The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-06
BUSY BOOK MEN.
They Are Being Heard Today
by Commission.
Appear Before the Board i'm
Alphabetical Order.
BIDDERS ARE MANY.
Lively Contests in Every Branch
of Learning.
Agents Requested to Stay at
Their Hotels.

Only five out of the Sc book compan-
les bidding for Kansas book contracts
were given a hearing this morning De-
fore the state text book commission
At this rate, the state text book COM
mission has about eight hours WOIA
ahead of il today, for each company
Is allowed Is minutes for argument
End the commission has decided TO hni-
IT the speech making to Monday
Some of the companies do rot use
the time allotted to them, having al
ready presented their case fully 20 tne
various members of the commission
The commission held an executive ses-
sion the first thing this morning. Win
all the members present except = y
here until Tuesday. At this executive
meeting the final preiminaFleS Were
discussed, and it was decided 10 leave
1t To the representatives of the DOCK
houses to decide in what order they
should be heard. The book men 1e-
cided to be heard alpha beticalIy, ana
the following list was made out ana
posted on the door Of the private rooms
occupied by the commission. showing
lie '.prOzra mmer for the day: Allyn
& Racon. American Book company. APP
I-Iston & Co. EaEnes o. P. Berry Cax-
ton company. Dcub company. Eaton X
&C. Educational Publishing company
CHM & Co. Glove School Book com
r,sny. Hansan. L. H. Heath & Co,
Kinds. Noble & EldreCge company
Iowa School Publishing company. Kuhn,
w. D., Lard & Lee. Macmillan & Co.,
-dountjOy. J. c. Murray. George -
Payne. E. L. Rand. McNally & Co.
Rathburn. Geo. D.. Row, Peterson &
&C., Rcudebush, E f. Row, Peterson
& Co. Sadler. Roe company, samoan
& Co. Scott FOrSe man company, SCRIP
ners Sons, Silver; Burdette c0mnany !;
Temming, r. v, the GOODYEAR Marshall
Publishing company. the Ellis Publish
il e company-National hotel-Wnosta-
& Co. Zaner & Blosser-
Delegation Here for Miss Wooster.
Miss Lizzie E Wooster. who is offer
ing the board a series of readers pre-
pared by herself. was accorded the
honor by unanimous consent OF the
bookmen present of making her argu-
ment to the board this forenoon al
though on the list she appeared near
the end Miss Wooster is the only
1t was also Miss Wooster who
brought the only outside delegation
with her to speak in behalf OF ner
books She formerly lived in Salina,
and is being aided in her fight by j. l.
Bristow. Senator Fred H. Quincy.
Judge James A. Kimbau and W. w
Watson. all OF them prominent c1tl-
zens of Salina. who want TO aid MISS
not appear as representatives of any
book concern. but as friends Of the
court"
Book Men Must Stay Away.
After the hearing today, the repre-
sentatives of the book publishing
houses. Of whom there are about fifty
in town at present. will be requested TO
refrain from making their headquar-
tiers at the office of the state supertn-
tendent-
This IS a new rule. but it seems to
meet with the approval OF the book
men. They have agreed to do their
talking. and then hide themselves in
their hotels. unless called specially be-
fore the board for additional informa-
ton. Heretofore. the outer Office of
the state superintendent has been
crowded with book statesmen all the
time the commission is in session. The
representatives have amused them
selves pitching dollars to see who
to the commission about the merits
of his books This way of doing bust
ness consumed so much time that the
session of the text book commission IN
1902 lasted for nearly a month IniS
year IL is expected that the session VIII
be all over in a week
Under the law. no information can
be given out concerning the work or
the commission until all the contracts
are awarded. Any member of the
commission who leaks even the least
bit is liable to the penalties OF the
law.
Bonds VIII Be Put Up.
Representatives of the various surety
bond companies doing business in To-
pel<a have come to the rescue of the
small bidders on text books for Kansas
by agreeing TO furnish a $4,000 bond,
good for one week from date of issue,
for a nominal fee of SO or SIS.
For a time II was feared that this
provision OF the law requiring a $4,000
bond with each bid. might operate to
bar out some Of the small independent
concerns and individuals DESTROYS Of
Offering books to the state text book
commission In previous years it had
been the custom to waive this provision
Of the law. and merely require $1,000
certified check to accompany each bid
This year, however. the attorney gem
eral gave it as his opinion that the law