The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-11-05

expectans moth II NLNUs
erS, which con-
tains much valuable information.
BRADrLELD REGULATOR CO., Atlanta, Ga
and obtained and the general good
to be accomplished should be briefly
set forth for the information of those
who so far have an inadequate and in
correct conception of the meaning of
the new law.
How the Commissions Worked.
1t is well in this connection to quote
from the statute as to the duties Of
the commission and the sub commits
sion. The law provides that the
governor shall appoint a sub commits
sion composed of four county super
intendents of known reputation and
standing and five teachers of known
reputation and standing, said teachers
to hold not less than first grade GER
tificate, and none of said sub com
mission shall be related in any way to
any member Of the board of state in
stitutions, nor be in the employ of any
member of said board" There are
other provisions which prevent the
USIHS COupOoOo
Of partisans and every safeguard ap-
parently essential is provided to Sc
cure fair and satisfactory work. The
law stipulates that the members of
the sub commission shall make up
their report to the main commission
upon the merits Of the books, ir-
respective of price, taking into con-
sideration the subject matter of the
books, their printing, material, me-
- es11Sf 70
bility and desirability for the purpose
for which they are desired and in
tended. Thus the sub-commission was
required to make recommendations
upon the quality of the books without
regard to price. The duties of the main
commission was to take into consider
alton also 'the price of said books"
Furthermore that they shall give due
consideration to the report and recon-
mendations of said sub commission"
From this section it is clear that the
final adoption of the books was placed
upon the main commission, composed
of the governor, the secrtary of state,
the attorney general, the comptroller,
the state superintendent of public in
struction, the state treasurer and the
commissioner of agriculture. They
were charged by the law to consider
not only the report of the sub-com-
and mechanical values of the books
along with the prices.
Better Books and Lower Prices.
1t may be fruitless to talk to The
average man about the quality of
school books. He is satisfied to leave
that to persons who know more about
it The thing which interests him
first, though it is not the thing which
concerns him most is the price. Com
parative figures show that the books
adopted under the uniform text book
law are cheaper and the books that
have been in use under the old country
adoption. More than that, COMPARE
sor, of the books then selves shows
that they are better books
1t would require a large volume to
include all the briefs that were sub
mitted to the state commissions on the
books entered in competition for state
adoption. Not only was every MEM
Der furnished with brief setting forth
the merits of each book, but the COM
petitors of that book furnished q. brief
showing its had roints. just here il
occurs to inquire when was there ever
such a large number of publishers
and publications represented before a
school book adopting board in Flor
ida? Such a thing under county adop-
ton is unheard of. 1t is safe to ven
ture the statement that hardly any
county in Florida ever had more than
six competitors before it, and the ma
jority of them never had even so
many, and then the subjects were not
submitten in the fullness and detail
that they were before the state COM
missions.
Some Advantages of Uniformity.
Lower prices than those obtained
under county adoption are absolutely
guaranteed under state adoption. This
cannot be successfully denied. Each
publisher awarded a contract to sup
ply books under the recent adoption
has given a bond in the sum of $10,-
10000 for the faithful performance of
his contract, which in substance is:
That he shall keep an adequate supply
of his books in the hands of a required
number of dealers in Florida; that his
dealers shall not sell at a higher price
than the figures printed on each book;
that he nor his dealers shall sell any
book at higher price than the same
book is sold for in any state, country
or school district in the United States;
samples of all books are required to
be filed in the Office of the secretary of
state, which can be used at any time
during the next five years, the period
of adoption, to recover from any pub
Usher awarded contract to furnish
books which affords certain protec-
ton against the INSCRIPTIONS pub
Usher who might attempt to furnish
cheaper books in quality than his con-
tract calls for. Every book is re-
quired by law under state adoption to
be stamped with these words: The
price hereon is fixed by state con-
tract, and any deviation therefrom
should be reported to your county
Superintendent of Public Instruction,
or the satte Superintendent at ITALIA
hassee.
Suppose every commodity offered for
sale in Florida bore such a stamp, it
wouldn't be so hard then for the poor
consumer to calculate the difference
between his income and his Ieces-
Sary expenditures. This of itself is
a great advantage, which state uni