The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-07


great interest was manifested in the
subject under discussion.
r. L. Gray. Esq, and Judge Win
ston were present. and advocated the
Wall bill: it was claimed by them from
price lists presented by them that II
child in North Carolina pays from ~
pr cent to 50 per cent more for school
books than a child of like grade pays
for equally as good books in the State
of Virginia. Some of their figures are
given below, to-wit: I'm North Caro-
lima the mailing price of Fourth
Reader of excellent standard is sixty
cents: Il book of like grade in Virginia
can be purchased for fOrty-five cents;
a Primary Grammar i'll North Carolina
sells for fifty cents; in Virginia for
twenty-five cents; an Advanced Gram
mar in North Carolina sells for seventy
five cents; in Virginia it sells for thirty
five cents. The reason for the differ
ence is because in Virginia textbooks
are adopted for the entire State, where
as in North Carolina they are adopted
in piece-meal and by counties"
Superintendent Mebane's report was
quoted on page 10, as saying that the
textbooks ought to be adopted by the
State Board of Examiners, which is
composed of educators, of school men;
and that if the central board would
adopt books for the whole State they
ought to be had at 60 per cent or
even perhaps 30 per cent of wholesale
price; that there might be no expense
OF thousands of dollars for agents
which expense comes out of the parents
pockets in the end, and this deduction
of thousands could be taken from the
prices our parents pay at present for the
books of their children.
Some interesting facts and figures
were quoted and various school books
of different publishing houses were ex-
hibited to the committee. 1t was
claimed by the attorneys of b. +.
Johnson Publishing Company, that the
books which were offered at a cheaper
price were really better bound and as
well printed. and better adapted to the
needs of North Carolina than many
of those now in use.
No final action was taken upon the
matter, but an adjournment was had
until this afternoon at $3.50 o'clock,
when each committee will meet sepa-
rately for the consideration of this mat
ter, which vitality touches every home
in North Carolina with child there
in
The B. L. Johnson Publishing Com
pany stated through its attorney that
if as many as four of its books were
adopted by the State under the Wall
bill, it would replace, book for book,
every book now in use by correspond
ing book of the =. f. Johnson Publish
ing Company, free of cost for the book,
or for freight, express or postage.
COMMITTEE ON RAILROADS.
Senator Glenn's Bill to compel rail-
State commerce with automatic breaks
and couplers by the year 1900. was con
sidered by the Senate Commute on
Railroads.
Senator Ward said that by a
decision of the Supreme Court it was
the law already and that the bill would
have the effect of suspending it until.
1900.
Senator Glenn said the bill was in
troduced at the instance Of the various
railroads. He thought the present law
was bad in that it forced roads to re-
ceive cars which We're improperly equip
ped and then forced them to pay for any
damages resulting from such cars. The
bill was passed ON favorably. 1t gives
the Railroad Commission the discretion
to extend the time at which the law
goes into force beyond 1900.
Senator Wards bill to provide sepa-
rate ears for the races came up. lie
said that he introduced the bill because
he represented section of the country
which was bringing more pressure to
bear for separate car bill than any
other. He had copied the bill from the
statutes of Georgia, verbatim. 1t had
been impossible for the joint committee
to arrive ut an agreement as to a bill
and he felt that his bill would be So
luton of the question.
The bill was reported back to the
Senate without prejudice to be placed
on the calendar. 1t is Senator Wards
Intention to offer the bill as a substitute
for the bill prepared by the joint COM
mittee.
The bill to consolidate the Raleigh and
CASTOR Railroad Company with the
privilege to change its name to the Sea-
board Airline Railway Company was
acted on favorably. Judge Shepherd
appeared for the bill
SENATOR WARDS BILL.
The following is the text of Senator