The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-10
Mr., Bell on Stand.

Wr. Bell on Stand.
Mr.. r.. o.. Bell. of the Bell Book and
| Stationary Company. was called and
| questioned by Mr.. Byrd.
lila your attention been directed at
any time to the purchase or books for
the travelling libraries of the state?' he
was first asked,
YES, SIR"
From whom were these books pur-
chased?''
George p. Putnam & Son, OF New
York.
Have you ever seen the invoice of
these books?"
Yes, sir"
'1lave you investigated the matter of
prices?r
II have
Please state the result of your inves-
tigation.''
II found that in certain instances about
two prices were paid
could have been bought for Is or 20 per
cent. cheaper than they We're"
t'Pleasc take this invoice and point out
specific Instances where exorbitant prices
We're charged
''Irving's Sketch Book" lie said, 'is
one. = and the witness undertook TO show
thai 1913 per cent. more had been paid
for the book han it could have been
bought for OF Houghton-Miflin or Apple
ton.
please explain If there were any bids
for these books"
There were none. Mr.. Kennedy told
me so himself"
Gould you have furnished them for
less?"
II could
Would you nave lone so?"
II would"
do you observe any books on that list
that could havc been purchased at the
city book stores for less than was paid
for them2'
Witness named several. and declared
that 1t wa n well known fact that they
were on sale mt Miller & Rhoads's and
other retail stores. as we'll as at most
of the regular BOOK stores.
Witness resumed his comparisons. and
pointed out that two editions of Robin
Hood We're bought, one at 81 and one
at So.
What can n satisfactory edition of
Robin Hood be bought for?" Mr.. Byrd
asked.
There is an edition OF the book at 81,
but I can't state of my own knowledge
that this is a satisfactory edition. / was
told that the object of buying these books
in New York was to get a standard to
go by"
II notice n number of these heavy
books for children. Can you explain as
to them?'
This would be difficult, as I hn ,e rot
the books before me. I will say there
would IA been no trouble to get the
books here promptly. The State would
ave saved from Is to 20 per cent on
competition"
No Definite System.
Were these books purchased upon
any definite SYSTEM"
~ do not believe they We're
Was there. in your opinion, dlseriml-
nation and decretion used In the pur-
chase of these books?"
NO
''yvhy not?'
81 don't know that I could say why.
It may have been through Incompetence
"ETow could 1t have been done better?''
by careful examination and by COM
petition"
Would a competent buyer have known
that they could have been bought
cheaper"
He most assuredly would"
rs there any reason why several edi-
tons of these books should have been
bought at different p~rices?'
Certainly not; especially when it was
said that the purchaser was looking for
a standard to go by"
did you ever complain that You and
other dealers had not been allowed to
BLDG"
II complained to Mr.. s. S. p. Patteson,
n member of the Library Board, last
spring. / wrote n letter complaining,
and Mr.. Patteson advised me to with
hold 1t, as hereafter competitive bids
would be asked for. / did withhold the
letter at Mr.. Pattoson's Instance
Mr.. Bells Letter.
Here the following letter from the
Bell company TO the Library Board was
read by Chairman Byrd and identified
by the witness:
November 2, 1906.
Chairman Virginia State Library Board.
Richmond, Va:
Dear Sir,-It has doubtless reached the