Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-22
BOARD MEMBERS URGE
LEGISLATIVE PROBE
May Investigate Alleged Discrimina-
tions by Publishers in Prices
Charged for Textbooks.
COMMITTEES HEARS TESTIMONY
superintendent Stearnes and Others
Say Proof OF Discrimination Is at
Hand-Senate Committee to Con-
tinue Hearing on Gum Resolution.

When the Senate Committee on Pub
lie Institutions and Education meets
this morning II will again hear argu-
ment on the Gum resolution asking
for rigid legislative investigation az
to whether prices charged by bonded
publishing houses for textbooks used
In the public schools of Virginia are
discrirninatory. In u session of two
, hours yesterday morning the commit
tee listened to argument intended to
prove that "A new law designed to pre-
vent further discrimination in prices
charged Virginia for sChoOlbooks should
at once be enacted.
The State Board OF Education at its
meeting yesterday afternoon postponed
until February Is, the matter of ndopt-
ing school textbooks to be used in the
public schools of the State for the next
four years. BY that. date II is supposed
that the attitude OF the General AS
sembly toward the proposal to iuvcsti-
gate alleged determinations will be
known.
URGE IMMEDIATE
STATE INQUIRY
Those appearing before the commit
tee yesterday urged an Immediate in
auiry, stating that they would again
appear before the committee this
morning and present a bin which they
have drafted. which will explain more
thoroughly their attitude in the mat
ter.
r. c. stearnes, Superintendent OF
Public instruction. told the committee
! that in his opinion tho General AS
sembly should take Immediate steps.
ana that an Inquiry should he made at
once. Mr.. Stearnes declared that tho
state Board of Education is now in
position to furnish all data necessary
TO prove that there are discrepancies
In prices charged Virginia when com
| pared with prices which other States
| are paying for books.
He urged that the General Assembly
enact law covering the adoption Of
certain textbooks throughout the State,
and that the statute be so framed as to
make discrepancies impossible. He
said he was confident that this could he
done, and that when the inquiry is
once started by the Legislature the
| fight for cheaper books will be prnc-
ticaliy won. MIR. Stenrnes expressed
the opinion that the inquiry would re-
, suit in saving OF thousands of dol
lars TO the State. Others advocating
an investigation of the alleged dis
ordinations testified before the COM
/ mittee.
POLLARD NOW INVESTIGATING
ALLEGED DETERMINATIONS
Attorney General Pollard is said to
NC toiliuCtllB an investigator INTO
cases of alleged determinations against
Virginia made by nine publishing con-
Germs. Those urging the investigation
say they can prove that in some in
stances other States are buying text
books from certain concerns at much
lower prices than those paid by Vir-
ginia for the same books.
Members OF the State Board OF Edu-
cation appear to be convinced that
some publishers have been and are
still discriminating against Virginia
in the matter OF prices charged for
schoolbooks. Members of the board
are: r. c. Stearnes. Superintendent of
Public instruction.; Governor Henry c.
Stuart; DR.. J. l.. Jarman, Farmville;
Or. j. Nj. Page, Charlottesville; Colo
mel Henry c. Ford. Lexington; Super
intendent Harris Hart, Roanoke, and
Superintendent Frank T. West, Ire
vilinns.
In the minds of many persons favor
ing a legislative Investigation of prices
charged for books in this State, the
opinion prevails that certain OF the
publishing houses have combined to
boost prices on textbooks sold in Vir-
Einia. The board under the present
system awards contracts for school
books to many concerns-the price
varying In accordance with the lowest
bid offered and the best type of book
selected.