The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1905-03-28
FIGHT AGAINST
BOOK CONCERNS
Steps Being Taken to Thwart the
Trust and Allied Organ
izatiOnS.

BOlSE, March 21.-The Statesman
says: 1t appears that, after all, the
representative of the American Book
company, who was a diligent worker
during the session of the legislature,
scored victory. 1t had been supposed
he went away defeated, after his bill
making provision for continuation of
existing book contracts had failed to
pass. He secured the defeat of an
other measure, however. which, it is
believed, will leave the field open after
| this year for the book trust and allied
organizations.
| The trust representative worked
quietly He secured the services of
several attorneys and some educators.
and when he discovered he could not
| get his measure through he redoubled
his efforts with the view of killing the
measure that he considered antagon-
istic to the interests of his people. This
was house bill No. 76. and provided for
the appointment of a new text book
commission to meet in February. 1905.
and every six years thereafter. to Sc
lect uniform series of free text books.
| Its supporters claimed that the bill
was based on practical results in other
states that had fought the book trust.
The bill passed the house with practic
ally no opposition. 1t met is death in
the senate.
The book company bill provided that
all existing contracts should be ex-
tended for six years, providing the
publishing houses We're willing to sign
new contracts. There was never any
doubt on that score. The books In
cluded in the present contracts are in
many instances antequated. The con-
tract price is higher it is said. than
the books can now be bought in the
open market The book trust and other
companies having contracts would
have jumped at the chance of extending
the contracts for six years. This bill
was killed by the house. however.
Who Will Buy the Books
The state is left without provision for
new text book contracts, all the con-
tracts expiring next September. the
question now arises: Does the require
. ment that school districts furnish the
books expire with the contracts? Tha'
is a point that has not yet been de-
cided. although the general belle1 Is
that districts hereafter will not be re-
, o,ired to purchase the books. The mat.
ter has been referred to Attorney Gen
eral Guheen by Miss Scott, the state
superintendent. and he will give ar
opinion soon.
IF II is held that the districts neec
not pay for books after this year th'
hook publishing houses viii enter th'
field actively and undertake to delus'
the districts with new books. AS tn'
law requiring uniformity VIII nave
been wiped out. they viii attempt u
Introduce as many series as posSible II
order 70 destroy all sembance of sys
, tenn. so that any attempt to rehaol!itau
the old Law two years hence VIII be me
with protests from districts that IN
hook men expect, will be plentifnlil
supnlied by that time.
plan of State Superintendent
Misc Scott has plan that she hope
t uiu thwart the plans of the eooi
: boreas If il shall be held that TN
: free book law is null and void. she VII
ire A uniform course of study ina
win require the use of large percent
u e,e of the books now on hand. som
: s,,nnlemental books will have 10 %
o purchased bat the outlay VIII be Ver'
small In comparison to the expense
e comnIete new series. If she can seenr
the cooperation of all the school dlS
: tricts in this matter she believes VI
matter can be tided over until the mex
: LEGISLATURE meets without putting n
districts to heavy expense. she De
1t lieves the next legislature VIII De SUI
fcientlv informed on the SUBJECT 10 eiI
2. act legislation that will give the scfi'oi
a uniform system of free text DOCS
IS without placing them in the grasp
the book trust.