boys and girls to see the formal induc-
ton of the chief executive into office.
There are 1900 in the Atlanta schools,
and it will take the whole capitol square
to hold them.
President Chappell of the Girls Normal
and Industrial School of Milledgeville, has
written that he will bring 300 of the young
lady students of that institution to the
Inauguration. All the cadets of the Mid
die Georgia Military and Agricultural
College will be present, Gov. Atkinson
having received telegram this morning
announcing that the trip had been ar
ranged for them. President Hall of the
State Psychological School has also ar
ranged to bring the chronological boys up
TO the capitol in body for the Inaugural
ton.