The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-23
THERE ARE OTHERS
MORE PROMISES MADE BY THE
DEMC-P0PS.

Half Cooked - Agftating the School
Book Question without Any H oy.
ledge Pertaining TO the 0ueseion-Ihey
Condemn the Measure Which Was Sop
ported by Members OF Their Own
Party The Contract Can Be Annuiled
at Any Time BY q Two-Thirds Vote.
a Populist couldn't be consistent IL his
life depended on it. In their convention
Saturday they brought in a lengthy SET
of resolutions. They are now trying TO
assure the citizens of Wichita that they
will be carried out if their parasites are
elected. They have forgotten entirely
the promises they made 10 the people last
fall. The failure to pass the maximum
freight bill would embarrass any man
who makes any claims 10 modesty, but
not SO with the Pop. Hhe has a gall
which has been hammered into wrought
iron. They now propose scheme which
would never be carried out il they
Should be successful.
They made big "buggaboo" about
the contract made by the board of edu-
cation last Thursday. The contract
which the board made reads:
In consideration of the adoption of
the school text books, named in this con-
tract, by the board of educa.ion of this
city for term of two years from date.
it is agreed by the publishers of the
books adopted. to furnish said books to
the board OF education, or its authorized
agent, at the net contract price, said
price being 20 per cent discount from the
present list prices of said books.
ct is further agreed that the present
quality of binding, paper and general
mechanical execution of said books shall
be maintained during the period of their
adoption, and that if any reduction of
the list prices of these books is made
during their use in said schools, there
shall be corresponding reduction in
the contract price to said board of edu-
cation, or its authorized agent.
1t is further agreed that it is wholly at
the will of the said board OF education,
at what date, within the period of con-
tract, any or all of said books shall be
introduced for use in said schools.
1T is further agreed that the said
board of education shall have the power,
at any time, TO annul any part, parts or
all of this contract by a two-thirds vote
Of said board; provided, two weeks no.
tice has been given the publishers
The contract adopted places the sub
ject Of text books in the hands of the
board, as the representatives of the pa
irons Of the schools. In case the state
books under the new law are satisfac-
tory, the board has the power 10 substi-
tute said state books in place of any
books in use under the present contract
1t will be seen that the board can an
null the contract by a two-thirds vote
at any time. There are twelve members
on the board. Only eight were present |
when the contract was made. The Re |
publicans who voted for the contract |
were Shell, Anawalt, Sim, Dorsey, Hawq |
and Hoss. Messrs. Gehring and Hatton |
were the only two Populists who were |
present at the meeting. Mr.. Gehring |
voted for and Mr. Hatton was against |
the bill. Mr.. Whitney Tucker, men, |
Der Of the board who is a prominent |
Populist and one who is frequently con- |
suited on party measures, said yesterday |
when shown the contract that he would |
have voted for it had he been at the |
meeting.
The Populists at their convention |
very things which their own party /
members supported.
The cities OF Winfield and Arkansas |
City made a similar contract as the one |
made by the Wichita board. All cities |
OF the first class IN the state asked the |
10 exempt the cities of the |
first class, but II was not needed by the |
late corrupt legislature. The state Of /
passed a text book law but the
cities of ST. Joe. Kansas City and st.
Louis were excluded.
It was owing to the uncertainty of the !
quality Of the text books TO be supplied
under the new law that Superintendent |
Dyer asked the opportunity TO present
the matter to the board of education, as
a matter of vital interest 10 the schools
Of the city. Acting on Mr.. Dyer's sug-
gestion, the president called the meeting.
Ii will be noticed by the contract that
the matter OF text books is placed en- |
tirely in the hands OF the board as rep
of the patrons OF the
schools There are about IS 600 worth
Of school books in the possession OF the
school children of the city. These books
are handed down in the family and
thus serve several pupils by the plan.
To forbid the use of these books in the
schools and compel every pupil in the
lily 10 purchase new books. even though !
they were furnished at half price. means
an expense of $4,000 or $1,000 to the
school children before the next school
year opens.
In case the state books or any part OF
hem prove satisfactory, the contract
empowers the board 10 use such books az
any time. BY making the time OF intro
iuction az the will OF the board. the new
books. II desirable, can gradually
,e introduced which will make a great
aving 10 the parents and guardians.
should the new books prove unsatisfac-
DRY or undesirable they would be eX-
,ensive a. any price. Under the con-
ract made the board are enabled 20 pro
ect the scholars Of the city from injury