Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-11-01
PUBLISHERS SAID TO HAVE CON
TRiBUTED TO REPUBLICAN
CAMPAIGN FUND

why a Legislature, Republican in both
branches, passed a law and a Repub
lican Governor approved it, placing
an additional tax burden of about one
million dollars or more on the heads
of families in West Virginia, for
school books. Nor has there been
any explanation of why it is that the
users of school books are required to
pay more for the same books than is
paid in other states; or why they are
required to pay more for the same
books under Republican government
than they did when the Democrats
were in control of state affairs.
During the years from 1896 to 1901
one of the school books in use in
West Virginia was Montgomery
Leading Facts in American History
This was used under a five year con
tract made in pursuance of a law
passed by the Democratic legisla'
ture and the price for the five years
was SIS cents For fifteen years the
contract price of this book in Indiana
has been 65 cents, covering three diff
ferent contract periods OF five years
each
Under the law of West Virginia,
passed by the Republican Legislature
in 1909, this same book is required
to be used by the school children OF
this state, and the contract price for
it is S46 cents. This means that
every West Virginia school child who
studies American history during the
next five years will have to pay 20
cents more for the history than pu-
pills in other states pay to the same
company for the same book, and 20
cents more than his older brother or
sister paid for the same book when
its use was prescribed by the Demo
cratic Legislature
Prices on Readers Advanced.
Another instance of the difference
in prices is found in the case of the
readers. The Jones Readers were
adopted for use in West Virginia, the
contract for book number one being
% cents, while the price in Indiana
for the same book is 10 cents The
price of the Second Reader is 81
cents in West Virginia and Is cents
in Indiana; The Third Reader al
cents in West Virginia and % cents
in Indiana; the Fourth Reader Al
cents in West Virginia and 80 cents
in Indiana; and the Fifth Reader Al
cents in West Virginia and 40 cents
in Indiana
Another feature of the contract
made by the Republican Legislature
of 1909 affects every pupil in the
state who desires to exchange old
books and apply them toward the
payment for the new books. First,
he is required to pay more in cash
and to get less credit for his old book
than in other states. and, secondly,
it is required that books Received in
exchange shall not be torn, but must
be in condition almost equal to new.
Exchange Prices Also Higher.
When an old book is exchanged by
pupil and new book is bought the
book companies make an exchange
price which is fixed in the
on the readers required by law
Virginia, or the price which the pur-
chaser pays for them, in addition to
giving up the old books is as fol-
lows: First, 70 cents in West Vir-
ginia and cents in Indiana; second,
Is cents in West Virginia and 10
cents in Indiana; third, 20 cents in
West Virginia and Is cents in Indi-
ana; fourth, 20 cents in West Vir-
ginia and % cents in Indiana.
When the Democratic Legislature OF
1911 took up the school book question it
found law in existence providing
for a contract for school books cover
ing period of five years from July
l, 1912, and changing practically all
of the school books in use in the
state. The census of the United
States shows that there are in West
Virginia about two hundred and fifty
thousand families. 1t is estimated by
teachers that the average cost to the
family CT providing the new books
under the new contract is about 81.
This would mean a total cost of one
million dollars for the adoption of
the new school books instead of the
old
Democrats Opposed to Law
The Legislature Of 1911, believing
it unnecessary for the people OF
West Virginia to be taxed this addi
tioual million dollars, undertook to
postpone the time when the new law
should take effect, and the Demo
TIM