The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-12-14
WORK OF THE BOOK
COMMISSION,
Where Possible Awards Were Made
in Favor Of Southern Authors.
Saving Will Be Between 20
and so Per Cent of
Present Price.

DOo>NS
used for the next five years in the COM
mon schools of Georgia was finally So
lected and adopted Tuesday by the state
school book commission after more than
a month Of arduous toll in studying bids.
reports of the subcommission. hundreds
of samples of books submitted and hear
ing from numerous representatives OF
book publishing concerns as to the merits
Of their various publications.
tabulated statement is presented here
with showing the various publishers who
were successful in securing the contracts,
the names of the books to be used, the
prices at which the books are now sold
in Georgia. and the prices at which they
are to be furnished to the state under
bond given by the company offs ring
them.
Immense Annual Saving.
1t will be seen from a comparison OF
these prices how great an amount will
be saved annually to the people of Geor-
gia, the reduction ranging from 25 to 30
per cent III some cases below the prices
for which these books can 81 present be
obtained of dealers. This will mean Il
lars to the people of Georgia, it having
been estimated that the saving will
amount to more than $500, 900 during the
tlVeyear period
The commission reached its conclusion
Tuesday at q final meeting held at the
governors mansion after the most care
full and faithful consideration of all the
books offered. studying them from
standpoint of quality as we'll as OF price.
Dissatisfied with the first bids that were
offered. the commission rejected them all
and called for new ones throughout
These bids We're much below those first
submitted. and were in every way salts
factory. Old books will be received in
exchange for new ones on the same sub
iect. at Il value all the way from so to
sc 2-3 per cent of the new book.
The books adopted by the commission
will be used in the public schools next
year, and the contractors will BE- called
on to supply them at as early date as
possible. The successful bidders will con-
fer with Attorney General Hart at once.
and the contracts will be signed without
delay, it being the desire OF the commits
sion to get the books here as near the
first of the year as is possible
Following is a statement from the
state school book commission relative to
the books adopted, and giving the COM
missions reason for the actions taken:
1.-THE state school book commission
deems 1t proper TO perpetuate with its
report adopting a uniform system Of
text books for the common schools OF
Georgia, the reasons which actuated
each and every adoption. The two and q
half millions of people in Georgia al
fected thereby have right to know,
and it is our pleasure that they should.
'.The consmssic og1lized from the
start the deicacy ana Importance of the
work which the legislature Of the state
had thrust upon It, and we are cognizant
Of the difficulties and the embarrass-
ments sure to be encountered In its exc
cuton.
"Of equal Importance to good personal
associates for our children is the com
partnership of good books Sensiblee of
this truth. we have undertaken this
important work and if we have not done
1t wisely, il has at least been faithfully
done.
"In pursuance OF the act creating the
school book commission. we elected a
subeommisson Realizing that the sue
cess of the radical change about to be
enacted depended largely upon the in
tegrity and Intelligence of the suhcom-
mission. we selected a committee of gen
tlemen of universally recognized integ-
rity, conspicuous as educators. and de
voted friends to the cause Of education.
I'VE have. as the law directs. gi.en
great weight and due consideration to
the reports and recommendations Of the
suhcommiysion The individual reports
OF the subcommission arc thorough able
and exhaustive Ii We have acted wisely
In the selection of books credit Is due
largely to the work and report of the
subcommission.
IN the selection of books we have not
thought it wise to sacrifice quality for
price, and get We have not thought 1t
proper to ignore price altogether. where
books were Of the same class.
I'VE have shown preference Tor
southern authors, where the competitive
books offered were substantially of equal
merit but we have not taken the Ill.,
erty to indulge this sentiment when to
do so involved an injury to the children
OF Georgia. or unduIy added to the bur
dens of the taxpayers who support the
common schools of the state.
mo book that is partisan in charac-
ter or unfair 10 the south and her tradi-
lions has, or could for a moment. find
favor IN our eyes 1t has been our aim
10 get the best books at the least pos
sible price.
There were many books inspected and
rejected Of necessity, both by the sub