Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-02-17
KANSAS JOINT Cd,ITTEE AGREES
UPON A,CHEME.
SCHOOL BOOKS TO BE CHEAP.
If THE TRUST OBJECTS, THE STATE
WILL PINT THEN.
Commission of Me Provided For to
Select Series oText Books and
Let Confracs for supply
ing Thm-District
Owrrship.

Topeka. Kas., Fb. 16.-(SpeciaO The
,oint cornnittee of.he house and the SEN
ate has finally agped upon bill relating
10 text books. andthis afternoon the bill
was introduced 4 the house by Chalr-
man Davis. Of III house committee- II
will be introducedn the senate to-morro"
morning. IT proyies for state uniformity,
maximum chsrgesfor books and optioiiai
district ownership II creates a commits
zion to carry out he provisions OF the act
and fixes penaItie for its violation
Section / provies for the appointment
by the governor a commission OF eight
members. more tim five of whom shall not
be selected from ny one party. The state
.uperintendent WI be an ex-oficio member
and chairman. rhe terms of the COM
missioners shall four years, ana the ices
shall be 50 a dayfor each day actually put
in. with mileage The commission IS en-
powered TO selec uniform series OF text
books, and at ifssirst meeting 1t Is author-
lied 10 receive bis on the following propo-
sitions:
"Ffrst-From ne publisher or publishers
of school text boks for furnishing to the
people OF the safe of Kansas for use in
public schools oithis state, as provided for
in this act for term Of five years, each
bid stating specifically the price at which
each book is tobe furnished and to be ac-
companied by 4 specimen copy OF each
book to be furnished in such bid.
''Second-Fron every author of school
text books VIII, has manuscript of books
not published. or the price at which they
will sell their manuscript, properly pre-
pared for printed copy, together with the
copyright of sIrh book to use in the public
schools of this state.
'Third-Fron persons who are willing to
undertake the compilation Of a book or
books or serie. of books as provided for"
The commission shall not pay for books
TO exceed IN, following prices: Spelling
book, 10 cents First reader, 10 cents: Sec
ond reader, 15cents5 Third reader, % cents;
Fourth resdd, Is cents: Fifth reader, 81
cents; menta arithmetic, 20 cents; inter
mediate arithmetic, % cents; complete
- cents; complete geography, 10 cents;
physical geography, 10 cents; English
grammar lelmentary), % cents; complete
grammar, IS cents; physiology and hygiene,
" cents; history OF the United States, 80
cents; elements OF natural philosophy, 80
cents; civil government, 40 cents; book
algebra, 50 cents.
The bill provides that IF, upon examina-
ton of bias and propositions. no publisher
or publishers Of school text books has bid
within the provisions for furnishing the
school text books for use in the public
schools In This state. provided for in
lnlS act, tnen SAID commission Is empOw-
cred and is hereby authorized 20 procure
such manuscript, copyrights and PROPOSE
lions for the compilation Of school text
books as VIII supply the schools of this
state. and advertise for sealed bids TO pub
lish the same.
1T shall be "A part of the terms and con-
ditions of any contract made in pursuance
Of this act that the state of Kansas shall
not be liable TO any contractor or con-
tractors for any sum of money whatever
As soon as the commission enters into
the contract the governor shall issue a
proclamation notifying the people of the
same. and within thirty days thereafter
the successful bidder must arrange with at
least one dealer in each county to carry a
supply Of the books required"
The bill also provides that the meetings
OF the commission shall be executive and
that any member giving out any informa-
tion TO parties Interested I'm the supply of
text books shall he subject to fine and
Imprisonment.
Section II provides tha- at any of the
annual meetings of any school district. or
at any electiGn I'm cities of the first class.
proposal MAY be submitted 10 purchase
text books for the use of the pupils free
OF charge 10 the pupils. In case the elect.
ors do not ADOPT district ownership. the
Icciu dealers in books arc not permitted 10
charge more than 10 per cent above the
contract price of books
An appropriation Of S. 800 is provided for
10 carry out the provisions of the act.