The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-15
SENATORS RAP
STATE SYSTEM
ON TEXT BOOKS
Resolutions Adopted Asking
School Board TO Defer
Contract Action.
INQUIRY Is DEMANDED
RumbIings of Discomfort
Heard in Both Houses
OF Assembly.
INQUIRY is DEMANDED

Rumblings Of discomfort with the
prevailing system Of school book
contract-letting were heard in both
houses OF the general assembly to-
day.
Twice in the senate, a chorus OF
ayes without a dissenting mo-
marked adoption of resolutions ask
ing the state board Of school book
commissioners to defer action or
new textbook contracts until after
the present legislative session ends
and authorizing an inquiry into bids
and procedure involved in school
book adoptions and contracts.
Similar resolutions were intro
duced in the house, the first, fol-
postponement of contracts, without
a trace Of opposition, and the Sec
ond, for a house inquiry, being
made a special order of bushes;
for 1890 a. m. Friday.
Chambers Takes Floor
Senator Walter S. Chambers
Dem, Hancock, Henry and Madi-
SOM was the author Of the first
senate resolution, and Senator Harry
M. Williams dem, Allen) the Sec
ond.
THE board of education (com-
priSing the school book commission)
should be asked for the bids or
which lettings are scheduled fol
next Monday" Chambers said or
the senate floor.
Every household in the state is
interested. So far as I know, this
is the only contract letting in the
state in which the figures r not
made available to the newspapers
AMI the public"
Senator G. Oliver Holmes (Rep.
Lake. supported Chambers remarks
i've not been any too well pleased
myself with the way these contracts
have been handled" said Holmes
The public Of Indiana is very much
interested"
House Launches Drive
Senator George w. Sims (Rep.
Vigo) gave further Endorsement,
Smoke It out!" he shouted.
Adoption OF a joint resolution OF
Representatives George E. Stolte
Dem, Allen and Chester X. Wat
son Dem, Allen and whitley
calling for postponement Of con-
tracts for purchase of textbooks
until close Of the present assembly
was the signal for presentation of
number of house measures de-
signed at reorganization Of the
present system
In seeking postponement of &C
ton on textbooks, the resolution
asserted there exists a serious
doubt in the minds Of many citi.
zens relative to the textbook Situa'
ton and that many believe Indiana
under the present laws, is forced tt
pay too much for the texts"
Delay was suffered by the house
resolution introduced by Represent
alive E. Curtis White Dem., Mar
ion) for inquiry into the textbook
matter.
Consideration Is Deferred
Although White declared "thiS is
not a undertaking proposition, but
a fact finding matter" conSidera-
ton was deferred until Friday.
Several weeks ago The Times
drew attention to the fact that date
OF school book readoptions this year
was advanced far ahead of the
usual time by Roy P. Wisehart
state superintendent of public in
struction.
Wisehart explained he wanted the
matter to come during his incum-
bency in the office, which ends
March Is, when George Cole, q
Democrat succeeds him, and wanted
the contracts let before the legiS-
lature conveneS."
One measure offered in the house
by Watson and Stolte, proposed
amendment of the 1918 uniform
text books act for high schools to
provide that the state board of edu-
cation name a board Of commission
ers to make a selection of a "mul-
tiple list Of not less than three OF
more than five books or series OF
texts. school boards and school
trustees, on recommendation OF
their superintendent, to select one
book or series in each subject for
use in their respective school sys-
TENS"
Other Bills introduced
Watson was joined by Represent
alive Payne Morgan Dem, Allen)
in a similar measure for common
schools and Watson and Stolte pre-
sented a bin for purchase of text
books by boards of school trustees
school commissioners or schoo
trutees and rental of them to pupils
at an annual rate of not more than
IS per cent of the cost.
Another textbook bill was intro.
duced by Representative Gerritt M
Bates Oem., Marion) providing
that the state board of education
advertise for manuscripts for school,
texts, awarding contract for print
ing and binding on competitive bid
ding.
All measures were referred to the
house education committee.
lTAI IAN AIDAAEn Hon