The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-18

of the bill had been read, the book agents
and their attorneys swarmed into the
Senate chamber in an excited manner,
every one anxious TO scan the bill and
read its provisions. They had clerks busy
copying ii and last night not less than
fifty school agents, attorneys and lobby
lists were busy going over IT,
The Senate ordered the bill printed and
it IS Senator Aycock's intention to press
for an early consideration. with a view
to settling the school book question and
then turning their attention to other
important matters.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
The bill by Senator Aycock providing
for The creation Of a text book commission
and to procure for use in the public
free schools a uniform series of text
books, provides substantially as follows:
The commission is to consist of the
Governor and superintendent of Public
instruction and three members of the
State Board of Education to be named by
the Governor. This commission is en-
powered and directed to select and adopt
a uniform system or series of text books I;
and when so selected and adopted the
text books shall be used for a period of
FIVE years in all the public schools and
it shall not be lawful to use any other
book upon the same branches of study.
The series adopted shall include the
following branches of study: photography,
Defining. Writing, Arithmetic Geography
Grammar, Language Lessons, History Of
North Carolina containing the Constitu-
ton of the Statel. History of United
States containing the Constitution of the
United States), Physiology, Hygiene, the
nature and effect Of Alcoholic Drinks and
Narcotics, Elements of Civil Government
Theory and Practice of Teaching
None of these books shall contain any
thing of a partisan or sectarian charac
ter.
Section 3, provides for the appointment
of a sub commission of FIVE. to be Sc
lected from among the teachers, city or
county superintendent. actually engaged
in school business in this State mot
more than one from any one dDngression-
al districD, to whom shall be referred all
books sent to the State Text Book Com
mission as specimen copies of the same.
upon which bids are to be based. This
committee shall report on the merits of
books irrespective of price, taking into
consideration the subject matter, printing
material and mechanical qualities and
general suitab iltv
Section !, provides for the report of this
sub commission to the commission at such
times as the latter directs. This report
shall be kept secret, sealed up and de-
livered to secretary Of the commission
and shall not be opened until the com
mission shall meet in executive session to
consider bids or proposals.
Section 5, mainly prescribes the adj
ministration Of oaths, etc. to the COM
missioners, STIMULATING that no member
is or will be interested in any way in any
book or publication concern or proposed
contract
Section 6. defines the manner in which
the commission shall select and adopt the
series of books and guards against the
payment of higher price than they
can be secured for from any other source.
Section T. provides for the organization
of the commission, the Governor being
OK -offcio president and the secretary to
be elected; also requires the giving of
bond by the bidders of not less than
$500 or more than $2,500.
Section 8, designates the time for meet
ing of the commissioners also stipuating
the bond of the successful bidder to be
not less than $4,000 or more than $780,
600
Section 9, requires the books supplied
to come up to the specimens furnished
and other details, also requiring con-
tractors to print on the back of each
book the contract and exchange prices.
This section also guards against the fur
nishing of the same books by the success
full bidder to any other State, at the time
this contract is made, for a less price
than is required of the State of North
Carolina
Section 10. stipulates that the State
shall not be liable to the contractor in
any manner for any sum; that contrac-
tors shall receive their pay solely and
exclusively from tho proceeds of the sale
of the books as provided in this act
Section IL. provides for the rejection of
any and all bids at the option of the com
mission: and for advertisement for
sealed bids in case the proposals are not
accepted.
Section u. provides that the Governor
shall issue proclamation announcing
The awarding Of the contract as soon as
the same is made
Section 10. requires the successful bid
der to maintain in three towns of the
State a depository to be designated by
the commission. where supply of the
books sufficient to meet all demands,
shall be kept, and for the distribution
of the books.
Section IA. provides for the mainten-
apce Of the commission during the five
years of the contracts at the expiration
Of that time for the re-advertisement for
new bids
Section Is. applies to the duties OF the
SUPERINTENDENT of Public instruction in
regard to the distribution of the books.
Section 16 says that the books adopted
shall he used to the exclusion of all others
in those branches. but provides that sup
Elementary books may he used.
Section II, allows patrons of public