The Detroit times., 1911-03-09

ceiyed. and one company bid the full
! 25 Der cent on on many OF Its books,
i but IL did not concede the freight, nor
would II drop the fractional part OF
a cent when the 20 per cent on re-
suits In a fraction, both OF which are
concessions TO the Cleveland board.
On Baldwinis First Reader this
amounts TO 8 SO per cent. OF the
other publishers some submitted the
old figures, and other made various
unsatisfactory rates and conditions.
| Under rule formulated by Mr.
Mumford no books have been bought
recently at higher price than 20 per
cent on and consequently fewer books
have been bought.
Unless the people elect a majority
OF reform inspectors at this election
the publishers will hold out and force
the higher prices when more books
are TO be bought IL reform board
is elected We will get all the conces-
sions given To Cleveland, and We will
save more than $4,000 during the
next ten years for parents OF high
school pupils alone.
Il cannot believe that the people
will tolerate longer this deliberate
robbery"
Beer and Education.
Mr.. Martindale seems to rely large
ly upon the liquor element for his
strength, az shown by the fact that
the saloon element throughout the
city may be counted on TO support
him. Anthony Treppa, Polish saloon
keeper, was made chairman OF the I'M
liz IN
the last board. In this connection
an incident occurring at the Central
High school, about year ago, 10 sig
nificant. Harry Rickel, a malster and
president Of a national organization
OF tradesman allied with the
liquor business. spoke for two
hours before an organization
OF girls and boys OF the high school TO
convince them that their text books
on physiology and hygiene were all
wrong on the subject OF the evils OF
the liquor habit. and put before them
all OF the specious arguments OF the
great liquor organizations, including
their garbled statistics and garbled
quotations from great men. When the
responsibility for this occurrence was
put up to Mr.. Martindale and the
propriety OF II questioned, he stated
In the public press that he neither
condemned nor approved" the occur
renee. The board OF education
promptly passed rule which un-
equivocally made the superintendent
responsible for such occurrences in
the future. Because Of public in
dignation this was done In spite OF
the superintendent protest, but
shortly afterwards he succeeded in
having this rule rescinded.
More About Treppa.
Apropos OF Mrs. Osborn's letter on
text books, IL might not be amiss TO
recall that last years board Of edu-
cation had no other person for chair
man Of the text book committee than
Saloonkeeper Anthony M. Treppa.
On March %, 1909, The Journal
sought an interview with Saloonkeep-
er Treppa on the discrimination in
prices OF text books as affecting De
troit and Cleveland.
Treppa was found serving out
drinks behind his bar. He said he
knew nothing about the text book
matter and referred the reporter to
Martindale. The reporter insisted
that Treppa, as chairman or the com
mittee, should know something about
the situation, whereupon Treppa de-
clared that he didn't Then he mop
ped the suds from the top Of his bar
and turned again to his patrons, who
were demanding more beer and whis-
ky. He would talk no further on the
subject.
Detroit, Mich, April 2, 1909.
To the Editor OF TIE Timess
To u true that the Detroit board OF
school books than the Clevsaa.d board
Of educati0n r. paying for the same
seekss III 20. why 10 thai ,,-r,
ut Is true that the Detroit board OF
education IL paying higher prices for
text books than does the Cleveland
board. The prices are from 8 per
cent to 10 per cent on the average
above the prices paid by the Cleve-
land board. These are the prices on
elementary books. II Is also true that
the Cleveland board saves it's high
school pupils 20 per cent as compared
with the cost to the Detroit high
scuOOi pupho.
"As to why this is SO. our textbook
committee unanimously says that 1t
does not know; but one Of them does
venture to say that he thinks II IL due
TO q school book law passed In Ohio
10 years ago. Cleveland has been
having these low prices all these
years. The present Detroit school
board ring has been In existence
about Is years. These two facts.
taken together. are probably the best
explanation that can be given as the
reason why Cleveland has low prices
and Detroit has high prices on school
books.
"Our present textbook committee,
headed by Saloonkeeper Treppa, can
hardly be held altogether responsible
for the fact that we are continuing
to pay high prices for school books.
"The city Of Detroit has been en-
ploying q high salaried expert In
school matters. presumably to keep
1t informed as to what Is going on in
school affairs In other cities and
states. The present superintendent,
Wales c.. Martindale, has held this
position OF school expert for the city
for IL years, we-befieFe- He is now
drawing a salary OF $4,000 ayear, and
puts In a bill for travelling expenses
In addition when he visits educational
meetings outside Of Detroit. The idea