The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-12-21
BOOKS TO Be ADOPTED
Important Work For State Board Of
Education.

VIII ue cdileu upou HeAt sprung W
Adopt list of text books to be used in
the public schools. Uniformity in the
use of books is very much desired, but
very few city schools use the same
books as other city schools or as the
free rural schools.
In regard to this matter, the State
superintendent Of education, Hon. o.
3. Martin, says in his report to the
legislature:
"The contract for text books used
in the schools under the adoption of
the State bord of education will ex-
pire on July ], 1906. The law govern
in the adoptions has been amended
from time to time, until it has become
somewhat inconsistent, and it seems
to me that a general law should be
passed which will unity and simpyfy
the situation. Section 1899 of the
code provides that county boards of
education shall set aside an amount
mot exceeding $500 for the purpose
? of providing the public attending the
free public schools Of the their count
les with school text books at actual
esst or exchange prices
"By special proviso, ten counties
have been exempt from the manda-
tory provisions of this act, namely:
Charleston, Chesterfield, Edgefeld,
Georgetown, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lau-
rens, Greenwood, Lexington and Rich
land. At the last session of the legis-
lature bill was passed allowing town.
ship repositories to make a profit Of
not more than 10 per cent. on the cost
price of the books. Under the con-
tract now in force, no restriction is
put upon prices at which books may
be sold by dealers, so there is natur-
ally a great deal of confusion and
some dissatisfaction in the handling
of the books. To begin with, the cost
price is stamped on the back of the
book. A township depositary may
add 10 per cent. to this price. At this,
the purchaser naturally wonders. The
dealer, I am informed, frequently
adds Is to 25 per cent, and even more.
The purchaser then wonders again.
If it is desired to furnish the books
at actual cost, then I think the India
ma plan is best, namely, have State
depository to which the publishers
sell the books at the yowest compet-
tive bids. The State repositories
then furnish to the county depositor-
les at cost, and the county depositor-
les in turn furnish them to the people
at cost.
"This is good theory, but it puts
a vast amount OF very difficult labor
upon school officers who have other
multituduous duties. 1t seems to me
that the plan that has been adopted by
a majority Of the States which have
State uniformity is simpler and bet
ter one. Any purchaser is willing tc
pay a reasonable per cent. for the
handling of merchandise Of and kind.
1t is generally agreed that 10 per cent.
is a reasonable profit on a staple arti-
Gle. I think the law ought to provide
for strict contract with the publish
ers at a price to be stamped on the
back of each book and provide also
that the books shall not be sold any
where in this State above that price
1t should provide also that this price
be determined by sealed bids, pro-
tected by bond.
"The State board should have the
right to reject any and all bids which
are greater than 10 per cent. on the
cost price Of the book. The cost price
can be readily determined by COM
parison with the price list in this Of
fee from other states, and especially
such a State as Indiana, which buys
books direct at a wholesale price. This
10 per cent. should then be included
in the price stamped on the back Of
the book, and the publisher bound by
contract and bond not to allow deal
ers to sell their books unless they will
agree to sell them at the price stamped
on the back. This will enable all pur-
chasers to get the books at a fixed
price, and a reasonable profit will
have already taken out of that price
as discount.
eff the dispository system is main
tanned in the counties which now have
it, 1 believe the county superintendent
ought to be allowed the same 10 per
cent. discount which is allowed to the
dealers. If this were true, I believe
tbt county sr2erintendents in the 10
counties whefe the depository act is
op onal would handle the books and
this -'ould serve as a check on the
deale ]. / think the county superin-
ten, It ought to be allowed the profit
on unit Of the extra work and to
enab. M to provide extra clerk hire
al, unusually busy seasons, when it is
impossible for him to be at the office.
am informed that under the present
contract, the publishers have been
r ing from 5, ,, 10 per cent. discount
dealers on at is now understood
to be the cost pffce.
Of course, the county superintendet
cannot expect this discount, because