The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-21
GENERAL LAWS
Enacted by the Legislature of Alabama.

session to open ana CODSlueT tlic DluS LII proposals of publishers or others. desir- ing to have books adopted by said com mission. Each member of said sub-com-
 mission before entering upon the dis charge of his duties, shall take and sub scribe an oath to honestly, conscientious ly, faithfully, and to the best of his ability discharge said duties, and that he is not directly or indirectly in any man. ner interested in the proposed contract, nor in any books or publishing concern publishing any books of the kind or char acter contemplated for use in the public schools of this or any other State. and that he will examine all books submitted carefully and faithfully and make true report thereon, as herein directed and prescribed. said oath shall be filed in the office of said Secretary of State.
 Sec. 4. Said text book commission shall herein consider said report in it's selec-
 tion and adoption of the uniform series of text books, and shall also themselves consider the merits of each book, taking into consideration theii subjeot-matter,
 the printing, binding, material and me
 chanical qualities. and their general suit
 ability and desirabilty for the purposes
 intended as we'll as the price of said
 books. and they shall give great consid-
 eration and weight to the report and recommendation of said sub-commission;
 Provided, That no text book, the subject matter of which is of inferior quality.
 shall be adopted by the text book com mission. Said commission shall select and adopt such books as will, in their best judgment, accomplish the ends desired, and they are hereby authorized and di- rected, in case any book or books are deemed by them suitable for adoption and more desirable than other books of the same class submitted and they fur ther consider the price at which books are offered to be unreasonably high and that they should be offered at a smaller price, to immediately notify the publisher or offerer of such book or books of their decision and request such reduction in prices as they deem reasonable and just.
 and If they and such publisher shall agree on price they may adopt his book or books, but if not they shall use their
 own sound judgment and discretion whether they will adopt that. or the books which are deemed by them next best in the list submitted and when said text book commission shall have finished with the report of said sub-commission, the said report shall be filed and preserved in the office of the State Superintendent of Education and shall be open at all times for public inspection.
 Sec. Q. Be it further enacted, That said Text Book Commission shall, immedi- ately after the passage of this act, meet and organize, the Governor being Pres ident of the Commission and the Super intendent of Education Secretary and executive officer of said Commission. As soon as practicable not later than thirty days after its organiza tion. the Commis- sion shall advertise, in such manner and for such length of time and at such places as may be deemed advisable, that at a time and place fixed definitely in said advertisement, sealed bids or pro- posals will be received from the publish CTS of school text books for furnishing books to the public schools in the State of Alabama, through agencies established by said publishers in the several coun- ties, and places in counties, in the State as may be provided for in such regulations as said Commis sion may adopt and prescribe. The bids or proposals to be for furnishing the books for a period of five years and no longer, and that no bid for a longer period will be considered, said bid shall state spe- officially and definitely the price at which the books will be furnished, and shall be accompanied by one or more specimen copies of each and every book proposed to be furnished and 1t shall be required or each Dlduer 10 deposit with the lreaS- urer of the State sum of money such as the Commission may require. not less than five hundred dollars. nor more than twenty-five hundred dollars, according to the number of books each bidder may propose to supply. and notice shall fur ther be given in said advertisement that such deposits shall be forfeited absolute ly to the State If the bidder making the deposit shall fail. or refuse. to make and execute such contract and bond as is hereinafter required. within such time as the Commission may require, which time shall also be stated in said advertisement. All bids shall be sealed and deposited with