The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-06-07
SOMETHING CONCERNING OVER
CHARGES FOR SCHOOL BOOKS
A COMPARISON OF PRICES
Montana in Instances Pays Double
Rate Charged Other States
Data for Commissioners.

According to the way the state SUI
p~erintendent of public instruction fig
ures it out since last September the
people of Montana have paid some
thing like $4,000 in excess OF the
contract prices for school books. In
behalf of Mr.. Welch it is claimed that
he has the figures and facts to prove
his assertion and that he is prepared
to submit them at the coming meet
ing of the state textbook commission.
During the last few weeks consid-
cradle has been heard and read con-
corning the ~overcharges alleged to
be made by the publishing concerns
holding contracts for supplying the
state with it's school books. Recent
ly Mr.. WEIGH has been in communica-
ton with the school authorities OF
different towns and cities and is said
to have secured additional evidence
of violation of contracts. All this
is being put in shape for submission
to the commission.
Some illustrations.
AS an instance OF the overcharges
made. by the book concerns is cited
the case of Fry's advanced geography.
In this state the book retails for SIPS,
dealers paying the freight from Chi
cago. In Indiana the geography is
said to retail for Is cents, delivered
to dealers freight paid. The Geor-
gians must pay 10 cents more than
the "Hoosiers," but they also receive
the benefit of prepaid freight charges.
In Montana the primary geography
sells for 60 cents, and in Georgia for
40. CHM & Co. of Chicago are the
parties who have the contract for fur
nishing these two books.
D. C. Heath & Co. of Chicago are
the contractors who supply Walsh's
advanced arithmetic. In this state the
retail price paid is IS cents, while in
Indiana it is only As cents. Fifteen
cents is the difference in the price OF
a Walsh's primary arithmetic in Mon
tana and Indiana. Here it sells for
As cents, in the other state for 80
cents.
It should be borne in mind that the
contract made by the state with these
outfits provides specifically that the
prices to be charged by them for
books shall be in every instance as
low as the lowest charged by them
in any other state. This aplies to
. contracts then in force or those to
be made subsequently to the n en-
tered into with Montana. The fig
ures given show that something is
wrong somewhere. BY comparison 1t
!. is charged that a difference of so per
cent exists between the prices Mon
tana has to pay for books and those
paid by Georgia and Indiana. Mr.
: WEIGH states that since the present
! from the firms named have been ship
! ped into the state to the value of $685.
: 900 and that one-half of it represents
, the ~overcharge made.
. The intention is to bring proceed
ings against the delinquents and com
: pei them to. make restitution. In addi
! ton it is probable that steps will be
taken to declare the bonds given by
the firms forfeited, as they have vic
lated the provisions of the contracts
in surety of which the bonds have
! been given. The bond of CHM & Co
) is for $4,000. and that of Heath &
. Co. $500.
. Billings victimized.
: Whether any action has been take1
= by Mr.. WEIGH to ascertain how thu
contracting firms are adhering to the
terms of their obligations in this par
of the state is not known, but the sup
\ position is that his inquiries owe thu
! entire state. Although nothing ha'
been done by any one so far as !!
= known, it seems to be an accepted
fact that the o~vercharging complaine'
of by the superintendent has beel
! practiced here to the same exten