The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-21


There Is a row ON between the state
superintendent Of public instruction and
the state school library book contractor.
the st. Paul Book and Stationery COM
pany, the result OF which is that both
parties have placed their Views on the
SUBJECT before the attorney general, and
1t IS likely that a moro or less formal
nearing Of both sides to- the controversy
VIII be held by that official within a. few
days.
There Is a state law which provides
that where school Of certain stand
Ing, fulfilling prescribed provisions, shall
expend money for books for a suitably
sheltered and supervised school library.
the state shall expend for 1t an equal
amount, not to exceed SO in any year.
The effect Of this is that each school dis
trfct having an opportunity to secure for
$40 OF Its own money $40 worth Of books.
the state paying the other half, has been
accustomed to expend as nearly $40 as
possible. The custom has been for the
text book contractor to ship the books to
several districts, on the order required by
law, with a certif1cation by the county
superintendent of schools and then to
present bill to the state for a. number
on districts, accompanying the bill with
duplicates Of the lists sent, their list
price and receipt from the railroad or
express company showing the delivery to
the common carrier Of zone package"
Prior to his installation as superinten-
dent of public instruction, Supt Lewis
had some experience with the other end
OF the school library book contract, and
observed, he says, that the lists ordered
were frequently short, the books, per-
haps. being "out of stock or 'out of
print" Other superintendent, he says
have informed him of similar experiences.
The express or freight receipt for zone
package" In Mr.. Lewis belief, is not a
sufficient assurance that the goods de-
livered correspond either to the original
order or to the checked list
1t is contended Representatives Of the
contractor that delivery to the common
carrier constitutes legal delivery, so
far as they are concerned, but they have
offered to the superintendent that he or
an assistant check the books on their
shipment. Supt Lewis says he has not
time himself, nor have any of his assist
ants the time ito spend checking book
shipments In the shipping room of the
book company, andSthats the dealer should
the state treasuryewith: some assurance
from the school district that the books
wanted and called for, or other books to
the full value thereof. shave been re-
ceived. eGS
The company also presents its contract,
and 1t IS commended that under that it
does not have to ship the books at all I'M
til it has received the $40 from the state,
as well as the $40 from the school dis
trict. but that for convenience to the
districts and the state officials 1t has been
accustomed to send the books on the
order, certified to by the county superin-
tendent, and trust to the state paying
it upon the shipment Of the books and
the presentation of the bill and shipping
receipt.
The law provides that the superin-
tendent shall approve the claim present.
ed on satisfactory evidence that the books
have been delivered, and Mr.. Lewis is not
satisfied with the evidence.