The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-16
REPORT OF SUB-
 COMMISSION Result of Examination of
 Books Submitted. COMMISSION IN SESSION Final Action for Uniform
 School Books. State Commission Will Probably Be in Session Several Days in Establishing Uniform System.

mission on the contents and quality of the school books submitted for adoption in public schools of the State Of Ala bama, was yesterday submitted to the State Text Book Commission. The report of the Commission was highly prais- ed by Governor Jelks, who commended 1t as an excellent document.
 The report deals exhaustively with the samples of the school books submitted by the thirty-four bidders who are striv- ing to receive the State contract The report dealt particularly with the text and durability of the school books. The report of the Sub-Commission will be to a great extent the guide of the State Commission in awarding the school book codtract. All members of the State Com- mission were gratified with the excellent manner in which the members of the Sub Commission accomplished their task. The State Commission met few min- utes after noon in the office of the Gov ernor. There were present Governor Jelks. Superintendent Hil. Prof. J. W. Abercrombie. Prof. c. c. Thach and Prof. F. M. Peterson.
 The present meeting is the most im- portant the State Commission has held in its work of establishing the uniform text book system for the Alabama public schools. Whatever has been done until now has been preliminary. The executive
 
 with its meeting yesterday. The arrange ments for the inauguration of the text book system will be completed before the members of the State Commission leave Montgomery.
 The embers of the Commission reached Montgomery yesterday at noon on a delayed Louisville and Nashville train. They went immediately to the Capital where their written report was delivered to the State Commission. The members of the Sub-Commission who came to Montgomery were Prof. M. c. Wilson, Prof. H. J. Willingham. Prof. J. H. Phillips Prof. J. H. Foster and Prof. W. M. Benson.
 The Sub-Commission has been extreme ly busy In completing its work since the joint meeting of the two commissions in May. The thirty-four bidders sent to each member of the State and Sub Com mission samples of the books proposed to be supplied to the Alabama public schools. At the first meeting of the Com mission representatives of the bidders appeared before the Commissions in Joint session with the same boows and en- larged upon their good points.
 thorough. detailed examination of the books, had to be made, however, and that task devolved upon the members oi the Sub-Comission. Each member of the Sub-Commission carried home samples of the books. These books were to be ak amined as to the matter contained in them, its arrangement, the suitability of the books for the Alabama schools, their durability and binding. After the exam ination of the books at their home the members of the Sub-Commission met In Birmingham. Tn a session of several days the books were again reviewed and the report of the Sub-Commission was com piled.
 This report was made without reference to the price of the books. In fact, neither the members of the Sub-Commission nor members of the State Commission know anything about the price of the books submitted as yet.The prices of the books are contained in the school bids which have been filed in the office of the Secre- tary of State. The Sub-Commission at no period of it's work has to do with the price question.
 At the meeting of the State Commis- sion yesterday, the report of the Sub- Commission was read and attentively list ened to by the men who will make the final decision. Beyond general discus sion the State Commission took no ac- ton. The State Commission In this dis cussion outlined plans to be pursued in the final accomplishment of its work.
 The school bids will in all probability be opened today. When the seals of the bids are broken today the members of the Commission will for the first time know the prices at which the publishers propose to sell books to the State. Tn the report of the Sub Commission the books of the bidders are arranged in a comparative list of merit. The series of books which are best in the opinion of the Sub-Commission are given the first place. the second best the second place. and so on down the line,
 The State Commission will reconcile the list of the Sub-Commission with the prices of the bidders.
 The Commission will undoubtedly be in session several days. The members were yesterday unable to predict the probable length of their session.
 The meeting of the Commission has brought a number of the book men to the Capital who are awaiting final action on their books. The company of book men. however. Is much smaller than that which attended the two previous sessions . tU.NA