Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-02-19
THAT BOOK CONTRAST
American Book Company Gobbles
the Larger Part Of the
Business.
Friction on the Board--Superin-
tendent Morrissey Refusesto
SIN Contract.
Political End Of the Deal Aeitat.
ing the Public Sensational
Stories.

The board of education had merry
time awarding the contract for the
county text books Monday afternoon,
and all was not peace and harmony. II
was Superintendent Merrissey against.
1.-The entire board. The American Book
Company and allied houses secured the
biggest part of the contract, about Sc
per cent all told, and as result MIR.
Morrissey is indignant and there are
rulnblings of discomfort heard among
leading business men OF the city
Nothing of recent Occurrences has
caused more interest and commend!
among those who have watched the
lsoutcome than has this contract. II is
being talked of by rte politician. the
business man and the idler. The stories
told are simply terrible in Their. often
siveness, bur as they are not backed by
Tangible proof they viii not bear re-
| peating, even tho the chain of circum-
lstantial evidence is spseonclusive as 10
make them readily believed and the
Istench they have raised will undonbted-
lily end the political careers of the par
titles implicated.
4 So far Superintendent Mprrissey has
Irefused to sign the contract with the
i American Book Company, on the
/ ground that the law was not complied
4 With relative to the fling of thu bids
land the sample books in his office. The
other companies did this and their con-
tracts are acceptable to the superin-
tendent Both MIR. Morrissey and
County Auditor Hargrave have con-
suited With County Attorney Stone or
the question.
i The American Book Company Sc
cured the contract for furnishing this
six grades of readers. amounting To 9;
per cent Of he contract; Butter, Shell
4 don & Co Of the American con
q Germs houses, secured the contract fol
4 two of the three arithnietics equal toll
5: per cent also for the Modern spoilers
4 equal 10 8 per cent. 7 he American Boob
! Company Will supply he biographies
J, equal 10 90 per cent. ard the cop.
books. equal to per cen
The contract for supplying Fig.
& Sglestons history went 70 the American
. Book Company this being equal I.
). about PSF cent Of the entirescontract
Il making he American Peek Com pany
total z per cent. aside from the diction
aries Mheh Will be FURNISHED by tina
s concern and which make a big item.
The contract for supplying the Spec
larithnetics went 10 CHM 4 Co, Chan
Innings history g the Mcmillan Com
pany, the examiners to CHM 4 ca. tn
Cotton physiologies to ID. G. Heath 1
Co. and the civil government to Elan
4 nagan & Co.
{. The figures at which the contract!
We're let. it is claimed. Indicate tha
|ssome Of the books We're purchased a
much higher figures than sheey coult
have been obtained. Auditor Hargravs
INSISTS that the question 10 VIVA
4 houses furnished the books was MOI
taken into consideration On tie other
hand Mr.. Morrissey claims that man!
I2of ihe bouks bought at high pricas ars
mot as merirorious as text books as
some Of those offered at less figures.
The sixteen bids have been procured
/ but could not be tabulated in time fol
4 to-day issue. The figures vii be given
4 tomorrow and the public can then draw
4 its own conclusions as to whether or not
the sensational street stories of bribery
are to be believed.