The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-11-17
'K Would Contract
WITH BOOK COMPANY
superintendent Atkin-
son Favors the Five
Year Proposal.
COPY Of LETTER AND AGREEMENT
ATTORNEY GENERAL DOLE TO
PREPARE OPINION on
SUBJECT.
Board Of Education Desires TO Go
Out OF School Book Business
as Soon as Pos

The proposal of the American Book
company to supply all of the books for
the schools of Hawaii for the next five
years is now in the hands of Attorney
General Dole for an opinion upon the le-
gality OF such proposed action
The matter came up at the last board
of education meeting and was fully dis
cussed. developing strong opposition upon
the part of several of the members. Some
were non-committal. bur Alatau I. At
kinson. superintendent of schools and
chairman of the board favors the con-
tract
MY reason for desirin. 10 make this
contract" said Mr.. Atkinson yesterday.
us first 10 get rid of the book business
/ in the board of education. which no other
/ board engages in. and. second. to have
books sold ar list prices to the pupils
in the Hawaiian schools BY no other
means than a contract can this he
reached. To give up the book business
and have no authority over the sales
would leave the community in position
to be charged higher prices than are now
paid. 1t is the duty of the superintend-
ent of schools and the commissioners of
education to protect the public to the
utmost
/ Mr.. Atkinson has kindly furnished The
( Republican with a copy of the letter and
contract Of the book trust. which appears
/ below:
Honolulu. II. T.. Nov. II. 1900
! To the Honorable Board of Education of
the Territory of Hawaii
Ladies and Observation-Disclosures the
contract now existing between the Terri
tory of Hawaii and the American Book
| Company will expire on the 14th day of
/ + abruarv next. and whereas the territory
now has a large stock of books on hand
amounting TO about $4,000. and it has
been stated that your honorable board is
DESTROYS of disposing of the handling OF
said books. and place same in the hands
of the dealers: now, therefore. we pro-
pose as follows:
We will take from the territory all of
| the stock of books now on hand. allowing
you cost prices for same. and we will ere
ate depository in the city of Honolulu
that will carry complete stock of the
books which may be required for use in
the public schools OF the territory.
We further agree TO supply said books
from our publications. and have them
sold TO the school districts. or pupils. or
other purchasers of the territory as they
are now supplied by your honorable board.
We also agree that the prices shall be
maintained and shall never exceed that
of contract rates. That your honorable
board Will have the privilege. at any TING.
to select any hooks from our catalogue
that they may wish to have used in the
public schools of the territory. We will
also agree to give you a special edition of
a Geography with special supplement
for the territory the same to be compiled
and written by some party or parties n
the terAtory who may be hereafter agreed
upon, and we to pay the expense OF hav-
ing said work done. Provided. however.
That we shall enter into a new contract
with your honorable board for five t5i
years or more as you may designate.
Some of the books that you now have in
use may be desirable to continue in use
! in the public schools. | would suggest.
| however that it might be well to displace
others with some of our more recent and
modern publications. The children in the
public schools of Hawaii at the present
time and for the past five years. have
been purchasing their books at the prices
/ that the same books are supplied 10 the
lpublic school children in New York. Bos-
ton. Washington. Baltimore, Philadelphia.
Chicago. San Francisco and all other
parts OF the United States. We agree
that in case of any reduction in list
prices should be made at any time that
the Territory of Hawaii shall have the
| full benefit of the same.
As you are aware. we publish very
extensive list of school and college text
books: our list being in the neighborhood
of 1000 titles. including every class OF
books than can be desired for use in any
or all grades of schools. Should you.
however require at any time any books
for use in high or normal schools and not
published by u.s. We will supply the same
at cost price.
] Most respectfully submitted