The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-30
Report Shows That Virginia Phi.
rs pills Pay Higher Rate Than
Charged Elsewhere.
MULTIPLE SYSTEM TO BLAME.
The State Board Criticized and
Changes Recommended to
Protect the Citizens.

Uniformity in the school books Of
the state under a single list IS unani..
0 SPECIAL eoslse 81 ' me 's Vpa q
Il slslaturc which has been consider
ing the meter Of textbooks during
the past TWO years The fe s,. that the
present is higher than that charged
for the same Identical book in num-
Der Of other states, is clearly shown.
the additional, COST on books used BY
all the way from 4 per cent TO 60 per
cent The report fixes. the blame for
his state Ct affairs poth on the multi.
BE Slate sy5 ssar n9 dn yaESs an We
the report distinctly states did not, In
the opinion OF the committee, sutti-
cientls safeguard the interests of the
State In the matter of prices.
Under a Joint resolution of the last
legislature, this committee, consisting
Of Speaker Byrd. Delegate Cox and
senator STROBE, was directed to sit dur
ing the recess OF the General Assembly.
md report on q number of matters
ronuersrd WIKI The school book sup
ply. I re report Is unanimous in It's
in Virginia, but does not find that the
way IS open for the State. with due
consideration TO economy, TO publish
The text-books used BY the public
Sschool pupils at present.
Proves Charge by Table.
The elaborate table presented with
the report shows The cost of various
standard textbooks in different States,
and proves conelustvely that Virginia
is getting the heavy end of the deal.
For instance, the Graded Literature
book used in Virsi costs % cents.
whiie in South Carolina the price is
y cents Hydesr grammar, listed In
Nirsin!a At IS cents, Is sold to the
children OF Texas at 80 cents. the adj
ditonal cost to Nirginians being 80
per cent.
IA
says;s1t can be generally said that
Virginia pays more for her school,
books than any other State in the
II Union With the eSception Of perhaps
States have a multiple or a single
adoption
since, the people Of Virginia pay out
snnually for textbooks. of the -pri,
mary and grammar school grades alone
over 100000, 1t can readily be seer
what this inequality means. The rea-
sons advanced by the report for tn,
high prices are. the system adopted bS
Burc OF the board TO make the hes
possible contracts, the frequent anc
unnecessary changes in the list, and Thu
method of distribution.
Put to Double Expense.
Under the present system Of listing
books for public school use the pub
fishers are put to the dual expense o
presenting their publications first be
u
on the eligible list, and then befor
each Of the III local school district
70 have the book used entailipg Il COS
q Tor the presentation OF books employ
ment of8agents and attorneys, estmat
ed AZ not less than 100000, which til,
+ publishers naturally expect to get bacl
iyom the people of the State, Uni
<. lormitS and economy are DESTROYED
Rlttl no conlpcnsatng advantages. TIL
3GEuHtnittee nolus that section 1872 of TIL
4 Eoh stl1np IN Of Virginia imposes upui
the State Board the power and rcspon
ss GplAly OF the selection OF tent hooks
81 &nd mat the tnashod of .doption i,
3ss vogue is surrender OF this power an,
~ EVASION Of this reguonsibIiity, TIL,
committee urges the General Assembl,
E " Pass sus laws as Will prevent In,
} esthpilsh beyond further contention
ti3 ne iarlhcipie q The single book list.
That the change from the uIuitin1,
e fD the single lis, should he IN such !,
manner az 10 work In. least unssihl,
SSg8i haIdship, the committee recomTirI,,
kt that those counties that desire ma,
petition 10 continue the books now /,
nac for limited period, whether fhe
&6iliats or not. p
That contracts were mot carefuu
d made. and thai the state Board Of Ia
uea.top did not suftcently sofegua I
& the interests of the State Is show.
u urasn the fact that the present Sune,
i 4 3lntsncertt of Public Instruction he
II .ohiasnsd considerable reductions
is ftbe prices 81 certain books recentl
1hded 10 the Hist hH8the simple methr
AS 90 tntelaigen egotiatlon with tho pnl
- Isa4s ~ Recommendations Of q 81.