Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-02
CONTRACTS FOR FURNISHING THEM
TO BE LET THIS WEEK.
COMPETITION WILL BE LIVELY.
TOPEKA FILLED WITH BOOKMEN
WHO ARE READY TO BID.
Meetings of the Text Book Board Are
to BE in Secret-Supcrintend
Stryker Convinced the New
Law VIII Work SAT-
isfactOrily.

| Topeka Kas. My 1.-The first session of
the state text book board appointed by
| Governor Leedy in obedience to the pro-
| visions of the new school book law, will
! convene in this city Monday. The session
| will probably last ten days and during that
| time contracts will be awarded for supply
| ing the schools of Kansas with text books
! of all grades.
The city is filled with book men from all
parts of the country. The publishing houses
| have sent their general managers here to
| handle their business. They ignored their
| Western agents almost entirely. A general
manager and PopuIist with influence
! make n combination that is supposed to be
| of better service than that individual who
| subscribeS himself Western agent" So
there has been an influx of influential Pop
| ulists simultaneously with book men. Coun-
| selling Is going on in every nook and corner
| of the hotels.
One of the worst features of the new
| law is that section which provides that all
| meetings shall be conducted secretly. 1t is
| limited that this was inserted by some leg
| islator who expected to be a member of the
| commission, and that he wanted it ar
| ranged SO that all deals could be of the
| star chamber order. The very fact
that the board must employ dark
| lantern methods in transacting its
| business is causing considerable unfavora-
| BILE comment The opinion prevails on the
| outside that the meetings should be open.
I and the public given an opportunity to wit
| ness the proceedings. In this event, dis
| honest member would soon be detected and
shown up.
That Kansas will not get the best school
| books under the new law is a foregone
| conclusion. Some of the companies hand
ling the higher grade of text books will
| refuse to enter the competition. They will
| submit no bids. They say they cannot put
| their books at the figures fixed in the law
and that only inferior books, both in con-
| tents and quality of paper, printing and
| binding. can be furnished, without loss be-
| ing sustained. Whoever gets the contract
| trust or antitrust firm-will have to pub
| lish a special brand for Kansas, cheaper
than what is now being issued.
State Superintendent StrylIer expresses
| the belief that the. successful budder will
| be able to make a fair profit by furnishing
| books of standard quality. Competition, he
| difficulty in getting good books. So firmly
| is he of this opinion that he says if he is
| superintendent two years hence he will
| ask the legislature to amend the present
| law king n still greater reduction in the
| price of books.
Il will also urge that n maximum price
| be fixed for all kinds of school Furniture
said he. That is something we overlooked
this time The price charged for desks
globes, charts, maps, states and all other
things necessary to equip a school room
and pupil are little less than highway rob
berry. The legislature has the power to fix
a maximum price for these things as we'll
as for text books, and it should do so"