Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-24
BOARD REJECTS
JOHNSON OFFER
Local Firm Makes Further Con-
cessions, but Loses State
School Contract.
VOTE SHOWS HOPELESS TIE
Promotion for Henrico Superin-
tcndcnt-Dutrow Wins New
port News Fight.
VOTE SHOWS HOPELESS TIE


Confronted again by hopeless dead
lock on the question OF accepting the
book offer Of the r.. +. johnson Pub
iishing Company. involving discounts
estimated by tho company TO mean a
saving of $1,000 10 the state. the state
Hoard of Education Yesterday ahan-
doned further consideration % the
Offer and proceeded to adopt the re-
naming unsolicited textbooks one at n
time.
When the board adjourned A. II
o'clock last night IT had selected the
following books:
Smiths Modern Arithmetic. published
by CHM e co.
Elson's Grammar school Reader, Book
J., Fifth Grade. published by Scott.
Foreman & Co.
Form No. ., National Spelling Blank,
published by Joseph r. Saunders
Smithey's History OF Virginia. pub
iished by the American Book Company.
Circus Reader. published by Sanborn
& Co. TO be used as n supplementary
reader for the second or third grades
Rurkett d Swartzers Farm Ari,h-
metic. published by Orange Judd Com
pany.
JOHNSON OFFER FALLS
on TIE VOTE
The matter of selecting a speIler was
for the present passed by. Only a few
more books remain TO he selected and
these VIII be picked to-day. The boa rd
VIII meet again at II o'clock this morn
ing 10 dispose of its unfinished busi-
ness.
The failure of the johnson offer was
the outstanding development OF ycster-
day session. Its acceptance was earn
estly championed by Superintendent OF
Puhiic Instruction Stearnes, Governor
stuart, Attorney-General Pollard and
Frank T. West.
When the motion to accept the offer
or the Johnson Publishing Company
was put. II received the support of the
four members just named. but was on
posed by Harris Hart Colonel Fl. c.
ford. Dr. j. VI. Page and Or. James s
wilson. The vote OF Dr. Wilson. who
succeeded Or. Jarman as a member OF
tne board. was awaited with interest
since ne had not before indicated his
position with respect to the johnson
offer.
JOHNSON COMPANY
OFFERS CONCESSIONS
with the vote Il tic and the motion
defeated for want OF a majority. Al
torney-General Pollard was appointed
q committee OF one to confer with tho
authorities of the g. +. johnson puh
hshinG Company on the matter or
further concessions. Mr. Pollard re-
ported at the evening session of the
poard that, upon being informed of the
"eieat OIL It's blanket offer, the John
son publishing Company. through it's
president, indicated its Willingness To
aiiow the same lo-per cent discount
which was the inducement held out in
the blanket offer If the board would
adopt Its arithmetics and Fifth Reader
Mr. Pollard moved that this second
offer be accepted. but the motion again
polled tie vote. and was declared de-
feated. The vote on this motion ended
the consideration of the johnson offer.
and the board promptly adopted a mo-
ton providing for the selection of the
remaining textbooks one at a time
MEANS SAVING TO PEOPLE
OF STATE of LARGE SIM
Although the defeat of the johnson
offer, the acceptance of which he
strongly advocated. brought Il degree
of disappointment to Superintendent
At the result. and accepted his defeat
with good nature. The acceptance OF
the Johnson offer. he maintained. would
have meant substantial saving with
ont a sacrifice in quality
Mr.. Stcarnes estimated however. that
even under the selections ratified last
night. the state will effect saving of
approximately 100000. as comparcd
with the prices IL would have paid had
1t adopted the books on the prcferred
list of 4 year ago at the prices then
listed. The whole agitation, he said
has resulted in material voluntary re-
ductions on the part of competing pub-
fishers and a.-s1oO.o00 saving to the
people OF tho State.
HENRICO SUPERINTENDENT
RECEIVES PROMOTION
Mr.. Stearncs presented to tho board
verbally the resignation Of A. D.
Wright. as superintendent Of schools
OF Henrico County, to take effect July I
1t was explained last night that Mr.
Wright had heen offered the position
of inspector OF rural colored schools
by the state Board OF Education. and
that he had indicated his intention to
accept this appointment as soon as his
resignation takes effect.
The new work TO which Mr. Wright
will he appointed carries n larger salary
than he draws MS superintendent OF
schools in Hcnrico County. and is n
promotion. While there had been
rumors that friction with the county
school board led to his resignation. the
rumor was discounted last night as idle
gossip. MIR. Wrights resignation. il
was stated, followed his acceptance OF
a more important post.
DUTROw WINS IN LONG
NEWPORT NEWS CONTEST
-. 4. Dutrow was elected superinten-