Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-02-11
PRICES Of PUBLIC
SCHOOL BOOKS
Investigators Recommend
Retail Rates and Law
On Subject
DISCOVER NO GRAFT.
State Board Of Education to Select
Text Books. According to Opinion
of Attorney General.
EI.~ iD :;

! of attorney General.
- a.'tI.t ~
Richmond, Feb. 11--ln it's report
! to the Legislature the Joint commit
tee directed to investigate school
book conditions in Virginia vii! sub
NIT its findings as follows:
l. That 10 graft exists in con-
nection with book adoptions.
,. That the difference between
The cost of books in Virginia and
the cost elsewhere is due in Iar%c
part to the difference between Who'll.
ale ard retail quotations and 10
he high cost of distribution mere.
g That wholesale quotations should
displace the retail prices in Virsi.'a.
4. That there is some evidence +
discrimination against Virginia ~
the publishers.
). That this abuse can be remeji-
ed. by the enactment Of the bill i,r0-
posed by Attorney General Poiiail,
which bill is heartily recommend..,i.
G. That the State Board Of Fi;-
cation should be given authority 10
make adoptions in more economic
ways than the laws now allow.
:. That better distribution s
TEN should be put into operation 4
Virginia, which new system shout
materially decrease the cost Of hooei
to school children.
The above as outlining the rep,t
Of the committee, came roday fro7u
source the authority of which .s
beyond question.
II was also learned that the coln-
mittee, which concluded its inGniry
asst night, and which'is now forml-
lating to recommendations might no.
lot re port to the Legislature until
after the three-week recess to ;,e
taken by the General Assembly he
ginning tomorrow night.
Chairman Gum Of the investig4t-
.ng committee. has received from At
torney General Pollard an opinion Al
swering questions propounded ~
Mr.. Gum regarding the relative
powers of the Legislature and ihe
State Board Of Education.
Mr.. Pollard first enumerate3 Tie
questions, then answers them, his re-
rIy to Mr.. Gum being in part as
follows: 2!.t'
whether the State Board Of Edit
cation can under the Constitution re-
gaulless Of any action by the ,;rl,.
oral Assembly.
Il. Adopt textbooks for use il tic
nublic schools al such time and 'f%r
zucl, period and at such prizes IS
they deem best. -~-'
"2. Can they adopt such mesn5 II
as they may deem oesl%
"3 Whether such action 0 + zlle
board would be paramount to any
action that may be taken by Che
General Assembly.
In answer to your first question
7 beg leave to reply that section ~
of the Constitution provides >,'4r
the State Board Of EDUCATION sal
select textbooks and education2 ar'
pljances for use in the schools of TIC
State. am of the opinion that he
effect Of this section is to take ""9y
from the General Assembly entir'Jy
all power over the selection Of tt%t-
hooks and to vest the same aos"!u-
telv in the State Board Of Education.
"In reply to your second cues .'F
as to whether the State Boal' h1
Education can. under the const:
ton. regardless Of any action Of ne
General Assembly adopt such meaLi
of distribution of books as the bod
NAV deem best, I beg leave to reply
+hat the distribution Of books i, a5-
solutely under the control Of tie
General Assembly.
"To your third question as 40
whether the actions Of the honfa
would be paramount to any act'19