Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-09-21
BOOK PRICES
IN DISPUTE
Patrons Are Charged More
Than Contract Price With
Book Companies,

a question has arisen during the
past week relative to the prices of the
newly adopted textbooks in the pub
lie schools. The question is the result
of discrepancy charged for the books
and the price named in the contract
between the book companies and the
state textbook commission
The textbook commission adopted a
uniform series Of books to be used in
the public schools Of Idaho at a meet
ing held in June, and at that time the
various textbook companies submitted
bids and entered into contracts to fur
irish textbooks for use in the public
schools of the state of Idaho in ac-
cordance with the provisions of Senate
Bill No. 81 of the ninth session of the
legislature at the prices set opposite
the title ir list provided showing the
price of exchange, price at state de-
positaries, exchange price at publish
er's. price for freight and shipments
art publishers and mailing price at
publishers.
In accordance with the provisions of
the law the book companies establish
ed four depositaries In the state, at
Boise, Pocatef1o, Coeur d'A1ene and
Lewiston, and contracted to keep a
SUFFICIENT stock of all books on hand at
these depositaries to fill all demands.
The Lewiston depositary was located
with Thatcher & Killing, and under the
terms of the contract the textbook
commission hold that the books should
he delivered by them at the prices set
forth in the list submitted and signed
by the book companies.
Thatcher & King maintain that
their contracts with the book COM
panies would not permit them to sell
at the prices named in the contract
with the textbook company without a
financial loss to themselves. In sup
port Of their position the following ex-
tract of one of the contracts is quoted:
| During the Introductory and exchange
period, which shall end Jan. 1, 1909.
consfgn (. o. b. Lewiston, to the party
of the second part {being Thatcher &
King, upon order of the said second
party, a sufficient quantity Of the
adopted textbooks to meet the demand
therefor The party of the second part
agrees to account to the party Of the
first part for all books sold during
such Introductory period at the prices
established between the party Of the
first part and the state textbook COM
mission of sthe state of Idaho (that is,
65 cents, retail, or AZ cents, exchange),
less a discount of 10 per cent and 10
per cent, it being understood that the
party of the first part shall pay all
transportation charges on introduce
tory and exchange books to and from
the local dealers and free textbook
districts whom they shall supply dur
ing the Introductory period. The party
Of the second part shall allow dealers
a commission of 10 per cent from the
state contract retail Cos cents), and
exchange (42 cents). prices during the
Introductory periods"
The 65 cents mentioned as the retail
price in the contract quoted above is
for one particular book which is fur
nished by one company, and the list
price as shown in another section OF
the contract shows the exchange price
to be AZ cents; price at state deposit
tary, 50 cents; exchange price at pub
lisher's, 80 cents; freight price at pub
fishers. 40 cents, and mailing price at
publishers, 65 cents.
A feature OF the contract quoted
states the depostary shall account to
the publisher at the price agreed upon
between the publisher and the state
textbook commission, which in this
case is IS cents. for books sold at re-
tail, less 10 per cent and 10 per cent.
This would give the book to the de-
positary for about 5s1s cents, and un-
der the terms of the contract with the
textbook commission the books should
be furnished to the pupils for 80 cents.