Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-03-08
BY SENATOR WILLIAM A. ARNOLD.

nUDllca0
| ted TO express his views on the subject.
BY SENATOR WILLIAM A. ARNOLD.
! The contract let by the Indiana State
board Of education Feb. 1, 1921. is al
| together discreditable for the reason that
this body Of supposedly wise men were
at no time in possession of any facts
in reference to the cost of manufacturing
books. There was no discussion by the
board at any time relative to the pres
ent financial and industrial conditions
In Indiana the number of unemployed,
or the falling price of farm products.
A broad visioned body of men must know
that general commodity prices are de-
clining.
Print paper prices are lower. Cloth
is lower Manufacturing conditions have
so improved that 1t was possible Feb.
to get a lower price than was offered in
December, 1920, at which time prices
were submitted. The trend Of prices was
downward and is downward. Is it fair to
the citizens of Indiana to base present
cost Of manufacturing school books on an
average of the exceptionally high costs
which have prevailed during the past
five years? 1t is reasonably clear from
evidence submitted and sworn statements
fled that the total cost Of all these books
win exceed S245Oo,OO0.
DIFFERENCE
IN Cost SHOWN.
The total increase in cost to pupils for
the first year alone on the new adoption
will be: Biographies, S209 sos. 60; lam
guage and grammar, SIG II; spelling
books. S103,0 S0; histories, S106.9i3.S9:
physiologies, S122, $780, total 1915. 901.96.
The difference In the cost of manufac-
turing books between the time the bids
were submitted and the present time is,
on the average, 10 cents apiece at least.
There will be sold IN the FIVE subjects
during the period a least 1926, 200 books,
perhaps more. decline Of 10 cents in
the price of each book would make a
saving Of S232, 522. Thus the total saving
TO the children if the contracts had not
been let would be $575,0O196, plus S232i-
522, a total Of $90S, 423. 90, the first year,
with four more years to buy.
Do you think that the State Board OF
Education has any defense for their ac-
ton on this occasion, in adopting new
books, thereby evastating the more and
already oppressed people with the unnec-
essary and uncalled for greater burden
Of taxation? l do not. and l do not be-
heve the people of the State Will approve
the boards action on this occasion.
1t has been said that the contract
makes it mandatory on the part of L. y.
Hines, State Superintendent OF Public
Instruction, to sign the contract. | deny
the allegation. l do not believe there is
a court or a jury to be had N the State
Of Indiana that would mandate SspeIin-
tendent Hines TO sign that contract and
uphold this withering waste Of nose than
500, OO0 Of tue taxpayers hacd earned
money. This amount is for the hrst year
of the contract with four more years to
go. What the final cost TO the people will
be can not be estina ed, but It will be
an astonishing amount.
ASKS JUSTICE
FOR CHILDREN.
I do not believe there is a citizen in
the State OF Indiana whose heart is not
one Of breathing service, sympathy and
justice for our children. If justice by
them can be had only by a lawsuit, let's
start the suit and find out IL the State
board of education can impose this stag
gering burden upon the children aud citi-
zens. All good and constitutional law is
founded on hard, common sense. and do
you think the letting of this contract at
this time and at this price was a wise,
judicious. discreet and lawful thing to do {?
In the face Of the facts we will be able
to produce when the matter comes up for
hearing We are inclined to think not.
Again, our Governor, who has already
proved himself to be an able and sensi
BILE man, must approve this contract. WIN
he do sol I do not believe he viii per
NIT the State board Of education to pluck
the very heart and soul Of justice out
Of an unresisting citizenship. 1t Is per
fectly proper to be pleasing to the mas
ter mind of the board OF education and
q handful Of politicians, but Governor
the eyes OF three millions of your people
are on you, looking for relief from this
unnecessary burden. VIII you give them
this relief?