Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1888 — FREE TEXT BOOKS. [ARTICLE]

FREE TEXT BOOKS.

How ttie State of Minnesota Fixes the School-Book Monopoly. iFrom the Rockford (Iowa) Register.] While in St Paul, recently, we thought we would look up the school text book law of Minnesota, with a view of throwing a little light on a question that is bound to command no little attention when our Legislature meets. The Legislature of the State of Minnesota in February, 1878, passed a law, of which the following is the substance: The Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General were directed to immediately enter into contract with D. D. Merrill, of St Paul, who was to give a $25,000 bond that he would for a term of fifteen years, furnish all school text books required by the people of the State. The books furnished were to be equal to certain standard text books in general use, each of which was designated in the act. A commission of competent educators was appointed to examine and pass on this question. The books so accepted to .be subject to change and revision not oftener than once in five years. We quote section 2of the act. It is quite interesting reading: Sec. 2. The prices to be paid by the State for the above-named books shall be' for the Speller 15 cents, present pries 25 cents. First Reader 10 cents, present price 20 cents. Second Reader 20 cents, present price 45 cents. Third Reader 30 cents, present price 60 cents. Fourth Reader 40 cents, present price 93 cents. First Grammar 25 cents, present price 60 cents. Practical Grammar 50 cents, present price ®l. First Arithmetic 12 cents, present price 25 cents. Second Arithmetic 25 cents, present price 40 cents. Third Arithmetic 50 cents, present price 94 cents. First Geography 50 cents, present price 80 cents. Second Geography 80 cents, present price $1.50. History 60 cents, present price $1.50. For other books than those in this section named a proportional price, and no more, shall be paid by the State. The books so published were furnished to local agents throughout the State upon the requisition of the County Superintendent, the people getting their books from these agents. The circus opened immediately on the passage of this law. The tjien State Superintendent, lots of County Superintendents, professors and teachers, the most of them with a sion interest in the old system, the school book publishers, their agents and the whole crowd interested in the old syndicate set up a fearful, terrible howl, and have kept it up steadily until about two years ago, when they gave it up as a bad job and quit. They all said: “The law will be repealed.” “Merrill can not get any books. ” “Merrill can not buy or hire any plates of books in this country.” “The publishers have all combined against him.” “The publ alters can afford to spend half a million dollars to defeat the law.” The books were i&sued, however, just jthe same, and are in general use all .Over the State. Now here comes the meat in the cocoanut. After this law was passed how many books did Merrill have to publish himself, or rather compile and credit himself, in order to fill his contract with the State*? We give the fol owing list, which comprises all he furnishes. There are twentyeight text books all told. The clever hook marks with a star are the only ones he had to compile and publish. All the others, seventeen in number, he was able, by virtue of his contract, to procure from the same old syndicate, furnish them to the State at the prices fixed, and still have a margin of profit left.

The following is the list and prices at which they are furnished the State: Common school speller, 15 cents. ♦Appleton’s First Reader, revised, 10 cents, i Appleton’s Second Reader, 20 cents. Appleton’s Third Reader, 30 cents. I Appleton’s Fourth Reader, 40 cents. Appleton’s Higher Reader, 90 cents. ♦Advanced First Reader Supplementary, 15 cents. *Advanced Second Reader Supplementary, 20 cents. *Advanced Third Reader Supplementary, 30 cents. ♦Advanced Fourth Reader Supplementary, 40 cents. ♦Elementary Geographv (Niles), 55 cents. Common School Geography, 80 cents. ♦Common School Geography (Niles), 80 cents. Primary Arithmetic, 15 cents. Into lectual Arithmetic, 25 cents. Elementary Arithmetic, 3J cents. Oid Practical Arithmetic, 50 centa ♦New Practical Arithmetic, 50 cents Whitney & Knox, “How to Speak,” etc.. 27 cents. Knox—Heath, “Parts of Speech, and How to Use Them,” 50 centa ♦Lessons m Language, 25 cents. English Grammar, 50 centa American History, 60 cents. Physiology and hygiene, 55 centa Acedem c b ctionary, $1.40. ♦Writing Books, 1 to 7, each 10 cents. ♦Manual of Penmanship, SI.JO. ♦Book-keeping, 10 books and other blanks. $1.25. We personally examined most of these books. They appear to be in every way as good, both in subjectmatter and typographical work, as the books used in lowa. They cost just about half the money ours do. We do not pretend to say that the course pursued by our sister State was the very best way to secure the result sought, because we do not know; but this much we want to show in this article, viz.: That the thing can be done. In all probability the wise men of Des Moines can devise some plan that will be an improvement on the Minnesota law. The Register is in favor of free textbooks, and uniformity as to most of them. The State could then make contracts that would be at better rates than those given above.