The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-21
BOOK COMMISSION COMPLETED WORK Report is a Most Interesting Document to the People PROCURED BEST POSSIBLE Absolute Harmony Prevailed and Every Recommendation of the
 Subcommittee Was Favor
 ably Acted Upon.
PROCURED BEST POSSIBLE

Mintgomery, June 20. = Especially = The state text book commission concluded it's work in making up the list of books to be used in the common schools this evening, and the report made public is possibly the most interesting official document than has emanated from the capitol in many months.
 It has to do with the pockets of nora Alabamans than any other act, save possibly the general revenue law, and as the report means a saving of about 50 per cent to the purchasers of school books in the state. the report will very nat urally be hailed with great delight by the people,
 The commission has done its work with care and all of the members felt that when the report was finally made up they had given the state the very best that could be procured, price, quality ana subject matter being considered.
 Departed From the Rule.
 In one respect the Alabama commission has departed from the rule that has been followed by nearly every commission In states that have adopted uniformity. They have acted favoraby on almost every recommendation made by the sub-com- mission, which was charged with the work of examining the various books submitted and grading the same.
 The sub commission made seven grades of the books submitted in the following classes: A. AZ, AS, B, B2, B3 and c. The books graded A were considered the best, and so on down the line until c was reached, this grade not being considered as fit for use in the state at all.
 To demonstrate the harmony existing between the two commissions, not book was finally adopted that had been grad ed lower than AZ.
 Prices seem to have cut a conspicuous figure in the selection of many of the books, but the cheapest books offered were not in any means selected in every case. Where books had reached the two highest grades however the prices quoted did play a conspicuous part.
 In several instances representatives of the houses furnishing the books in the fire grade were called before the commits sion to ascertain if they were willing to meet the prices of a similar book that had been placed In the second grade, and in some cases a refusal lost to the pub fisher a contract The commission be- lieves that 1t has saved to the state many thousands of dollars in text books. Gov. Jelks said tonight he figured that the saving would be at least fifty per cent on the price now paid for the same books used in the state.
 Five-Year Contract Adopted.
 The adoption is for five years and the prices that have been agreed upon be- tween the state and publisher are effective for that period parents will not nave to stand the expense of purchasing en- tirely new sets of books for their children orrfva fa as nas sometimes been suggested. Under the terms of the contract secondhand books of the same class may be exchang- ed at the depository for new books credit of fifty per cent of the price of the new books being allowed on the old. As a matter of course some of the publish CTS here are very sore over their failure to get some of the plums, this being more particularly noticeable among the repre- septatives of the southern publishing con- cerns But taken as a whole there seems to be a pretty fair degree of satisfaction. One of the publishers who failed to re- ceive single contract, said tonight that it could not be denied that the commis- sion had given the state an excellent selection of books, and this seems to be the general sentiment tonight. For the most part, the books adopted by the com masion are already in use in the state. though as a matter of course in some in- stances entirely new books have been brought in.
 Commission Reconvenes Tuesday.
 To give some idea as to the saving on the price of the books, it is perhaps only necessary to state that the same first reader adopted by the commission at a minimum price of fifteen cents now costs thirty cents in the retail stores. The commission did not complete its work today. A recess was taken until Tuesday, when the members will reconvene and take up the matter of making supple mentary adoptions. There are also other important matters o.sbe consdcred-the exemption of certain cities provided for in the bill. the selection of Repositories, etc.