The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-29
POSTPONE ACTION
ON SCHOOLGIRLS
State Board of Education DeferS
Adoption of New List to
February.
DISSATISFIED WITH PRICES
But Unable to Prove Combina-
ton or Understanding" to
Prevent Competition.
DISSATISFIED WITH PRICES

On the strength OF the revelations
uncarthed by Superintendent X. G.
Stearnes and the special book commit
tee. the State Board OF Education
voted unanimously Yesterday after
noon to defer the adoption of new
list OF textbooks for Virginia schools
until date not later than February
j, 1918. At the same time Il commit
tee was authorized to conclude ar
rangemcnts with the publishers to
continue the present book contracts in
force until the new adoption.
The meat Of the book price fight at
this time as summed UP by Superin-
tcndent StearneS in verbal report to
the board yesterday. Is that there have
been enough interesting discoveries
made to justify the fullest iuvcstiga-
ton into the alleged discrimination
AGAINST Virginia in book prices MIR.
StcarncS reported that us :, result OF
the committees negotiations with the
publishers, substantial reductions in
prices had been obtained from tho pub
fishers of many OF the books on the
preferred list and from publishers
of books not contained In the pre-
fcrred list"
As to the rental OF book plates for
printing books under tho supervision
of the board. Mr.. Stearnes reported
that seven publishers have agreed to
bid. although the majority OF the larE-
est publishing houses have declared Il
final determination not to lease their
plates to Virginia.
NEW COMMITTEE; TO
STUDY DISCRIMINATION
With these facts in view, the boa ri
took the action on the adoption re-
ported above, voting to continue the
present committee on prices AMI Great
ing another committee. consisting Of
Supernt endent Stearncs, DR. j. l.. Jar
man and Harris Hart, to supplement
the work OF tho present committee
Tho new committee was named pri-
marily 10 report on the alleged dis
elimination against Virginia In the
matter of book exchange rates. to
handle the book plate bids and to re-
licve the old committee Of all details
except the negotiations for reduced
prices on books quoted in the pre-
ferred list"
The new committee has authority
to investigate any facts relating to
the books on the "prcfcrred list" and
will report to tho Textbooks committees
of tho board, which were named ut tho
time the board tool. up tho new adop-
! ton. 1t Is expected that this commit
I ,ce will recommend numerous changes
In the 'prcfcrrcd list" before the board
converts the preferred list" into the
adopted list next year.
! ATTEMPTS TO SHOW
/ PUBLISHERS COMBINATION
On opening" the public hearing of tho
| publishers yesterday morning, Super
l. intcndent Stcarncs renewed his cX-
animation Of the witnesses In the at
! tempt to show that six Of the largest
houses had entered into a combination
to prevent Virginia from leasing plates
and to fol- efforts To reduce prices. In
spite Of shrcwd examination. MIR.
! StcarncS could not bring the pub
agreement or even ;tn understandings
The publishers who took the stand
yesterday followed exactly tho line or
argument advanced by tile witnesses
OH Wednesday, night. Each gave the
decision OF his house not TO lease plates
10 Virginia, disclalined amy diScrimina-
ton IN prices against the state. au,
refused to make reductions In the
prices quoted while tho terms of the
contracts remain the same.
Il. I'll. Scott. of Scott. Foresman &: Co:
a. W. Richa rdson. of Macmillan Com
pany: w. IL. Merriman. of Merriman
Company: c. W. Hodgson. of the Worlu
I:ook Company, and w. j.. Pulsifer,
Of j. g. Heath & Co, all took the
stand before the adjournment or the
morning session
The public was excluded from the
afternoon session, which the board
used TO digest the Information OBJ
tanned from the publishers, and TO for
mulate a plan of action