Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-10-29
CHANGE IN CONTRACTS WILL
COST PATRONS OF SCHOOLS
ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
PUBLISHERS SAID TO HAVE CON-
T9IBUTED TO REPUBLICAN
CAMPAIGN FUND.


why a Legislature, Republican in both
branches, passed law and a Repub-
loan Governor approved il, placing
m 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
nsers of school boks are required to
nav more for the same books than is
najd in other states; or why they are
Teouired TO pay more for the same
bo6ks under Republican government
Than they did when the Democrats
we're in control of state affairs.
During the years from 1896 to 1901
one of the school books in use in
VEST Virginia was Montgomery's
Leading Facts in American History.
This was used under a five year con-
tract made in pursuance of a law
nassed by the Democratic legisla-
tnra and the price for the five years
was G5 cents. For fifteen years the
contract price of this book in Indiana
has been 65 cents, covering three diff
fsrent contract periods of five years
each.
Under the law of West Virginia,
p9ssed by the Republican Legislature
in 1909. this same book is required
IN he used by the school children of
This state, and the contract price for
Fl is S46 cents. This means that
every West Virginia school child who
sudies American history during the
next five years will have to pay 20
cents more for the history than pu-
pils 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 nrices 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
o. cents. while the price in Indiana
for the same book is 10 cents. The
prce of the Second Reader is 81
cents in West Virginia and 10 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
cf 1909 affects every pupil in the
stare who desires to exchange old
looks 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,
1T is required that books received in
exchange shall not be torn, but must
lie in condition almost equal to new.
Exchange Prices Also Higher.
When an old book is exchanged by
pupil and a new book is bought the
hook companies make an exchange
price which is fixed in the
contract. The exchange price
on the readers required by law
io be used in the schools of West
Virginia. or the price which the pur'
chaser pays for them, in addition to
giving up The old books is as fol
lows First. y cents in West Vir
ginil and cents in Indiana: second
Is cents in West Virginia and 1t
cents in Indiana: third, 90 cents in
West Virginia and Is cents in lndl
ana; fourth, 20 cents in West Vir
ginia and % cents in Indiana.
When the Democratic Legislature o
l9li took up theschool book question il
found a law in existence providing
ior a contract fer school books cover
ius period of five years from July
T.. 1912, and changing practically al
o. The school books in use in the
state. The census of the United
States shows that there are in Wes
Virginia about two hundred and fifty
thousand families. 1t is estimated by
teachers that the average cost to the
family Of providing the new book.
nnier the new contract is about 81
This would mean a total cost of one
million dollars for the adoption o
tha new school books instead of tht
DID,
Democrats Opposed to Law.
The Legislature of 1911, believing
'' unnecessary for the people o
West Virginia to be taxed this add
'ioa3l million dollars. undertook t
HosJp0ne the time when the new Law
uoUi AXE effect, and the Demo
cratic House passed a bill postpon
ing II until July / 1914. the tim'
when the new books should be adopt
ed But the Senate, in which TIL
Democrats were unable to muster ;
nai f.ty, defeated the measure ant
e't The law as passed by the Repuh
I'tH5 in 400 in effect.
There are some peculiar things il
'ansction with this school book con
tract. Not only are the books sol'
a higher price in West Virgins
nan IN other states: not only ar
he exchange prices for the ney
"o6s higher in West Virginia than il
r'0oc state: not only were the oil
hooks satisfactory to teachers ant
hut it appears that agents TO
school book companies were place
0I91 ne commission charged wit
tue minority o select the books an
make contracts for them.
is charged that the agent of on
'mnaur who is high in political al
lars 59 the Republican party. el
baleI to the Commission that tn
company which he represented wa
'4II'ed TO have its books selecte
'I lhe reason that it had been
dise contributor TO the Republican
ia"sien fund in West Virginia a
"le MT lines.
Swelling Campaign Fund.