Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-05-13

From the Daily Portland Oregonlan,
The citizens committee Of one hun
dred had an interesting session yes
terday Afternoon. Pre- iideDt II, w.
COrtett presided, and there was good
attendance Of members. Unusual 10
terest centered 10 the report 10 be
submitted concerning school bODks.
and this interest was beigthed when
the representative Of the American
Book Company put 10 an appearance,
accompanied by his two attorneys
Mr. Thomas \ Strong. O0 behalf
OF the speci Al committee on school
books, read the following report:
THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
"To the committee OF one hundred:
Gentlemen - Owing 10 different
causes, particularly the coming 10 Of
the sumner vacation. we have been
uDable before 70 conclude our report.
american Book COmpany.-SOme-
what TO the surprise Of your sub
committee, the branch OF our inquiry
that has tO do with this company has
developed into one Of great impOr-
tarce. No member Of this sub-cOm-
mittee, prior 70 the submission 70 IL Of
this inquiry, knew anything about
this company or the competition 10
the school bOOk trade; but since then
we haYe taken the subject in hand
and have been careful TO examine into
10 fairly aud fully without any other
intention than TO do exact justice TO
the public and the company. The Gu
hOus combination kno@n a. the Amer.
ican Book Company was Incorporated
January 9, lS9o,and its principal place
OF business Is given 10 its certificate
uf Orlanization as Jersey City, county
OF Hudson. The total amount Of its
capital stock is 5000, and the amount
with which IL commenced business is
fixed at $500. In form, IL was a
small and harmless affair.
"As after Of fact, under this
very modest organization was hidden
one OF the greatest moDopolies ever
known In this country. Its center
was the publishing house OF Van Ant
werp, Bragg & Co., OF Cincinnati, AID
thus It's first legal organization in
cluded the the schOOl-boOk depart
ments Of d. Appleton g. Co., A. S.
Barnes &,Co., Harper & Brothers aud
Iyison, Brakeman s. Co. of New York.
Although this combination had prac-
ticaIly been 10 existence for oyer ten
years prior 10 its legal Incorporation,
the fact that the great publishing
house Of Harper & Bros, was still
outside held IL In check, Every pres
sure possible was brought To bear
upon Harper & Bros, and, shortly
before the incorporation referred TO, it
also succumbed, and the organization
felt Itself powerful enough TO put
itself 10 legal form and to attempt the
control Of the market, and every ef-
fort was made 70 finally crush COM
Ieting houses and destroy all legiti.
mate competition. This effort, as IL
was carried on, makes dark chapter
10 the history Of the organization, but
With IL this committee has not very
largely concerned Itself. Its inquiries
were more largely directed to the re-
latiOns OF the American Book com
paDy vith the public.
"Ot er states.-ln other states this
COMPANY, 81 far as we can learn, has,
10 IT. effort 10 obtain a complete mon
Opoli, u sorted 70 the most flagrant
oribe.y and corruption OF public Of
hcials; and accounts OF this have been
published 10 the Chicago Inter Ocean
Of Apiil IS, 1888, and from time TO
Ilme 10 mary other prominent papers,
where full particulars are given. On
FEBRUARY IL, 1891, ole OF its agents,
while the schOol-bOok question was
before tue house OF delegates Of West
Virginia, attempted 10 bhbe one OF
the delegates, but bring caught in
the act. Was publicly reprlmauded be-
fore the bar of the Que and COM
peiied 10 take back bis money,
-In the state Of Washlngton.-J.
W. NOmaek and r. l.. Edwards,
agents of the combination were, with
NJ. G. Sullivan and G. o. Eames, ON
August ], 1890, indicted for attempt
lng 70 bribe one l.. II. Leach, a mem
oerof the state board OF education.
The bFibe 10 this case paid 10 Mr..
Leach being 5000, Was equal 10 the
entire nominal capital stock Of the
company ,.anc check for this amount
was actually given 10 BIZ. Leach.
The late NJ. g. Sullivan, the detectiye,
was employed by the company, and |
vas 70 be also paio, and sight draft !
% The compauy iiself. Slgned by Il.
\. hdNafcs, IT, agent, appeared in |
tne tIanaacti0n. The indictment was
nftefNafd rmofhefed and dismissed
Without Trial, but this committee has
examined lrlo the matter carefully,
and cannot afold the conclusion that
this nas deliberate attempt at
bribery Ip calliornla, a. appeared
by the published aiidaglfs u an agent