The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-07

BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT
| Jefferson City. Mo. March 6.-Attorney
| General Crow this morning sent his opin-
ion regarding the present status of the
| school-book law to the General Assembly.
| The opinion holds that the present con-
| tracts hold good until other legislation Is;
| enacted. and that the Textbook Commits
| sion can make new contracts when the
| present ones are not carried out satisfac-
| torily.
| That the opinion has served to make tbs
! advocates of the book legislation undecided
| about what course to pursue cannot he de-
| MED. caucus was held late tonight 20
| consider a statement for publication, but
| after an hours elaboration the subject was
| postponed.
| Regular Democrats still insist that legis-
| laton should be enacted to relive the State
from the domination of the American Book
Company; others say that no legislation is
necessary. 1t is probable that all will be
united on the constitutional amendment
providing for tax levy of cents to pay
for free textbooks.
AFFIDAVITS PROCURED.
According to one regular Democrat the
Caucus Investigating Committee has pro-
cured three afiidavits concerning an al
legged attempt which was made to have en-
ployes in the State Printers office destroy
the printed copies of the Davidson bill.
Il do not know what will be done with
these aftidavits,' said this member. They
were secured by Mr., Davidson. They are
good evidence; and uphold our contention
from two boys, one 16 years old and the
other IL. MIR. Stevens, of the State
dence."
Another member said that no crime could
pc charged against member for attempt.
bill, though the morals of the proceed
ings might be questioned.
Representative Dolan of Kansas City in
ssts that he is ready and anxious for an
investigation and that he is thinking of be-
ginning proceedings for criminal libel
The caucus adjourned until next Tuesday
be discussed.
CROWS OPINION
Attorney General Crows opinion covers
eight pages of typewriter matter and re-
views various provisions Of the present law.
He also quotes extensively from the
tracts with the book companies. Closing, the
Attorney General says:
Constituting the act of 1897 and applying
1t to the contracts as written. i beg to
say that 1t is my opinion the school-book
contracts have not expired by lapse of
time. That. in my judgment, no legislative
action Is necessary at this. session of the
General Assembly to maintain and enforce
the terms Of these contracts as entered into
by the School-book Commission l helieve
that the commission has power to immedi-
arely revoke any contract for failure on
the part of the publishing houses to comply
ulations and conditions contained therein.
and that upon revolving contract the ten
thousand dollar bond given would be for
feited
Il am Of the opinion that the School-book
Commission has authority at any time to
require new and additional bond and sure
ual. who has a contract under the act CT
1881. and upon a failure to furnish such adj !
ditional satisfactory bond and sureties, the
commission would have the right and 1t
would be its duty to revoke the contract of ,,
said publishing house or individual.
i think that any or all Of these contracts
can be forfeited by the commission for fall- |
ure to comply with the terms thereof on the
part Of those furnishing books under said
contracts with the State.
If any publishing house or individual |
supplying textbooks under a contract made |
In accordance with the statute under con- |
sideration should charge more than the !
price liked by the terms of the contract for |
books. or should violate any other provision !
OF the contract. the Goyernoy OF Missouri !
body Is by the terms of the contract |
specifically given the power to forfeit the |
rights Hereunder Of the publishing house or |
individual violating the contract made with |
the State. and ryher, a contract shall have |
been declared forfeited by the commission |
said commission could, If 1t wished. make a /
feited one, after first advertising for bids |
as provided by section of the act of 1897: |
and If contract should be forfeited and no i
now one made to take its place, then other |
textbooks than those named In the for |
feited contract could be legally sold by !
any one. and used In the schools OF the |
State.
These contracts are. In my Judgment, |
now legally binding in every respect upon |
the publishing houses and individuals who |
made them. and the Stateit,ane enforce them |
as fully now as it ever e6,ild'b s.s
FILIPINos EXPRESS VIEWS.
The Filipino representatives from the Fiji |
teenth District tonight issued the following |
signed statement defining their position:
We are in favor of the submission of |
free textbook amendment. We realize that |
1t Is more or less an experiment but as far |
as we can ascertain the people of our dis
trict favor 1t and we are here to express
their views and not our own.
I'm the light of the Attorney Generals |
opinion, we believe that there should be no
radical change in textbooks until that
amendment is submitted and the wishes of
the people upon 1t expressed. II the pres
ent contracts remain in full. force, backed
by heavy bonds. feel 1t would be a grie-
vous burden upon the people to ask the con-
tingency Of any radical change in textbooks
at the present time
.'R. N. GRAHAM
u. w. REINMILLEE,
20. D. DAVIS,
( 81 4n-re,,.r- &C. NJ. LONG,"