The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-11


in the public schools as provided for
by the charter amendment now before
the people, will cost from $4,000 to
$4,000, according to the estimate Of
Supt. A. J. Smith. In addition Dr. JUS
tus Ohage, the health commissioner,
says there is grave danger incident to
the indiscriminate use of text books,
in the spread of contagious diseases.
A crusade in favor of free text
books in st. Paul has been main
tanned by the local Trades and
Labor assembly, Of which body E. C.
Ives was made the representative on
the charter commission. At all times
Mr. Ives was very much in earnest in
his efforts to secure favorable action
on the proposed amendment, being as
sisted by John Blomquist. They pro-
duced statistics from Minneapolis, Du-
luth, Omaha and other nearby cities,
showing apparently that the cost of
free text books when furnished by the
city is about so cents per pupil, and
contended that the expense is double
this sum when the pupils are compelled
to furnish them.
Met With Opposition
Henry Won der Weyer and other
members of the commission opposed
the system. Mr.. Won der Weyer ar
gued that there is being spent in st.
Paul some 100000 a year for the
maintenance Of private schools, and
that these persons would receive no
benefit from the adoption of free text
books. They would, however, be tax
ed additionally to maintain the schools.
He contended that the $750,000 a year
hof, h0
is a burden to the taxpayers, who are
compelled to meet heavy levies for
other purposes.
The objection of Mr.. Won der Weyer
was ineffective, it being developed that
petition containing the necessary
number of signatures to compel the
submission had been secured. Several
of the commissioners were opposed to
the submission but in the face of the
necessity of putting the question to
vote, preferred to have it go on the
ballot as the action of the commission,
instead of by petition.
Supt. Smith believes that the annual
cost of maintaining the system as to
books in the grades, after undergoing
the cost of introduction, will necessitate
the expenditure of $4,000 year, with
the additional outlay that will almost
certainly be incurred if the plan is
adopted, of giving to the pupils sta
tionery, pencils and other supplies.
General use of pencils, declares DIR.
Ohage, is far more dangerous, and
therefore subject to stronger criticism,
than is the general use of books Incl
dent to the free text book plan.
First Cost Will Be $35, 900
There is no question that the first
cost of the necessary books will be
tod
Smith, when questioned on the subject.
1T has been argued that the first years
expense would not exceed that of sub
sequent like periods, but this does not
accord with the experience of other
cities 1t does not seem possible to
figure the first cost of Introduction at
less than $4,000, and it is altogether
likely that the expenditure will be as
high as $4,000 The estimate of those
favoring the plan that the expense will
be $4,000 a year after the Introduction
of the system is fair. 1t is not likely
that the annual expense will exceed
this amount.
"a majority of the teachers are, be-
| lieve, favorable to the installation of
free text books. They are acting upon
the belief that all pupils would in such
case be supplied with all necessary
books at the beginning of the term. At
!
all the books prescribed until some
weeks after the sessions begin, and
many of the teachers believe that this
causes a comparatively poor showing
| at the end of the term. This is, of
course, a trial to the teachers, but they
fail to consider the work and worry
they will be compelled to undergo un-
| der the free text book system. The
| teachers will then be made responsible
for the care of the books and their con-
dition at the end of the semester. With
| the introduction of free text books
| there will come demand for free sup
| plies, and the labor incident to looking
/ after these will increase the work Of
| the teachers"
sit is not my purpose to oppose the
wishes of the people in this matter, but
I state these facts as a personal nara
ton of my knowledge concerning the
subject"
Dr.. Ohage Points Out Danger
DR.. Ohage says that there is grave
danger from infectious diseases if there
| is an indiscriminate use of text books.
| 1T will be easily possible for infec-
! tious diseases to be communicated by
| the indiScriminate use of free text
| books said DIR. Ohage. IF the danger
| of spreading diphtheria, scarlet fever
and other contagious diseases from the
| general use of school books is to be
overcome it will be necessary to use
| the utmost precaution. The introduce
ton of pencils to be used promiscu-
ously would be thousand times more