The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-03
NO DISCRIMINATION
IN BOOK PRICES
MEMBERS OF BOARD SAY ELE-
MENTARN BOOK PRICES
FAVORABLE.

That far from being Disseminated
against in the matter of elementary
school books Virginia is favored and
that in the case of high school books
Ohio and states with similar methods
of distribution have n slight advan-
tage in some Instances over Virginia
vas the opinion of the members of the
State Board of Education who testi-
fed last night before the Joint Com
mittee OF the General Assembly.
superintendent Harris Hart, of Roam
oke, was the star witness Mr.. Hart,
fortified with long tables of figures.
explained that the preferential list
adopted last May by the state Board
of Education affected decrease In the
prices of books to elementary and TO
high schools. Quoting the figures to
show the amounts and the percentages.
He explained. also, the apparent dis
elimination In favor of Ohio.
Kentucky and virginia.
AS to Kentucky. j. l.. Jarman. pres
ident of the State Female Normal
school, at Farmville, said that the ad-
vantage IN the case OF elementary
school textbooks rested with Virginia,
though In some instances high school
books were cheaper in Kentucky than
in Virginia. Professor Page, of the
University of Virginia, and Colonel
Ford, Of the Virginia Military Insti-
tute, also were of the opinion that
little. If any, discrimination existed.
superintendent Hart carefully ex-
nj a paI That the u
We're f. o. b. at the place of publica =
ton, to which must be added the cost
of distribution, of which that State
pays Il part. Local superintendents,
he said, are allowed to name agents
in Chicago or other city where the
book is published, for which the dis
tributing agency Is allowed ten per
cent. which must be added to the
quoted cost of the book. In Virginia,
the quoted cost is the cost to the
pupil. When these and other facts
are taken into consideration, he con-
tended most of the apparent discrimi
nation vanishes.
Mr.. Cannon, OF the committee, then
wanted to know il Superintendent Hart
had any suggestions to make that
would be of benefit "to the general
educational system in Virginia" Mr..
Hart admitted that he did. and on
request gave few OF them to the
! committee named to Investigate book
prices
Members OF the board had considera-
bic amusement in answering the aues
ton, If they were related to amy OF
the publishers or their agents. Or
Jarman said that he understood that
his father and father OF some book
agent were related. Colonel Ford de-
| clared that he feared that at might
! be discovered that he was related 70
some of them. but SO far the fact
! had not developed so that he could
! be informed OF it."
Conduct IL Glass
/ When the members of the board
called as witnesses. were not declar-
/ ing that there exists no discrimina-
| ton of Importance against Virginia
! in most cases and that this State Is
favored in many. they were patiently
explaining primary facts about the
State Board of Education and the
educational system In Virginia. The.
| told what is the meaning OF the
multiple list and the single Iist. what
! a legislative committee Of inquiry
| several years ago discovered and rec
commended, and what they thought
/ OF the presert system Of distribution
!
sue and questions far removed t ere
| from and questions as TO the effec'
| of new books on a sct,o d child anG
various others were answered as they
were asked.
| Colonel Ford reminded the com.
mittee OF Inquiry that while the prices
| of books concern the parents and
should be care fully considered some
thing is owed the child. He said thai
he wanted and thought the child waS
entitled to good books. II want the
best books" he said. Il want the
| lowest price possible Tor the best
| book, but it must be the best"
| Some interesting testimony is ex'
pected to develop when the agents
| of the various book companies are
| summoned. Many members OF the
General Assembly have expressed tht
! opinion that, after all, the real fight
liz between the publishers and they
! expect to be present when these OF
/ their agents are put on the stand.