The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-21
One Is Finally Recommended in
House.
Grattan Bill Passed With Many
Amendments.
RETAINS UNIFORMITY.
Few Changes From the Old Text
Book Law.
Maximum Price VIII Remain
the Same.

since the house has finished going
through tire crattan text book bill with
Il fine tooth comb. il Is found that there
is Comparatively little change from the
lodi aw. The maximum price schedule
IS the same exactly. Tuesday afternoon
fight and turning loose OF more hot
air. was upon this one point more than
any other Just before this decision was
rendered it looked as if compromise
between fhe two extreme positions Of
maximum price or no price that would
harmonic every element had been
found.
This was a proposition by Giessler, of
Logan. to gut in the old maximum
prices, with a percentage prOvisO thar
would be the same in effect as the new
maximum schedule 1T would give the
commission power to contract Tor BOOKS
Kit a limit OF 1lA per cent above tire
schedule. On the whole list OF books tire
excess could not amount N all TO more
than s. cents This would give the trl-
ring elasticity that the opposition asked
Cor as il could be applied all to one
book. If necessary. to get a good ore
= his plan looked fine, but the straight
out people krocked 1t fiat without much
ado and ended the dispute by adopting
@he old schedule.
Amendments came thick and fast
when they once settled down to work
some attempted to upset the bin alto
Aetner. Some were incorporated and
many others We're not
Next to The price change the most i'm
portant was the establishment Of sup
lily agencies at towns of zoo inhabitants
on more. not county seats. Every town
of this size must have an agent accord
ing to the amended bill. This is a good
provision for the people. relieving them
OF trips to the county seat.tO buy books
1t IS a strenuous matter for the cOntIac-
tors, however.
They did it to US that time" says
of small towns like that in Kansas.
Hardly q town but can scare up 200 peo-
ale Tt means that a representative must
iie mSlHra1ned IL. each ore ard on COM
l1lissiun at that. The bili goes on with
az. entirely Few provision telling il just
what way these local AGENTS shall remit
10 the contractors Ii means thar a big
stock VIII be required to supply a head
quarters III eNcaV little town aE.i that
as II esents a big investment, besides it is
MOT like cash dealing where you have the
prices
What effect viii that have or bids2''
was 8sked
The little fellows can bid. They nav.
The big fellows viii not"
Another amendment that was offered
ly f. F. Iatum anG adopted is DESIGNED
fo maintain the quality of the bookstrfFs
fill the last. "A nrOviso was inserted thar
WITH the commission for five years SO
mat IN later years the new books re-
CeiVed must be equal in material
Before the house got down to work on
the Dill in earnest the long debate or the
maximum price question apparently but
the whole book subject in fact, was had
Analysing the opinions" printed in
pamphlets furnished legislators by both
sides TO the book controversy Ed Me-
I&eeyer said the teachers and people OF
the state seem satisfied with the law. but
he
tty Of prices
People without responsibility get on
the floor Of this house.
Who do you mean by members who
have no responsibility asked James
Lawrence. interrupting
did not say member" answered
1IcKeever.
Who do you mean ~
I mean the third house If you insist
on my being specific. don't want to he
worked and don't want TO see this
house worked Every day persons are /
mere with axes to grind and I'M not find
ing fault The third house is an estab-
llshed institution but we do not need to
listen to them
II believe there are those who are
working their influence on this house
Who are being paid for it. Not members
but If the members are svTayed by these
people. 1t is the mem bers who are ~
sponsible to the people Of Kansas. It is
up TO Us to save money for our people
The trusts won't sell us a text book
pei0W 2 certain price that they have ar
htfIarlly fixed themsef YES"
Do you know that to be a fact2" ask
ed Short of Cloud.
j dol" enphatically replied McKeev- /
Snali We say please. trusts, come here +
ana sell US books at youI own pricse' .
ne said. and force tho country districts !
30 buy high priced books. because city /
people want them. We viii rob the peo-
Dle Of thousands of hard earned dollars |
Z. we allow the trust to gain the upper /
haEa- Let rs protect the little RED school /
houses"
Dooley. Of Montgomery, next took IN
Tor the opposition He said the school /
book commissioners hands were tied bv /
law, and cant reach out and get a GOOD /
book because the book company saws /
can't sell th9t book for a pauper
price In other words, the state Of
Kansas is tryirg to dictate to business I
hnen what price they can sell their goods /
Tor Let us have uniformity but let
us have good books" DooIey scored /
Alckeever on the old cry of topeka /
wants everything. If I were represent
Ing Shawnee county would be like the /
gentleman Limitations en- things I
would ask for would be unlimited As it I
81. there are other things that are good |
besides his
McKeever tilted back. He said Crane |
had 1ever given him anything but a |
Frentis history I have refused to ad- |