The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-26
THINKS Use OF
Continued from First PaS~A

ferences of prices are shown As
matter of fact. however. Mr.. Stsarnes
was of the opinion that Virginia liz not
actually Disseminated against to the
degree that has been currently report
ed He was inclined to question very
seriously the accuracy Of the esti-
mate that Virginia has lost $4,000
in the last few years. He pointed out
that the apparent differences in price
between Virginia and other States IL
due to the fact that different methods
OF distribution prevail in different
States, and that. therefore, different
prices are apparently charged.
In Ohio. for instance. the price
quoted to the State does not include
the cost Of distribution. while in Viz
ginia this cost is included. The en-
tire matter of distribution. said Mr..
Stearnes. is a very complicated ono.
and on II the State Board has not az
yet reached n conclusion. In states
such as Ohio, where books are dis
tributed direct over the State, the cost
of distribution Is small while in Viz
ginia. where 1t Is scarcely possible to
follow the Ohio method, the cost liz
greater. The speaker was inclined TO
think the cost could be brought down.
Explains Discrimination.
| The real discrimination to which 80
much ailusion has been made during
the course OF the investigation was
/ explained By Mr.. Stearnes yesterday
for the first time. 1t appears that
while in States such as Virginia the
| publishers rcceive as their share OF
the price about forty per cent OF the
! retail price. in California the pub
fishers receive only fifteen per cent.
| because the State prints it's own
books from the publishery plates for
which the State pays rent. This
method results in a cheaper rate to
California. 1t hs the idea Of the
rate on books. To this end the new
bill prepared provides for the recipe
Of bids for the use of plates OF books.
The board desires then to use these
| plates and have the books printed by
local printing firms from the plates.
The publishers are unwilling to make
such an arrangement as this with
other States. as the California venture
has not proved financially profitable
to them.
| However, certain publishers who
do not sell many books In Virginia
now have agreed to make such an
arrangement with the board liz the
new law is passed. These BIDS will
not, the board fears. be renewed af-
| ter this year, and hence the board
desires immediate action. to enable IL
to accept the bids. The firms which
now do a large business In Virginia
will not agree to the proposal TO fur
nish plates, as they will lose a large
part Of their profit by so doing.
New Light ON situation.
In concluding his remarks, Mr..
Stearnes stated that he was OF the
| opinion that under the present law
nothing could be recovered An the
statute Is insufficient for the proEe-
cution Of companies. even we're dis-
elimination shown. He believed that
the board had in the past done all
that could be done to protect the
interests OF the State. and only tho
fact that new light has been thrown
on the situation in the last twelve
| months had altered the case.
He desired and requested, both per-
sonally and officially. the passage of
the Gum resolution. 80 that ali the
light might be thrown on tho ques-
ton and that certain misapprehen-
sions that had gathered about the
case might be removed.
The committee went into executive
session It the Close u ~. DeeoEo1