Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-20
COMBINE IN SCHOOL BOOKS
Des Moines Board to Lay Evidence
Before Grand Jury.
INSIST SOME STATES FAVORED
Indiana, Oklahoma and kansas, II IL
Charged, Given Better Prices Than
Can BE Secured In Iowa for
Same Books.
From a staff CorresroHdentN

- $3.50
DIES MONIES. Sept. 49, (speclal)-Evi
dence will be laid before the federal grand
fury at this place by the Des Moines Board
Of Education in an effort TO show that there
is a school book trust and illegal combina-
ton in restraint OF trade. The local board
claims that prices on school books SUBJ
mitted by the American Book company, d.
Appleton g. Co. and CHM & Co. are all the
same figure and that these prices are Is per
cent higher than the prices quoted by the
same companies in Indiana, Oklahoma and
Kansas, where the state buys the books
through commissions
Iowa has a uniform school text book law.
The State Board Of Educational Examiners
constitutes a commission to pass upon
school books, but the local city boards Of
education make the purchases. There have
been many allegation of trusts existing in
the school book business, but so far as is
known this will be the first case In which
any evidence will be submitted to a grand
jury, II the local authorities carry out
their announced determination in that direc-
ton.
In making the contract for school books
this year the Des Moines Board Of Educa-
ton contracted for $1,000 to $4,000 worth
and in spite Of the efforts Of the board to
beat the prices down, the prices are claimed
to be 20 to Is per cent higher than in many
other states.
On the question of Biographies It Is as.
serted by the local board that they are
charged "a cents each. while in Kansas,
Oklahoma and Indiana the price is rs cents
Thu books are published in Boston and the
freight rates are not a matter of consldera-
ton. The Des Moines Board OF Education
has, however, secured concessions in the
matter of exchanges, the period being
raised to two years and the bookmen claim
this gives Des Moines the best book con-
tract in Iowa.
Union Labor Hears Both sides.
Union labor in Des Moines will hear
both sides of the political question. Ar
rangements have been made by a COM
mittee of the Trades and Labor assembly
to have speeches by B.. f. Carroll, repub-
lican candidate for governor; Congress-
man j. A. T. Hull and George Dobson,
ex-secretary of state, Will speak at a
meeting to be held in the hall September
rs. Hon. Fred White, the democratic
candidate for governor; c. o. Holly, dem
ocratic candidate for congress; Jerry
Sullivan and ]. NJ. Parsons, all demo-
Gratis, will speak there September 2s.
After FraternaI Lodge.
The Des Moines Commercial club has
appointed a committee of business men
to make an effort to secure the location
of the head offices of the Modern Brother.
hood of America at this place. 1t is now
at Davenport. The order will build soon
an $4,000 office building.
state Federation of Labor Meets.
President A. l.. Urick has called a meet
Ing of the State Federation of Labor TO
be held at Cedar Rapids September 81,
In respons to the call OF President Comp
ers to decide on whether or not to enter
the political arena.
Predicts Big Corn Crop,
DR.. Chappelle of the United States
weather bureau here today said that with
favorable weather conditions for three
weeks the corn crop in Iowa will be TO-
0o0, 900 or 20, 900, 900 bushels greater than
last year. He says that 76 per cent of
the crop is now safe from frost and that
within three weeks the entire crop will
be safe from the cold.