Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-02-13
Communication

Interested in reading my friend, W
l.. Stockwells remarks printed in thu
Bismarck Tribune on the text bool
situation in this state. Now | do no
desire to discuss the merits or de
merits Of a uniform text book law, a!
! am frank to state that | am no
wei enough posted on the subject t.
discuss the matter int%elligently.
Mr.. Stockwell says: 80 far as m!
experience is concerned and from
what | a learn, there has been nc
request ever made by the North Da
kota Educational association or any
other organization Or representative
educators for a uniformity of tex
DOCKS In the state of North Dakota
This is no doubt true. But in all
fairness let me ask this question:
Has the Educational Association of
the state OF North Dakota, either as
a body Or individually, ever raised a
protest against the outrageous prices
charged by the book companies for
text books sold In this state? Can
anyone remember any member or com
mlttce OF the educational association
OF this state coming before our lcgis,
laturc and demanding or requesting
any legislation along lines that would
compel the book companies to sell
their products at a lower price?
Mr.. StOckWell also says: THE
children of North Dakota are entitled
to the best books without regard to
uniformity. TO meet this element Of
cost, ] would suggest that such a law
as Is in operation in Minnesota be en-
acted, requiring all book companies to
lille a bond to sell books in North Da.
kota as cheap as they are sold in any
Now what is the Minnesota law?
Practically the same as the North Da.
kota law, except that under the Min.
nesota law all text book companies
are required to give a bond of $4,000
before they are allowed to do business
IN the state. Minnesota has a three
and five year contract law. North
Dakota has a three year contract law
only. But North Dakota is receiving
the same prices today from the book
companies as the state of Minnesota
Is, under her threc-year contract law.
Mr.. Stockwell will have to advance
some better argument than the Min.
ncsota law ito meet this element of
cost as Mr.. Stockwell expresses it.
NOW to prove this let me give you
my experience with one of the book
companies. Our board of education of
city OF Bismarck, purchased a Ger.
to text book from a boot: publish
Ing company in the city Of Chicago
mot the American Book Company,
price was S1.29 each, less 2 per
cent off, t. o. b. Chicago, making the |
book SO cents net. At the same time |
Board Of Education of the city of
were buying thi: same book
Erl OVER Is per cent less. cr u cents
per copy. In calling attention to this
matter, this book company wrote me,
that the books sold to the Chi
cago board were for the roor or indi.
gent pupils. that the sale of these
was limited and they we're given,
u prices as a lIa:tcr Of charity |
md that they were paid out Of a fund
created by charitable donations.
Now what are the facts? The bust.
less manager of the board Of cduca |
ion of Chicago wrote me saying. that
contract price for these books with
his company was u cents per copy,
hat the board Is not limited in it's
purchase OF these books at these
'rices, that they could buy at any
inc from One to one thousand copies,
md that these books were paid for
OF the general education fund of
he city.
that during the mculils of Septem.
'cr and October. 1922, they purcl1as.
,d from this company 40 OF these
books at Il cost OF $792. 90.
Not much charity in that, is there?
A mere subtcrfuge, and ono way
his company has to flag around the
and North Dakota laws.
will any fair.minded person deny
hat this company could, il they SO
lcsircd. sell these books to the state
II North Dakota, and Minnesota, at
he same prices that they sold the
looks to the Chicago board of educa-
Il ten make a good profit.
IN further correspondence with tho
ompany they wrote as follows: "Be.
ause OF your state law governing text
cooks we a not grant you our low
st five year contract prices, % per
eat off. The very best price which
a make You under your law is
, per c mt discount from our list
rices. rs your law limits your power
0 contract to three years.
In minnesota we have entered into
bond and contract which binds us
D give Minnesota schools the same
crms under like conditions OF distrib.
ton. Should we lower our prices to
our board we would Immediately
I'VE to change our terms on all our
ooks in. the state of Minnesota, or
iolate II contract"
1t is therefore apparent that the
OF the Minnesota law and the
forth Dakota law arc identical, ana
hat Mr.. Stockwell's argument will
Ot suffice.
The educational system Of this state
costing ~sixty.lve per cent OF the
,tal expenditures of til state. How
luch Of this enormous amount are
re members Of the North Dakota ed.
cational association paying?
In my thirtr.cight years Of residence
the city Of Bismarck. do not be.
cVn that fhern over wNs a mira fair