Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-08
BOOK SALESMEN'S
CHARGES DENIED
Abbot Denies Smithsonian
Institution Receives Large
Profits From Works.

The Smithsonian Institution has q
purely business relationship with the
Smithsonian Institute Sereis, Inc,
and has endeavored from the first
to make this plain to the public, Dr.
Charles G. Abbot. secretary of the IN
stitution, said this morning in COM
menting on charges of alleged misrep-
resentations made by book statesmen in
New York
Under the contract. Dr. Abbot said.
the Smithsonian Institution is prepar-
ing IL volumes covering in authentic
manner the various scientific fields il
which the institution is engaged. Cost
of the work is paid by the Smithsonian
Institute Series. INC, a private cor
poration engaged in the publishing
business which is in no way subsidiary
OF the institution.
Institution Receives Percentage.
This company attends to the mechan-
ical production and sale of books and
the Smithsonian Insti' uti0n HecelveS
10 per cent of the sale price. Sales
are made by statesmen in the employ OF
the Smithsonian Institution Series, Inc.
who are paid so per cent commits
sion.
Four years ago. DR.. Abbot said, the
suggestion was made that the institution
publish a series of books for which a
New York group would act as agents.
This appealed favorably to the late
Secretary Walcott. 1t necesSitated,
however, raising among friends of the
institution S250,000 to defray the basis
expenses of the project
Efforts to obtain this $250,000 were
made for a year. at the end of which
only $4,000 had been secured. The
New York group. now known as the
Smithsonian Institution Series, Inc.
then made the proposal to take over.
the publication, allowing the institution
10 per cent Contracts for de luxe
and common edition we're entered into
with the full approval of the regents.
The volumes were to be prepared under
the editorial supervision and full con-
troll of the secretary, with expenses TO
be met by the sales corporation.
Four Volumes Printed.
Four volumes have been printed and
will be ready for distribution this
month. Mr.. Abbot said. These consist
of THE Story of the Smithsonian In
stitution," by Webster True, the insti-
tution's editor: The Sun and the We'll
fare of Man." by Secretary Abbot;
Minerals of Earth and Sky by DR..
George p. Merrill and William F. Fos-
bag. and THE North American In
dian" by Miss Rose Palmer, prepared
from data of the Bureau Of American
Ethnology. Eight more volumes are in
preparation.
1.-THE complaint" Mr.. Abbot said,
= H. l1ar tot on,
of statesmen that the institution is get
ting larger share of the money than
is really the case. The fact that book
statesmen have done this is hardly to
be wondered at, but we have taken 1t
up with the company time and time
again and insisted that there be no
Misrepresentation.
1.-THE company is not making any
money out of the sales OF the de luxe
edition. Ten per cent comes to the
institution outright, another 10 per
cent pays for the cost of writing and
editing, 80 per cent is paid to the sales
men, 10 per cent for the colored Illus
trations and another 10 for the hall
tones. Out of the remaining 80 per
cent the company must pay the cost
of paper, printing, distributing, bad
debts, etc.
Criticism Anticipated
"When the de luxe edition is disposed
of. however, and the common EDITION is
produced we have another side to the
story. Much of the material used for
the de luxe edition, such as the plates,
can be used again. If the common edi-
ton sells well both the company and
the institution should make great deal
of money. It is first necessary to dis
pose of the de luxe edition.
ct anticipated the possibility Of the
criticism which has arisen. So. in view
of the prospects for the common edition
and in spite of the cost Of the de luxe
edition, suggested to the company that
it make bonus arrangement with the
Smithsonian Institution, allowing us 10
per cent additional for each 10000
copies sold, so that if the sales reached
10000 we would receive 40 per cent.
They were unable to see, however, that
the ethics of the situation or the flnan-
cial status warranted this.
The Smithsonian Institution has
played fair and square with everybody.
All who have written to us have been
told the exact truth. The Smithsonian
Institution Series, Inc, Of so Church
street, New York, has no relation with
the Smithsonian Institution except such
as obtain between author and publisher.
They have engaged to publish nothing
else
DR.. Abbot pointed out that the pub
LEGATIONS Of the Smithsonian Institution