The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-21
FRYE MEN TALK OUT
THEY DEFEND CONTRACT TO SUP
 PLY BIOGRAPHIES.
Member of Text Bosk Commission Points Out Difference Between Alabama and Indiana Methods
 --Reason For Prices.


 While the Frye geography contract
 with the State is still held up by the Governor and Secretary of State Frank N Julian, the argument of both sides continues to grow. The Governor 8 delay ip returning from Birmingham has postponed a settlement of the question. He failed to sign the con- tract which was awarded by the Text Book Commission in June and the Secretary of State has likewise de- clined to sign.
 The opponent of the Frye geography for the Alabama schools protests against the sale of the book to the Alabama child at eighty-eight cents. while the child in Indiana only pays seventy-five cents for It. It Is claimed that the Alabama patrons ought to have the protection secured under the provision of the law guaranteeing them as low price for any book adopted as obtains in any other state.
 The supporter of the Frye geography Is quick to explain the apparent dis crepancy. It is said that a majority of the Book Commission knew what they were doing when they voted for 1 the geography adopted. It is said that
 they knew in time to annul the con- tract that there was a difference in
 the prices of the books in Alabama and
 Indiana But they claim that they
 were justified in their action by the existence of different conditions in In- diana from those which control in Ala-
 bama. The main dissimilarity is in the methods of distribution.
 One of the members of the Commits sion who is in the city had the follow ing to say yesterday:
 Under the law regulating the con- duct of the Text Book Commission we were required to contract with no pub fisher for the supply of any book or books at price higher than the price at which she same book is sold In any other state. and then it adds the pro- vision that the conditions should be the same in the two states
 "I think that an investigation will reveal a considerable difference be- tween the Indiana and the Alabama methods of distribution. Tn the first place, the State of Indiana itself undertakes the distribution of the books direct from the publishers to the school children using its own officers paid out of it's own state treasury For this service the Indiana authori- ties exact only five per cent commits | sion. The State of Alabama, on the other hand. exacts a commission of
 twenty per cent for the distribution | service. This is divided between Loveman. Joseph and Loeb, of Birm- Ing nam, the state depository, and the various sub-depositories.
 | Does not this seem to be a material difference in conditions? Some one has asked why we cannot initiate Indiana and get as low price. I reply that it is not possible under our law to dupli- cate Indiana's method. We acted under the Alabama law and that law gave us no right to impose the work on the Educational Department of m TLa Fn at tA.A
 pertinent of Education. without added help, could not undertake the vast work of distribution.
 Tt can be shown that the publishers derive less net from tn cir contracts in Alabama than in Indiana. We felt compelled to demand twenty per cent commission for the state depository because we did not feel that the work could be done adequately for less money. One of the main ideas is to get the books as speedily as possible to the patrons. Good service Is a valuable consideration.
 "I think the situation may be best described in this way: Indiana man ages to distribute for five per cent twenty per cent. The difference of fifteen per cent in my mind. repre- sents the value of the services per- formed by State machinery in Indiana. the five per cent being a nominal charge. We have been assured that if Alabama at any time sees fit to adopt the Indiana methods they stand ready to offer the book at the same price to this State
 T am not of that class who would throw down a good book because it may cost the school patrons a little more money. It is the purpose of the Commission to select good and modern textbooks in all branches. The price is not everything"
 The prediction was made yesterday that this matter may result in an ex- tra session of the Book Commission This may come at an early date as the new book must be in the hands of the children by September l and the pub fishers could not brook much more de- law