The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-04
MR. HILL INTERVIEWED
DISCUSSES OBSTACLES IN WAY
 OF TEXTBOOK LAW.
Referring. to Friction in Birmingham State Superintendent of Educa- tion Says the Commission
 Should Be Supported.

The attention of Hon. I. W. Hill, State Superintendent of Education, having been called to articles of Dr. A. J. Dickinson, in Birmingham newspapers, and to va- rious other articles relative to the con- templated suits against the textbook law, MT Hill said:
 "As is we'll known by my friends in all parts of the State. have always been opposed to the idea of State uniformity. My objection was of a nature purely ed- ucational-I did not think 1t best for the schools of the State. The Legislature, however, thought otherwise. and by an overwhelming majority passed the present law. Under this law, the Governor is made President of the Text Book Com- mission and the Superintendent of Ed ucation, the Secretary and Executive Of ficer. As a law-abiding citizen and as a sworn officer of the State, l have con- sicentiously endeavored to carry out the provisions of the law and the instructions of the Commission.
 "As to the books selected by the Com- mission. I desire to state that the seiec- ton was in every case unanimous. and that. in my opinion, Alabama has the best list of books of any State in the Union which works under a State uni formity plan. These books were adopted at a price as low as the same books are
 
 school In the Union. The intention of the Commission was to procure the best books at the lowest possible prices. They, felt that the best books published were none too good for the boys and girls of Ala bama. Having selected the books they proceeded to contract for them at the lowest possible prices. How well they succeeded, the figures will show.
 Almost every book adopted was con- ir, tvryn hipHiDOG-CInth and boards. The books are identical in every respect except as to the covers. The school children of the State can use either book they desire. A care 1ul study of the prices will show that on the cloth covers there is reduction of i3 or IA per cent. from the list prices at which the books are usually sold, and on the board covers. there is reduction of 50 or 40 per cent.
 "For instance, Baldwin's First Reader. the list price of which Is 3 tents, can be procured in tar boards. under the State contract, at 15 cents. Maury's Manual of Geography, the list price of which. in cloth, is $1.25 and which wes sold in many parts of the State for from $l.5O to Si 60, can not now be sold for more than SS cents.
 Tt may be that in an isolated instance some party can procure the adopted books at a price legs than the contract price, but this could not have been done befor e the State adoption. It may be that some dealer who is not interesed in the success of the law, will sell the books at price less than the contract price,. but this same patriotic dealer never thought of such a thing before the adoption.
 'The Commission selected Repositories in accordance with the law, and the books are being supplied as rapidly as possible. It was to be expected that some friction would occur in the inauguration of the plan, but 1t was also to be expect ed that the Commission and its Executive Officer would have the support and sym pathy of all who are really interested in the schools to the end that this jaw which our law-making body has given us, have a fair and impartial trial"