The record-union., 1899-08-17
BOOK AGENTS. SLICK WORK.
MESMERIC TAKERS PREY ON
SCHOOL TRUSTEES.
State superintendent Kirk Issues
an Opinion ON Barn
Yard Sales.

1t recently came to the knowledge OF
the State Superintendent of Public In
struction that very smooth book agents
are doing a heavy trade in country
school districts. To a 'Record-Union
reporter Superintendent Kirk yesterday
said:
The agents who go forth into the
rural school districts are very urbane
gentlemen, thoroughly drilled as sales
men. They unload tons of books and
supplies on country schools, and the
way they do it is an art. They will
go to Jones and get halfway indorse-
ment of their scheme. Possibly Jones
is busy in his field, but as he is
School Director, or Trustee as well, he
has to give ear to the public business.
Finally Jones says, just to get rid OF
the agent, If it suits the others, you
may count me in Then Mr.. Agent
hurries over to see Trustee Brown.
Mr. Brown he will say, I have
good thing to show you. Jones says
it's all right Finally Brown concludes
to stand by Jones judgment, and he
subscribers. The ball once sarted roll
ing, the work is then easy. The goods
are ordered and paid for, and the sale
has been rushed through illegally and
without any rational consideration.
have concluded to stop this work, so
am issuing a warning
The following is the full text of Su
perintendent Kinks official pronuncia-
mento with reference to the purchase
of school supplies:
Orders for supplies and other de-
mands upon the funds of a school dis
trict must be made at meeting Of the
board. 1t is illegal to get first one
Trustees consent or signature to an
order, and then another, outside of a
meeting Of the board.
Section 1911 prescribes the duties of
School Trustees and Boards of Educa-
ton Subdivision /. of said section
states that they must transact their
business at regular or special meetings
called for such purpose, notice of which
shall be given each member.
THE salary of teacher is agreed upon
at a meeting when the teacher is
elected, aud an order signed by a ma
jority of the Trustees from time to
time is legal in pursuance Of such
meeting and agreement.
But a meeting and a majority vote
of the board are necessary to legalize
any purchase or order involving ex-
penditure of the funds of the district.
Waste of funds and extravagance
in supplies very frequently result from
failure to observe the aforementioned
plain provision of the law.
AN agent goes over the country
h
farm; gets a partial acquiescence for
the purchase of sundry supplies; goes
to another Trustee, often exaggerates
the statements made by the first Trus
tee, and obtains consent to send to
the district a lot of books, stationery,
furniture or like supplies, the bill or Or
der for which he, the agent, frequently
makes out himself, gets the second
Trustee to sign an order on the County
Superintendent, returns to the first
Trustee, secures his signature, and the
transaction is completed.
THE agent often disposes of the or
der to a third party for fear of trouble
in collecting.
This procedure is entirely wrong and
illegal, and County superintendent
should satisfy themselves that all or
ders drawn upon them and against the
funds Of a district are for claims duly
and lawfully contracted.
Trustees should consult their teach
ers as to needed supplies and supple
mentary books.
THE law requires the County Super
intendent to approve the books which
may be purchased with district library
funds. In this he is usually guided by
the judgment Of the teacher"