The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-06-21
BOOK PUBLISHERS TO BID.
NEW PROPOSITION REQUESTED
By STATE BOARD.
Exchange Price Section of Proposed
Contract in Adoption OF Text Books
for South Carolina Schools Object
ed to by Some Bidders.

eu 10 Dy Sonic 1SluucfS.
Columbia, June 19.-The State
board of education struck a snag here
today in the matter of contracts for
the adoption of te>; books for the
schools of the State, and all bids will
be disregarded and the entire matter
reopened. The exchange price sec
ton of the contract halted the board
and, following full discussion and
then taking a vote tonight, the board
decided to amend the contract and
ask the book men to put in new bids.
An amendment, offered by Prof.
O'Driscoll, of Charleston, was adopt
ed by vote of to 4, and the effect
of this amendment was TO change the
form Of the contract. This amend
ment is with regard to the exchange
Of old books for new ones, and it is
figured that the saving to the chill
dren of the schools will be five cents
a book.
The board today found itself in the
position that some of the houses.
from which it was desired, probably,
that books be had. did not wish to
place bids on these books under the
contract as framed by the board. The
exchange section of the contract was
regarded too strict and this was
pointed out at the meeting and much
discussion had.
After the discussion thereon the
O'Driscoll amendment was put, the
vote by districts resulting: lst dis
trict, aye; Ind, no; 3rd, no; 4th, aye;
9Th, aye; 9Th, no; 7th. aye; Secretary
Swearingen, no; Governor Blease,
aye. Total, ayes, 5, Noes, 4. So the
amendment carried
At the meeting to be held in the
Governors office tomorrow morning,
the representatives of the publishing
houses who are here Will be called in
for consultation. If these men are in
the revised contract, the board will
be able to get to work Immediately
again; but if the houses must be
communicated with first by the
agents before they can submit the
new bids, then an adjournment will be
taken for week or ten days until
this can be done. All book companies
viii have the privilege now Of sub
'''tti~" bids lust as before under tho
revised "'nu"",. 4. .ne u.. ting TO-
m,h Governor Hlsas. -,.t.F mis- .o
'i,ion i'm the exchange matter.
Governor El,as" said. ii voted for
the present form Of contract which
has been submitted to the various
book houses belies ing that the sub
committee which ;Xed up the same,
had thoroughly iamiliarized them
selves with conditions. I am abso-
-utely opposed to allowing the book
houses TO dictate terms TO this State
and under no conditions would / vote
70 permit it. From the explanations
given by the various agents, some
of them being high officials in the diff
terence companies. l recognize the
fact that in one instance were we to
insist upon our contract, it would de-
prive the children Of the State Of the
use of some Of the best books now in
use in the public schools and, be-
heVine that we should give to the
children the very best reading matter
which can possibly be obtained, l ia
Vor rejecting al Of the bids now be-
fore us and g. modification Of the
contract in regard to the exchange
prices, and give ten days in
which all houses should be allowed
10 put in such bids as they see fit, be-
cause l think it would be very un-
fair to the house which have accepted
Our contract to allow these which
have not accepted to see their prices
and then have an opportunity 10 IN
derbid them, and the fairest way is to
allow all the privilege Of rebiddng."