Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-07
CONSIDERATION OF THE TEXT BOOK
BILL COMPLETED.
AMENDMENTS VOTED DOWN.
THE MEASURE HAS ALREADY BEEN
PASSED BY THE SENATE.
Provides for State Uniformity, MAXI
mum Prices, Optional District
Ownerahip and n COmmis-
sion to Make n Con-
tract-ProceedinGs.

Topeka. Kas., March 6.-(SpeciaL) After
a fight lasting the greater part OF three
days, the house, in committee OF the Whole,
late this afternoon completed the consider
alton of the text book bill and recon-
mended it for passage.
Two important amendments were offered
to-day but were voted down. The first one
was by Fairchild. He wanted provision
inserted requiring the book concern which
secures the contract to furnish BOOKS 10
the schools of the state to take back the
books now in the hands of the pupils at
almost first cost The Populists thought
pretty well of the amendment and were
voting for it, with the Republicans against
it, until Marks, Democrat, of Jefferson
county, arose to explain his vote. He de-
clared that this action was a scheme to
kill the bill; that if the amendment car
ried no book company on earth would so
into contract with the state, and the meas
ure would become imperative and the trust
would still be on top. He asserted that
there were some Populists on the floor at
tempting to deceive their brethren. There
are a number of men here trying to help
out the trust and local book sellers, and
you now propose to sit here and allow them
to complete the deal and draw their pay
for it, he said.
Then followed Ed McKeever, Republican,
of Shawnee. He is in favor of the text
book bill, and declared that the unsophisti-
Gated Populists were permitting themselves
to be made fools of on this question. This
amendment kills your bill entirely" said
he. You have permitted the Republicans
to outgenerai you every time some i'm
portant measure has come up, until now
you can't point to single one of the things
in MI ba ha haa
accomplished. Just adopt this amendment
and you will kill measure that you pro-
fess to be in favor of. don't care a snap
for your party, but would like to see you
do something that would be credit TO
you.'
Representative Rayenscraft, Populist, of
Clark, next explained his vote and he also
lacked the Populists up for allowing them
selves to be worked" so easily. These
speeches opened the eyes of those Populists
who mad been voting in favor of the
amendment and they changed their votes.
The. amendment was lost by vote Of 81
to Il.
Representative Lobdell, of Lane. offered
an important amendment In the interests of
economy and the betterment of the public
schools, but it was voted down. He want
ed the commission to select and contract
for books to be composed of the state board
of education. He said that the people de-
but none had been cut of. Instead, more
had been created. Here were eight offices
that were useless, as the work could be
done by the state board at little additional
expense, and then there would be no poll
tics in the school question. Leading edu-
Gators could then select the books, instead
OF lot of politicians who never had any
experience in school affairs. Mr.. LobdelI
had the Populists go on record while yot-
ing down hfs measure, by means of a roll
call.
While these two amendments were voted
down, Hackney, Democrat, of Sumner
moved to exempt second class cities from
the workings of the law, but that motion
lost. The house then recommended the bill
for passage and the final roll will be called
on 1t Monday. 1t has already passed the
senate. but a few amendments were added
to 1t in the house, so that it will have to
go back to the upper body for concurrence
The bill provides for state uniformity
maximum prices and optional district own
ership. A commission of eight members
not more than three of whom shall belong
to any one party, is created to select books
and make contract. In case all compa-
nies refuse to enter into contract, the COM
mission Is authorized to purchase man
uscript and print books at the states ex-
pense. The sum of $4,000 is appropriated
for that purpose. A section provides that
the company entering into contract with
the state to supply books shall take the
books used now at not less than so per cent
of their first cost.