The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-12
FEARS IT IS DEAD
Senator Waggener Thinks State
Won't Print Text Books.
Rlames Trust for Thwarting
His Plans.
STILL TN COMMITTEE
Bill Has Not Yet Been Re-
ported.
Senator Griffin Suggests Foot
path Along Railroads.

] lIlS OF the american BOOK COM
pany, have entwined themselves so Sc
| curcly around a majority of the mem
| hers of the senate committee on edu-
cation and educational institutions
! that his bill, which seeks to provide
for the printing of text books for the
pupils of grammar and grade schools
under the direction of the state and
at the state printing plant, has been
smothered to such degree that its
| life has been snuffed out.
The passage of this measure would
| be a solar pleXuS blow to the machina-
tions of the book trust in Kansas,
where 1T has Toasted and added to it's
flesh for years and years at the ex-
pense of the people of the state in
their efforts to provide education for
their children.
This bill of Senator waggener's
was introduced on January e. The
educational committee of which Sena-
tor l. d. Young is chairman has had
number of meetings since that time
but no decisive action has been taken
on the bill. On this committee with
Senator Young are Senators Fitzpat-
rick, Haskell, Porter of Crawford.
Carver, Hayden, Chapman, Lower and
Simons.
Senator Waggener has the idea that
because of the influence of the book
trust the committee. or at least a ma
jority of them, have decided to let the
measure die a sort of an unnatural
death in pigeon hole in the commit
tee room, and not even do so much as
to report it unfavorably. Some report
on the bill, no matter what it was,
would get the measure before the
senate when some motion could be
made which would permit a count of
noses in the senate on the proposition.
1t is believed that a good many sena-
tors favor the plan proposed in the
bill besides Senator Waggener, but If
the committee refuses to take action
n a Wi
portunity to register their sentiments
unless Senator Waggener can force
through a motion compelling the COM
mittee to report the bill back in some
shape. This he proposes to try to do
If the committee continues to take no
action on the measure.
This most important measure pro-
vides that the governor shall name
board of FIVE from the county and city
school superintendent which shall be
known as the state school book COM
mission" The commission shall select
one of their number as a secretary who
shall receive $1,000 year 49,
This commission shall have the pow
er to compile, or have compiled by COM
petent persons, a series of text books
for all grades in the public schools
from the primary grade to the eighth
grade. and that when these books are
compiled they shall be copyrighted in
the name of the state.
1t is provided that these books shall
be printed in the state printing plant
and that the state superintendent of
public instruction and the state printer |
shall make a report on the cost of pro-
duction and distribution of the books |
and that the school book commission |
on this report shall fix price based on |
the actual cost of production at which |
the books shall be sold to the county |
school superintendents. Supervisors of |
are authorized to create re |
fund for the purchase of these
books.
Senator Young and some of the other |
members of the committee have told |
Waggener that the bill would |
hardly accomplish its purposes If enact |
ed into law because the copyrights OF |
all text books are either held by the |
American Book company or some other |
book concern. Senator Waggener recog-
nizes that this is a pertinent objection |
to the measure but specific provision is
made in 1t that the state school book |
shall compile, or have COM
piled, text books for use in the gram
mar and grade schools and under these
provisions the board could get out a
set of it's own text books for the schools
,f the state but the job would be a
tedious one.
However, Senator Waggener thinks
hat the committee ought to take some
,ction on the bill so that a full and
rec discussion of it can be had on the
ioor of the senate. good many
,ther senators are of the same opinion
Senator U. s. Griffin jumped into \
q me as a Joker of more than ordf- H
lary abilities with resolution which
he introduced. He sees that some
'ort of antipass legislation Is almost
-oads should build a foot path along
heir of way in order that INDECENT
legislators may be able to walk home
Without any undue hardships at the
resolution I
ollows:
whereas, there is little hope of the
legislative session coming to a close by
March LIST, and whereas there is a bill
-ery hard for the members to reach
heir home after that date without
money, and whereas the large part of
he munificent salary of the members
Kansas has been deposited with the
-arious hotels and boarding houses of
topeka and is not subject to check;
Therefore be it resolved, by the
enate of the state of Kansas, the
louise coneurring therein, that the
'oard of railroad commissioners be
euuested to confer with the railroad
flcials whose roads center in Topeka
o the end that they be requested at
nee to build a good, solid foot path
long their right of way at least three |
eet wide and not more than four feet
rom the outside of the rail, in order |
hat these aforesaid members may be
BILE to reach their respective homes
n safety in time to commence their
pring farming
Lieutenant Governor Fitzgerald re-
erred the resolution to the COMMITTEES |
n roads and bridges while Senator
salie Waggener was stating that it
ught to be considered imm ediately
nd while the other senators were i
aughing heartily.
On a message from the house that it
ad passed Senator Huffman's pure
God and drug bill with certain amend z
nants tha measure was taken I'D and