The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-12
BOOK COMMIT TEE
REPORT TAME one
LACKING IN SENSATION, hut
MAKES IMPORTANT REC
COMBINATIONS.
USE OF BOOK PLATES
ADVOCATES LAW EMPOWERING
BOARD ALSO TO CONTRACT
AT, WHOLESALE AND RE-
TAIL PRICES.

TAIL PRICES.
The Legislative inquiry into the
prices of textbooks used In the pub
lie free schools of Virginia has been
completed the report made to the
General Assembly and the matter
ended.
The net result is tho probable pas
sage of bill comforting more power
in making contracts upon the State
Board Of Education: the discovery Of
"A few cases of discrimination; sugges-
tons along the line of more economical
distribution of books. and a clean bill
of health for the State Board.
Julien Dunn. chairman of the COM
mittee, made his report to tho House
of Delegates yesterday and to the SEN
ate. Both houses accepted the report
The investigation. which at frst
promised to be of q sensational ma
ture, and which gave rise to many
stories OF political influence, practi-
cally has simmered down to Ques-,
ton of the best means OF the distrt-
button Of books and to the recommen-
dation of new legislation. empwer-
ing the board to contract for both
wholesale and retail prices on books
and to contract for plates where nee
essary.
Political Features.
The political features OF the In
vestigation are not touched upon In
the report, az no evidence that po-
litical influences have been brought
10 bear were brought out during the
hearings. The denial OF those who In
stigated the investigation that they
were actuated by any other motives
than the desire for economy IL ac-
cepted. but IL Is also accepted without
contradiction that the publishers used
the investigation as an instrument
with which to fight their own bat
ties Those who lose by the list adopt.
ed last sprirg were anxious FOR the
! retention OF the old list and those who
gained werc anxious that the new list
be put into effect.
1t Is understood also that Superin-
'endent of Publ, instruction Stearnes
bad nothing TO do with the invcstiga-
/ ton. lie agreed to 1t. but he did not
approve of IT.
The report OF the committee fol-
lows:
Report the Committee.
Your committee respectfully re-
ports as follows:
II Whether the State OF Virginia
has been Disseminated against In tho
price OF textbooks for use In the pub
lie schools
There have been found some cases
of Determinations against the State OF
Virginia, which the Attorney General
IL now investigating, with view Of
instituting legal proceedings against
the publishing houses charged with
the onense.
q. What legislation is necessary to
/ insure this State a price on textbooks
as low as any other State In the Union,
and any subdivision thereof.
! since Introduction OF the above
resolution the Attorney General has
drafted a bill fSenate Bill $50 which
has at this time passed the Senate and
! is now on the House calendar. and In
our opinion will give the State Board
/ OF Education power TO procure text
books at q better price than now OBJ
! tains.
| "3 Such other matter or legislation
as the committee may deem necessary
to carry into effect the object OF this
resolution.
Wholesale and Retail.
Heretofore the State Board OF Edu-
cation, under the law. has been COM
PEELED to contract for prices on a net
retail basis.
Many other states have contracted
for textbooks on n net wholesale
price and limited the amount allowed
for distribution. thereby apparently
reducing the cost To the school patron.
The bill now pending enables the State
Board of Education to contract for
distribution. and may. thereby, effect
saving by that method.
Your committee desires to say that
In it's opinion the State BOARD Of Edu-
cation liz composed Of mer OF high
kharacter and integrity, and rs ear
nestlX endeavoring to serve the State
in the best nanre~ pcgsitle. and any
charges to the effect that their ar-
tons are Influenced by selfish or III
terror motives are without foundation
in fact and absolutely unsupported by
any evidence introduced at the hears
ings.
Your committee would recommend
TO the board for their most careful
and earnest consideration the follow
Ing matters:
Fewer Changes.
81 Less frequent changes in text
books used In the schools, as In q
great number of cases the purchase
OF textbooks Is of serious considers
tion to the heads OF families through-
out the State.
"e. The question of distribution. ~
in our opinion saving could be cf-
fected In that manner.
80. The question OF renting this
plates by the State and the publish-
tas-of textbooks by contract
Transcript of evidence taken be-
fore committee is filed with the Clerk
of House OF Delegates.
"All of which Is respectfully sub
mitted.
JULIEN GUM.
GEORGE T. RfSON.
JAMES f. CANNON,