The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-24

A school Book Outrage.


a School Book Outrage.
The Post-Intciligencer offers its read
ers this morning a startling chapter In
the history OF the Rogers reform" adj
ministration. 1t Is story OF one OF
the worst outrsges that has ever been
committed by a public official the dis
closure OF deliberate attempt TO force
upon the people a worthless set OF
school text books In order that an al
legged publishing company might reap
iliegitimate profits at the expense Of the
parents and pupils OF the state OF wash
lngton. The chief offender Is Superin-
tendent OF Public Instruction Browne.
the only man who. with the exception
OF Gov. Rogers. was honored with a re-
nomination when the recent fusion state
convention named It's ticket and passed
resolutions commencing the integrity
and high character of the state OH
ciais who have been In public place
since January. 1897.
There " evidence 10 show that Mr.
Browne entered upon a scheme whereby
the submission OF bids for supplying
text books TO the public schools was to
be little better than farce: that II
was arranged long before the bids were
opened that certain books offered by
cheap publishing concern were to be
accepted. regardless OF their merits;
that the superintendent OF public In
ftruction was In close touch with the
operations u the publishing house and
that he himself assisted In the com
pllation of some OF the hooks which he
said In confidence would be accepted.
and which were accepted when the
state board Of education passed upon
the matter
I, IL one OF the worst Instances OF
eflicial tobbery that has been brought
TO light since statehood. Not only Is
the conduct OF the state superintendent
81 public Instruction Irregular and scan
daious. but the maiteasanee amounts 70
an outrage on every citizen In the state
who is taxed to support our system OF
public schools The people demand that
their public schools shall rank with the
highest In the land. aud are anxious 10
pay for the best text hooks obtainahle.
The Aogers administration. under the
direction o. Mr. Browne. has complied
with this public requirement Of the
hour by Identifying Itself with a scheme
SO bunko the puhlie ara force into use
lot % worthless hooks that have been
hastily gotten % for the occasion. and
which would BE- rejected utterly by any
dislnteFested educators convevsant
with the needs q the pnhlc schools Of
today.
The outrage II one that win not be
ignored, fer the ruhl!c schools are very
dear e the peeple u this stats, and
any offaciai who aiteupts 20 lnnair
lheir efficiency by ssanaal0as methods
such as those now disclosed via b.
hed &C. . strict account for hts derniIe.
tion. II is bad business an through.
and Cos. Rogers ear be held responsl.
Bile Ia 30 small dearee far the angarts.
nate sgrn - events The state board ~
edueation witch egHnieaanced the out
rase was Nssay ~ his own sppalntees
and having selccsea them. ~ can
fairly b. held rsspoaslhlc Tor their
sharteemiase 10 IL an instance &c the
vrctched n,lssovernmcnt that people
400 often have g pat up with when In
moment ot error they ntFpss the ar
fairs AZ state to reform aamlnistra
tious
AT Bryan wHl lose tNe nghg this year.
hut he win have thar satisfaction %
knswlns taat four years work as a can