Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-02-25
BOOK
PROFIT RAISED
TO 20 PER CENT
Senate Passes Bill Designed
to Increase Handling of
School Texts.
STATE BOARD APPROVES

Textbook dealers in Indiana will
receive a gross margin of 20 per cent,
instead of the II per cent under the
present law, by the terms of bill
passed by the Senate today. The
measure, which already has passed
the House, was one of the educa-
tional series supported by the State
Board of Education and is designed
to relieve the school book shortage
that has become acute in recent
years.
Opposition was voicsd by Senator How
ard A. Cam, Frankfort, author OF the
textbook contract quiz resolution. who
pointed out that a contract has been
let by the State board OF education for
books at greatly increased prices. He
said that under the contracts nearly ev-
cry child IN Indiana would be required
to purchase new books ond the increased
profit allowed dealers. together with the
high original cost, would make them al
most prohibitive.
Il am not going to vote for dealers
and against the school children" he said.
1T is no time TO saddle this extra ex-
pense on them
Dealers cannot handle textbooks on a
- per cent margin, Senator william NJ.
Swain, Pendleton, told the Senate. He
said In most counties the sale OF school
books is limited TO one dealer and in
some counties there are no dealers. He
added the books cannot be carried under
present conditions without an actual loss
to dealers.
BLAMEs LOW MARGIN
FOR SHORTAGE.
Children in many cases are compelled
70 go without books in the early rart oe
the school year because the low margin
Of profit has failed to attract dealers.
Senator Clem Richards, Terre Haute, de-
clared.
Other arguments in support OF the
measure were made by Senators c. oliver
Holmes, Gary; oliver Dunn. Spencer;
Oscar Rats. Paol; A. II. Beardsley, Elk
hart; William A Mccullough. Rockport
Senators Maurice Douglas, Fiatrock. and
Alfred Hogston, Marion, spoke against
the bill
With only one dissenting vote, that OF
Senator Joseph NJ. CraveRs Madison, the
Senate passed the House bill providing
for reorganization Of the board Of agri-
culture as department Of State
Senator Rats who piloted the bill, ex-
plained there Is another bin pending
which viii authorize the board to dis
solve and turn over its property to the
state.
Incorporation Of the board OF agricul-
ture with the State government is an
administration measure and was brought
through efforts Of Governor Warren L.
McCray.
BRANCH BANK
BILL ADVANCED.
By a vote of1S 10 16 the Senate refused
to concur in the report Of the Committee
on Banks, which recommended indefinite
postponement Of the Hartzen bill pro-
hibiting establishment Of branch banks
by State banks and trust com panies. The
bill was ordered printed and went to
second reading
Senator Hartaen declared establishment
of branch banks in Indianapolis Is bring
ing about unfair competition.
Other bills passed by the Senate pro-
vided for codifcation of incorporation
laws and prevention OF double taxation
of the stock of joint stock and land
banks.
The House bill giving the Marion
County surveyor a salary of $500 and
preventing him from taking any fees as
a part OF his salary, was passed, 80 to O..
At present the surveyor is paid 81, ,4C0 a
year and numerous fees
The bin was amended so as to apply
also TO Lake County. II now goes to n
conference committee because of the
amendment.