The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-04-02

tnan Is now charged by the publish.
ers. AS previously stated, this ques.
ton has been the subject of consider
alton by special committees repre-
senting the two houses for several
weeks.
AS a result of the investigation
made, Senator Aitkin of the senate
committee has introduced a bill which
constitutes the members of the state
board of education and the president
of the state normal college state
school book commission, the members
to serve without compensation for
services, only actual expenses being
allowed them. It is made the duty of
this commission to select books of the
proper standard to be used in the
schools of Michigan, and from the list
SO selected the county school author
tiles are to in turn select the books
they wish used in the schools within
their respective jurisdictions. These
county authorities are to notify the
commission Of the number of such
books desired, and the commission is
thereupon to negotiate with the pub
fishers for the purchase OF the neces-
sary books.
Discriminate Against Michigan.
If the publishers will name a price
within the maximum fixed by the stat
ute, the books will be purchased.
Otherwise the commission is directed
to procure the necessary manuscripts
and advertise for bids for publishing
the books. 1t is figured that the scale
of prices fixed in the bill average fully
100 per cent lower than those now
charged for books In this state.
Michigan, according TO the facts re-
vealed by the committees investiga-
tion, is being Disseminated against in
this particular, the report showing
that Indiana, California, Kansas and
Ontario have for some time been pur.
chasing books at the prices named in
the bill. An idea of the cuts made in
the bill from present prices which
have long prevailed in Michigan may
be gained from the following: Spelling
books, 10 cents, present price 25
cents; United States history, so cents,
present price 81; third reader, %
cent, present price so cents; fourth
reader, 80 cents, present price GO
cents; complete geography, rs cents,
present price $1.25. In case the com.
mission finds it necessary to have spe
cial books published, it is provided in
the Aitkin bill that the contract may
be let to one publisher for all the
books or for one or more of them.
Free Text Books.
Whether determined effort will be
made to include in the measure a
provision for free text books Is still
an open question. In the case it is de-
termined to push such clause it will
provide for paying for the books out of
the primary school fund or rather that
portion of 1t not needed for the pay
ment of the salaries Of teachers sal
aries. If, after the payment of the
salaries of teachers an insufficient
sum remains to pay for the books, the
"baiance@.s to be raised by direct taxa
ton.
Another bill on this subject intro
duced by Mr.. Ogg Of the house COM
mittee places all school books used in
the public schools of the state under
the supervision of the superintendent
of public instruction and requires all
publishers to annually file in the SUI
perintendent's Office list Of minimum
prices, accompanied by an affidavit
TO the effect that the prices named are
as low as the books are sold for in
any other state. It will be observed
that the Ogg bill does not contemplate
either free or uniformed text books.
This important subject will come up
fer early consideration, and it is al
together probable that the two COM
mittees will find a common ground to
stand upon and that a bill that will
pass both houses will be evolved
Mortgage Taxation.
The question of mortgage taxation
continues to be a live one at both ends
Of the state house. Two propositions
have thus far been submitted in the
form of bills. One seeks to abolish
the taxation of real estate mortgages
altogether. The former is opposed by
many on the ground that it would re-
move a large part of the personal
property now taxed from the assess
men: rolls. This is urged, of course,
on the ground that the present system
of taxing mortgages results in double
taxation, in the concealment of taxable
property by investing it in the name
of non-residents and the discourage
ment of this class of investments and
consequently higher interest rate
than would otherwise obtain.
The other proposition is to substi-
tute for the present system tax of
one-half of one per cent on the face of
the mortgage, the tax to be paid at
the time the mortgage Is recorded. At
hearing before the senate commit
tee on the latter bill it was learned
that its passage would yield the state
an annual revenue of 100000
Bills changing the sysem of taxing
held the stage in both houses at the
telephone and telegraph companies
close of the week.
The following bills have been in
troduced in both houses:
BY Representative Fields: To esta5
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