The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1900-09-28

erlntendent Browne seems to have had
some trouble in putting his pet project
through, though be was warmly second
ed throughout by his friend Meredith
several times text book not favored
oy the superintendent was adopted: then
Appointment was had, and the vote was
usualiy reconsidered and the book that
was slated in the deal was put through
some member OF the board had been
worked upon and duly persuaded to
change bis mind during the recess.
Iuolcatlon OF text books within the
state was given out generally as the
princlpal reason Tor the organization OF
the Westland company. But so far the
company Is said to have done little work
at home. Only the spoilers and the
writing tablets are said to have been
| turned out within the borders of the
state, and very little money has been
distributed to Washington printers and
| binders on that account. Possibly the
publishing company will do better when
IL knows as much about compiIinp and
printing books az it does about getting
large five year contracts.
The Law and Exchange Price.
The statute of Washington provides
that the state board of education shall
have power 'tO adopt or readopt
uniform series of textbooks for the
use OF the common schools. Provided
they can secure an exchange of books at
any time IN use for those of the same
grade, or an exchange of those of a
lower grade for those of the next higher
grace without greater average cost
TO the people than one-fifth of the con
tract retail price of the books in use at
the time OF the adoption"
The cost OF the text books to the nat
rons OF the schools of Washington il
determined by the exchange price; that
IL, the price that must he paid in cash
Tor a new book over and above the old
book given in exchange for the new one.
mere are. however, two things that ma
terlaliy affect the exchange price, one be-
ing the condition OF the books that will
be taken In exchange and the other the
tlme allowed Tor the exchange. These
incidents give opportunity for varying
the practice under the law so as par
TALLY to defeat the intent of the statute.
lt ls manifestly unjust to require for a
book that ia entirely worn out and use
less the same price that is required for
one that is in good condition and NAV
be used again. At the same time it ia
found to be fact that comparatively
few school books that have been used q
term or more are tit to go into the mar
ket again. by accepting in exchange
only books that are in good condition.
practically new, most of the old school
DOCKS OF the state are put out of the
exchaDgeable list, and are 80 much dead
stock on the hands of the school pat
rOns. In these cases the patrons must
buy the books outright at full retail
price. They cannot get the benefit cf
the exchange price, because they have
nothing to Offer in exchange that will be
accepted. Much complaint is already
heard IN Washington because the new
contractors require exchange books to
De IN almost perfect condition. The
element OF time also cuts an important
figure. If only 30 days, for example.
were allowed Tor making the exchange
or books, 1T might happen that a con-
siderable portion Of the state would be
caught without opportunity to give up
all It's old books and get the new ones.
particularly if depots or supply points
were not convenient. 1t would i'm such
case be to the advantage of the con-
tractor to make it inconvenient to ex-
change books In many country dis
tricts there Is but one term of school q
year aud that may not exceed three
months. In order TO give all parts of
the state an opportunity to avail of the
exchange prices for books, nearly year
would be required. Under the new con-
tract in Washington, the time within
which books may be exchanged will ex-
plre January L, 1901, and it is said
many schools will not have had Oppor-
tunity to effect exchange before that
time.
The Average Cost"
While the law requires that the er-
change rate shall be but one-ffth of the
contract retail price of books in use at
the time OF adoption, it is alleged that
the new Washington contract does NOT
in all cases do this. The statement of
the board is that the "average COST il
within the law. 1n few cases the ex-
change price under the new contract il
less than the law requires; in most casaa
it is more.
1t is shown, however, that the "aver-
age,cOst" doctrine OF the state hoard
does not hold good because the total ex-
change cost OF books for the entire eight
years OF public school course shows a
loss of $16O by reason Of the higher
price on most of the books, and a gain
OF 10 cents by reason of che lower price
OF others, leaving the net cost to the
school patron 81 Al greater than con-
templated by law.
Goes Into Peoples Pockets.
How deep the new contract goes into
the pockets of the people OF Washington
is shown by little calculation. The lat
est available official enrolment of school
children by years is that for 1898. Ex-
perience shows that two-thirds of the
children will offer old books in exchange
if they have opportunity to do so.
Upon this basis it is shown that the
losses and gains to the people OF Wash
ington, below or above the legal rate.
would be as follows under the new con-
tract, no account being taken in this
computation of the increase of popula-
tion since 1898:
No en- No. ex- Loss Loss
rolled changed. EACH per wear
First year % 494 1895 so O5 ( 40 20