The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-09
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Text Book Commission Com
pletes Its "Heavy" Work.
Readers, ArithmeticS and GeOg-
raphies Are Ado pied.
Old FIRMS LOSE ALL.
Silver -BurdetteW WillFurnish the
Readers.
Scribner Gets Biographies
ScOtt-FOrsman Arithmetics.

book commission in session at the
state house is to the effect that the
American Book company is being
given a very black eye, and that the
| three prize contracts, said to be worth
from 100000 to $150,000 each. have
been given to the following firms:
Readers-Silver, Burdette & Co.
Arithmetics-Scott Forsman & Co.
Biographies Scribner's Sons.
How this information became pub
lie is a good deal of a mystery but 1t
is believed to be reliable. There is a
heavy penalty provided by the law
for any member of the commission
who gives out information concerning
what is going on behind the closed
doors of the commission room.
The lobbies of the hotels contain
many groups of anxious book men,
waiting to hear the result of the COM
missions work. The whole topic of
conversation is speculation on the
awards, and it has become generally
known that the text book commission
is knocking out the present series of
state text books at almost every point.
I'VE know" said one of the book
men, that the commission is cutting
and slashing things
The award of the reader, arithmetic
and geography contracts are severe
blows to the book trust AT the last
letting of contracts. the trust secured
the contracts for both readers and
biographies. The arithmetic contract
five years ago went to Scott, Fors-
man, but not on the same book which
is offered to the state this year. The
fact is that there will be complete
new deal next year and new books
must be bought.
1t is claimed by some that the Sill
ver-Burdette company, which has
way allied to the American Book COM
pany. One of the book house repre-
sentatives stated this morning that tn he
American Book company owns con-
trolling interest in the Silver -Burdette
firm. This is of course denied. The
silver -Burdette reader was originally
known as the old Morris reader, but
the Silver-Burdette company bought
the rights to the book, and claim to-
have paid therefor over 100000. The
Silver -Burdette reader is very hand
some book. and in illustrations, paper
and binding was one of the hand-
soonest readers submitted to the COM
mission. Some of the advocates of
other readers criticise the Silver-Bur-
dette reader on the ground that II is
not well arranged and contains mat
ter which should not be presented 10
The gossip is that the fight in the
commission was between the wooster
readers and the Silver-Burdette read
readers the Crane readers, and other
competitors did not develop suf1clent
strength to make them formida BILE,
and when it came to the final show
ceived the necessary five votes.
The Scribuer Biographies adopted for
the next five years are also books OF
unusual elegance from a mechanical
throughout with a profusion of half
tone cuts, and the maps are eXcep- !
tionauy fine. Charles f. King, the
author of the Biographies, has for 30
years been engaged in grammar school !
teaching and has also lectured extern
siveIy to teachers on the teaching of
Geography conference. Most of the
pictures printed in the books were |
made from photographs taken by MI
King himself.
Commissioners Won't Talk.
The members of thu text book COM
mission are at work in tt- private Of
fee of the state superintendent behind |
doors which are not only closed, but
are locked. Whenever one of the
members desired to step outside, he
hos to unlock the door, and when he
returns he locks the door after him.
Frank Nelson. former state superin-
tendent, and one of the leading mem
bers of the present commission, was
asked this morning whether there was
he could say about the pro-
gress of the work.
s'The law says 1 must not talk, and
so I will make this sign replied Mr..
Nelson. putting his finger across his
"You are going to leave the state. it
going to JAN!
without going to pail?'
Eyes, but 1 might want to come back
TO Kansas sometime" said Mr.. Nelson
laughing.
d. o. McCray was almost as talka-
tive as Mr.. Nelson.
when do you expect to finish your
work?" was asked of him.
"If we don't get along any faster
than we have today don't know when
it will be-
And then Mr.. McCray made a dash
for the commissioners room, fearing
he had said too much.
c. A. Sterr, assistant state superin-
tendent of education, who acts as
sort of outer guard to the commission
ars' room said:
I'VE haven't seen anything of the
book agents since the secret sessions
commenced 1t has been very dull
around here. 1 haven't heard the slight
est bit of information as to what the
commission is doing, or what it has
lone, or how far 1t has progressed with
is work, or when it will be through
don't believe anything authentic has
been made public.
1t is expected that the session of the
will be finished by the close
If this week.