The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-29

this Their saving is based on a
eriod OF seven years. IL would
amount to about $4,000 per year or
TIVE cents per child.
But we cannot take without ques-
ton the figures and estimates sub
mitted by that company in the inter-
est OF its own business. II the revised
prices offered by this concern in De-
cember. 1914, be compared with the
prices at which their books were
adopted in 1908 a saving is clearly
shown. or II approximately 105 reduc-
ton be figured on the amount of bust
ness they formerly did In Virginia
similar saving will be shown
We emphatIcally state. however,
that In open competition with other
publishers there Is no basis for the
estimated saving. A saving or loss
ought to be judged by comparing al
the competitive bids under consider
alton by the state board. 1t proves
nothing TO say that the Johnson Com
pany is willing to furnish books now
cheaper than the price at Wnlch tnls
company secured contract from the
State seven years ago.
The Majority Attitude.
The attitude of the majority of the
board on the Johnson proposition may
be shown, first, by comparative
statement, and. second, by a simple
analysis If the majority had de-
sired books merely about as good they
could have voted for the following
proposition at a cheaper price as com
pared to the johnson revised and re-
duced offer In our opinion THESE
competing texts are not only mercy
as good as the corresponding Johnson
books. but with the exception OF the
readers are greatly superior. inoeeu'
the history. the speller and one OF the
arlthmetics mentioned below appear
on the permanent list. =.
Rand. McNaliy Reader to o. ~
Smiths + mary Arithmetic -. 20
w en- wort h Smith BOOK IA =.
New world speiler. overlook
course ...............' Il
Chandler's Dur Republic ........ 40
Johnson's Readers to Gre
duced bid) ............: l'"4
Johnson's Administrator Gre
Johnson's Administrations II
(reduced bid) ............... .SS
so
Jahnson's bid-Two-book course
reduced bid) ......-..-... ~
Jhonson's bid-One-book course
1ohnson;s United states History 80
The saving OF some $4,000 SO
urgently claimed for the johnson pro-
nosition IS based on the items men
TONED above. We submit that these
competing texts OF superior merit,
with the exception OF the readers.
show a distinct saving as compared
with the Johnson revised and reduced
bid Since. az has been shown, the
Johnson proffer contains many ne"
or revised books. no less changes
would have been effected by adopting
their proposition than have actually
been made.
Analysis of Proposal
A simple analysis Will indicate now
unreal also. IN fact. IL the supposed
saving claimed for the Johnson propo-
sition
Attention IL called to the following
items of saving as estimated by the
johnson Company in their original
proposition This saving is based on
a period OF seven years and Is est
mated BY comparing their 1918 bid
with their 1908 prices:
on reading ................ NSutupo
On arithmetic ..--...-..'.. 80 w
On spoilers .............'. i'SVV
On history ............''' 7''"o
ro,a, - s77.500
The history was already clearly elimt-
mated from the proposition by the
adoption OF a book much cheaper
than the johnson text. The speiier
should be eliminated for two reasons:
First. the adopted 'speller is cheaper
than the johnson prefer and. In the
second place, after postponing ac''on
on spoilers for three or four months
til MAY lai5--no definite assurance
was ever given as to when the john
son series OF spoilers would be COM
pleted, and only ore memh,r OF the
board expressed himself as faVorinG
a longer delay. The board could he
hardly expected to adopt two book
course in spelling, when they had had
no opportunity to examine. even in
manuscript form. the second book Of
the course.
The Johnson new two-hook course
in arithmetic was bid at sixty cents.
The Smiths Arithmet.cs, which were
adopted. We're bid at sixtyfiVe cents.
Each series covered Ave years of the
course o. study. The difference. there
fore. in the price OF the two series Is
about one cent a year We submit
that no patrons in the State of Viz
kinIa VIII ptEfu1St lii4S NSit
added cost in order to get text of
the quality finally adopted.
The only other item on which saw
ing Is or can be claimed is readers.
II is said th;t II the johnson offer
had been accepted, 10 per cent dis
count would have been secured on
these texts, 1t must be remembered,
however, that three OF the readers
involved in the Johnson offer. repre-
senting about 20 per cent OF the value
OF the serie were in a cheaper edition
than the one formerly in use and re-
adopted. This edition Is known as the
black and white edition, so-called be-
cause all pictures in color are eli
minated. For the johnson Company
to offer a reduction of 10 per cent
on this cheaper edition Is no induce
ment to the State boa d. Other pub
lishe submitted bids on black and
white editions of books and on these
they offer a discount from the price
o. the regular edition OF not less than
10 per cent and usually Is per cent
to 20 per cent without imposing any
obligation as to period OF adoption
or maintaining a volume of business
This johnson reduction In price was
offered on condition that the State
board sig Son ract for seven years
aid obligate Itself to give them S5
per cent or 40 per cent of the entire
business Is basal books. We secured
Srnr, ~ puhltsh ars of fha ART I'M AticS