The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-03


Jefferson City. Mo-. March 2.-The threat
ened war over school textbooks broke out
in the lower house OF the Legislature this
evening.
Backed by an appeal from Governor Dock
the Assembly. the supporters of textbook
legislation won their first victory.
The matter came up over consideration Of
resolution offered by Mr.. Wallace Of Rails
calling on the Attorney General for an
opinion regarding the status OF the old text
book law and the contracts under it Dur
PRODUCTION of the resolution the following
special message from Governor Dockery
was received and read:
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
On the 10th Of January last, called the at
tention of the General Assembly to the necessity
for legislation to secure cheaper schoolbooks for
the children Of the State.
More than two-thrds of the session has passed
without the passage of any bill upon this most
important question. The interests Of children
demand that should again invite your atten-
ton to this sbuject
desire to reiterate tho principal points of that
message The contracts for the books to-day in
use in the public schools were made under a law
approved March 81. lsy7. authorizing their adop-
vided by law"
uliy % per cent CT the BOOKS used by The chill
dren furnished under contracts held by the
American Book Company, which Is now an .ad-
mtted and avow-d trust.
MISSOURI falING TOO MUCH
1t has been urged that Missouri. under the
contract of 1897 paying too much 10 the
School Book Trust for some OF the books and
that a few OF them are unsatisfactory. II haE
been specifically alleged that Missouri Is paying
% per cent more for the SCHOOLGIRLS than our
sister State of Kansas
have not had the opportunity to sufficiently
investigate this question to determine definitely
e1urbitant or whether any OF iH the Books are
unsatisfactory but this opinion is entertained by
tors do know. however. mat the growth OF
our splendid educational system snouid not be
by the exactiuns OF the Book Trust. At the SANE
time, time the parents and the pupils should be pro-
which Is always source OF confusion ana ex-
ISSUE CANNOT BE EvADED.
It has been alleged that there is a desire 10
make radical changes in the textbooks now IN
use do not believe 1t, and do not share this
raise the essential point of our contention and
nonaction to masquerade. Inc dominant issue Q;
neithor .n she ,so LOOKS cannot be etaded.
The controlling plea. submit, is in behalf OF
know that failure 10 legisiate upon this aues-
hands Of the school Book trust The nav" :oni n tn1
control Of The trust may aso, be assured by
unwise legislation am opposed tue domino
ton Of the trust.
SHOULD REDUCE PRICES.
The time has come for vigorous and effective
legislation. The five-year limit on the ORIGINAL
contract has expired and we owe it TO the chill
dren to make an earnest effort TO reduce prices
on many books now used in the public schoJls
Every parent in Missouri is interested In this
question and some measure should be speediiy
enacted by the Legislature looking to this end
The question is too grave and the people are
too much In earnest to Sit idly By and allow this
General Assembly to adjourn without giving them
the privilege Of competition in liking tnes prices
they pay for schoobocks.
II costs something less than a million CT dollars
every year to equip our children with the recess
eary books to secure an education in our public
schools 1t cannot be denied that our people are
entitled 70 purchase these books at the lowest
prices possible. The State should make Al, in
trepid and 4 determined effort to secure reduced