The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-23
SCHOOL BOOKS
ARE TOO HIGH
We Respectfully Ask the Leg
isIature Not to Shut
Out Competi-
ton.
To the General Assembly of North Car

I DINA:
/ We believe the Legislature of North
, Carolina wants adj the information 1T
can get in order to enact the best laws
for the people of the State.
! There is no other subject, we THINK
which appeals so strongly TO all the peo-
pie as does the price of school books.
4 A very large per cent of the six hun
bred thousand school children in North
Carolina are children of the poor. If the
lawmakers of the State can give these
children better books for less money
than they are now paying, we know that
this Honorable Body desires to do so.
We are not strangers to the people
of North Carolina. For several gener-
atoms the presses of the Ldpplncotts
have sent forth to the world many OF
the best books on the best lines of
thought and with pardonable pride, we
can say that our reputation for fair
ness, honesty and integrity has never
been questioned.
The j. Il. Lippincott Company stands
absolutely alone i'll conducting its bust
ness, and is in no manner, directly or
indirectly, remotely or proximately,
connected with any trust, combine, pool,
firms, nor has the said J. B. Lippincott
Company any agreement of any kind
with any firm or combination, which
establishes partial or complete monop-
oily with power to fix prices or rates.
But the said J. B. Lippincott Company
makes it's contracts and fixes it's prices
absolutely independently of every other
book concern, whether same be a firm
or book trust.
Except publishers who now have
books on State list, we believe that no
one will deny that the prices paid for
school books in North Carolina are too
high.
Our contention is, that we can fur
n.sh to the State of North Carolina
books far superior to those now III use,
and at same time save to the parents
of tho school childrea of the State
many thousands of dollars.
We do most respectfully and urgent
~ request this honorable body not to
adopt books published by any firm,
company or book trust.
1t is urged that in retaining the books
now ON the list, the Legislature would
not be adopting school books. Such a
proposition can not be sustained
To retain for two years longer the
books now on the list would certainly
be equivalent to adopting the books for
new period of two years.
We most respectfully submit that this
General Assembly, with such limited
time. and so much to be done. has not
the time to carefully consider this great
subject of school books to be put iE the
hands of the children Of North Carolina
after all the most important subject
before the General Assembly--for in the
children is the hope of the State.
What we desire is, that if the Leg
islature see fit TO abandon county
adoption, is to appoint a school book
commission, with full power to adopt
series of school books for four or more
years. Said school commission could
then examine carefully into the merits
of all school books of various publish
ers, select the best books. make the
best contracts possible, put the most APP
proved books in the hands of the child
rem, and at the same time save hum
dreds of thousands of dollars to the
children of North Carolina.
We do not ask the Legislature to
adopt books published by us, but simply
to provide for the appointment of a
textbook commission, and let the com
mission examine thoroughly into the
book question.
THEN IF 1T DEVELOPS THAT
THE BOOKS NOW IN USE ARE
WORTHY TO BE ON THE LIST,
IN A WORD. ARE THE BEST
BOOKS TO BE USED IN THE PUB
Lie SCHOOLS OF THE STATE,
THE PRESENT BOOKS CAN BE
RETAINED. MOREOVER, WE Be
LIEVE THE PRESENT BOOKS
CAN BE RETAINED At A LARGE
REDUCTION FROM THE PRES
ENT PRICES.
All we are asking, and other publish
trs are asking the same thing, is that
we may have an opportunity to present
the merits of our books, and submit
our proposition to FURNISH BET
TER BOOKS ATT TWENTY PER
CENT. LESS THAN PRICES NOW
PAID, AND TO GIVE IN EN-
CHANGE NEW BOOKS FOR OLD
ONES. The exchange of books would
cost the people nothing.
The publishers whose books are now
lin use, declare that their books are the
best; and that books of equal merit can
not be bought for less money. IF
THAT STATEMENT BE TRUE,
SAID PUBLISHERS OF BOOKS
NOW IN USE NEED NOT FEAR
COMPETITION FROM ANY
SOURCE.
Again. it is urged that for political
reasons, it is best to leave the book
question alone.
In reply to this argument, our rep
resentative, a citizen of North Caro-
lima, who is and has always been a
Democrat, argued to the Committee on
Education that if MANY THOUS-
ANDS OF DOLLARS CAN BE saw
ED TO THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE FOR BOOKS, AND 1T is
NOT DONE, THE PEOPLE WILL
HOLD THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
TO STRICT ACCOUNT; THAT Poll
ITICAL PARTIES, LIKE TNDIVID-
UALS, ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE
FOR ACTS OF OMISSION AS
WE'LL AS ACTS OF COMMISSION.
WE RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT
THAT THE COST OF APPOINT
ING A SCHOOL BOOK COMMITS
SION WOULD BE A VERY SMALL
AMOUNT, AND BY THROWING
WIDE OPEN THE GATES OF
COMPETITION THE PEOPLE OF