Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-03-27

leSlsiature stTOnS euOrt was haue
TO abolish the present law in relation
to county school book boards and
vest the same powers In state
school book board. The object OF
the law was to obtain a uniform
system of text books throughout the
State as we'll as to prevent unneces-
sary changes and secure the lowest
cash price possible. The proposed
law originated in the COMMITTEE on
education in the house of delegates,
of which Mr.. s. @. Smith, of this
county, was chairman. The bill was
carefully worded and safely guarded
against corrupt practices with veto
power vested in the state board of
public works. The bill passed
the house by large major
ity, but although recommend
ed by the senate committee on edu-
cation to pass, it was tied up on the
calendar and died there at the close
of the session along with a great
many other meritorious measures.
Such is the power Of the modern
lobby as against the interests of
little children, and particularly those
of poor people who can i'll afford to
suffer from the frequent and unnec-
essary changes of school books and
the additional cost, oftentimes made
by corrupt bargain with the officers
of the law.
In two counties in this State since
January first, it has been charged
the county book board was made
drunk and the contracts for the
books to be sold the children of
those counties were signed and en-
tered into while these officers were
incapable of realizing what was be-
ing done. The Weston Independ-
ent, which usually speaks out in
meeting, has the following to say
regarding this iniquity as it oc-
Cured at Weston, though no such
charges are made there:
Those who had the privilege of
casually observing the contest among
school book publishers here last
week need not to be told that we
have very bad law for the contract
ing for school text books. Corrupt
as became the conduct of lobbyists
and Legislators when the books were
contracted for by the Legislature, it
cannot have been worse in its prac-
tical operations than is the present
law.
1t may be said that Lewis county
has an uncommonly strong board
who have been entrusted with the
work of purchasing books. For the
most part they are above reproach-
far above any efforts at corruption
or being corrupted. These men
tried to do their duties unselfishly
and honestly. They are disgusted
with some of the metods which were
resorted to, and, so far as we have
been able to interview them, they
are opposed to the present book
! law.
This is only one county. The
scenes incident to this canvass were
doubtless enacted in the other coun-
ties of the State, at what aggregate
cost may never be known; but as we
said last week the final contract
prices at which parents and guard
ians purchase these books will very
naturally and necessarily include all
the expenses necessary TO the contest
! for the contracts.
The people are entitled TO have
rate which includes the actual cost
and n reasonble profit TO the authors
and publishers. They are under no
obligation to pay the costs incurred
by these paid lobbyists.
Here in Ohio county a contract
has recently been awarded which has
Justly stirred up the rural districts,
and while the contract may be fair
ly made still the injustice of the
county system is made glaringly
manifest The law as il stands is
even when fairly administered. an
unjust Wheeling News.
Like Oliver Twist, children ask
/ for more when given One Minute