The news & observer., 1901-01-26
SCHOOL BOOKS
ARE Up AGAIN
The Educational Committees
Keep Late Hours.
THE LOBBYISTS HERE
The Committee Hears From Several
Book Companies.
AND SAT UP UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK
Subcommittee Was Appointed to Consider
the Bill in Detail and 10 Report to
the Next Meeting Of the
cnrnillna
Committee.

The Joint Committee on Educatlon
sat up with itself last night until l
o'clock. and talked to the publishing
house lawyers.
Speeches were made as follows:
Messrs. f. H Busbee and T. B. Womack
for the American Book Company, and
Jas II. Pou and C. Nj. Busbee for the
University Publishing Company and
Cyrus Watson and Armistead Jones
for the B. F. Johnson Publishing Co.
Mr.. Watson stated that his client had
no objection to the bill. Mr.. Pou stat
ed that the University Publishing
Company favor State adoption. but op-
pose certain details of the bill, and
Judge Womack stated that the Ameri-
can Book Company oppose the bill and
favor county adoption.
lir. Pou for the University Publishing
Company said
We object TO the subsidiary board, and
as citizen of North Carolina, desire to
show the dangers of the board. 1t sits
In executive and secret session, and in
stead of avoiding the opportunity for
scandal, it may promote it. 1t would
not work well to have board respon-
endowed with legislative powers.
He also objected to the clause, making
IL misdemsanor FOR teacher to al
low to be taught book not in the State
list. He thought there is not ade-
quate protection in the law against sor-
ry books.
He stated IL the State or county would
buy the books and require them to be
distributed by the officers of the coun-
ty or otherwise, that his company would
furnish books at a reduction of 25 per
cent on the present price. and as much
lower as competition would make it,.
Judge Connor stated that he would at
the proper time offer an amendment
exempting the chartered graded school
from the operation OF the law.
Mr. Busbee then spoke in behalf Of the
American Book Company urging a num-
ber of defects IN the Bill In 1895, said
he, CHM and Company had the law for
State adoption repealed and put it in
the hands of the county board. He then
reviewed the part of the book companies
during the four years under fusion rule.
He enumerated the States that had State
adoption and contended that no human
being ever thought OF applying State
law school book selection to the graded
schools. He stated that the action of the
Legislature of 1899 in putting the matter
in the hands of the county board. was
wise, and an endorsement of the fusionists
in passing the law, and he argued that
county adoption was wiser system than
State adoption.
Judge Womack said wherever there is
State adoption there will always be one
-
cell on the open market The States
that lead in educational achievement do
not favor State adoption. He said that
such a system was tried and repealed in
Minnesota. Cheapness is the chief argu-
ment," said he, "of those who favor State
adoption. The American Book Company
will offer it's books also for 25 per cent
less than the present price in North
Carolina. He then read bill providing
for county adoption, which he suggested
would be the best solution of the ques-
tion
Mr.. c. b. Watson, who represents Z. F.
Johnson & Company. next spoke. He re-
ferred to the proposition suggested by
Mr.. Pou and Mr.. Busbee to make reduc-
tion on the books of 20 per cent. and
said that the proposition showed how
great profit has been made. IL CHM
and Company we're behind the movement
in 1896 for county adoption. they under
valued their competitors. No independent
company could come into competition with
such a combination as the American Uni
versity Book Company and succeed. He
suggested that the two companies might
be independent companies, but both of
them agreed in Tennessee and other
States, and are now fighting this bill.
Major Patton, OF the University Pub
fishing Company, stated that the Uni
versity Publishing Company and the
American Publishing Company are not in
any way connected, and that his COM
pany has never lobbied to pass bill
or prevent any bills passage.
Mr.. c. M. Busbee asked the price of
Johnson's readers in South Carolina. Mr..
Watson gave them, and Mr.. Busbee read
a list of prices which he said were paid
in South Carolina for the same publica-
tions, and which were higher than the
prices named by Mr.. Watson Mr.. Wat
son exhibited some of the books sold in
South Carolina and showed that the price
was printed on each book, and stated
that if higher price was paid 1t was
the fault of the purchaser. Mr.. Busbee
said he would reserve what eiSe Ae Hau
to say for his reply.
''They always get the opening and clos
ing Of an argument" said Mr.. Watson.
"and they sometimes get the opening and
closing of the bids.'' This statement was
denied.
Mr.. Watson said that the opposing COM
pany's plan was to abolish the middle
man, and that this is the plea of every
Iv In he
These companies wouldn't have been
heard from If Senator Aycock hadn't in
troduced this bill.
Mr.. G. M. Busbee then spoke. He said
that he thought the State School Board
NAcTnDIA ro,lof.o,e and rbIdrs,