Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1890 — WHAT IT COSTS. [ARTICLE]

WHAT IT COSTS.

The editor of the Wh ite County Democrat, who is also County Su p erini endent, thus pertinently remarks on the cost of introducing the new school books selected and contracted for, under the law, by the State Board of Education: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co-, have issued another circular containing statements from Superintendent Machan, LaGrange Co.; Supt. Caulkins, Tippecanoe Co.; bupt Warren, Jasper Co.; and others, in Lich it is sought to show that the ost of selling the new school books exceeds the amount saved in price. It is a little singular that the book true 1 ’ should publish statements from such superintendents only as are known to be hostile to the new law, and it is still more singular that those superintendents report that it cost their counties more money to have the law violated than it did other counties to have it enforced. F r instance, Supi. Machan, of Lao Grange county, now undercharges of having receive, bribes from Henneberry & Donahue of Chicago and other book firms and supply men, reports that it cost his county sl3l to sell SIOB worth of books. Suet. Caulkins reports a cost of $590 for selling $1,200 worth of books. The able bodied Supt. of -rasper county sold $44 worth and it cost his county $l3B. Other County Superintendents furnish additional statements of a costly nature, but in every case the Oou ity Superintendent who furnishes them failed to carry out the law by introducing the new books. Poor Caulkins of Tippecanoe county, already overworked, was compelled t® put in 22| days extra the first three months the law was in force and then did not succeed in selling many books. Had Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co. sought information from other superintendent-' who have performed their duties according to law, the circular now before us would present a different aspect and tell a different tale. In this county, for instance, the total, cost of and selling oVer $ ,000 worth of books and reporting sales, together with the cost of complete record books, blanks, &c., is less than S3OO, while the saving m price on the books sold, as compared with the cost of tne same number and kind of the trust books, is $2,600. For the next four years the cost of selling will be still less, as the books are well introduced and all the records and blanks for that length of time are on hands. Van Antwern, Bragg & G’o. don’t want such reports, however, hence they rely upon such information as they know can be furnished by school officers who endeavored to make the new law unpopular by making it inoperative and expensive. The Van Antwerp school book monopoly seem determined not to yield even to the mandate of the supreme court of this state. In a recent circular, referred to in the above, and sent broadcast over the state since the courl has rendered its opinion in favor of the law, we find the following report from our superintendent Warren:

Amount of requisition, $2,667 65 Sales for the first three * months, 44 38 EXPENSES. Superintendent’s service, $lB 00 Trustees’ services, 60*00 Record books, etc., 60 00 Total, $l3B 00 The book trust then, in scored lines, adds the following comment: In this case it will be noticed that it cost more than three times as much as has been realized from the sale of the books. As has been well said by the county superintendent of Whits

the sole object of the book trust, republican superintendents and trustees where “it cost their couik ties more money to have the law violated than it did other counties tojhave it enforced,” is “to make the new law unpopular by making it inoperative and expensive.” And this is precisely what the republican county superintendent and trustees, backed by the ‘Republican,’ in the interest of Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., have been doing The school book law was entitled to strict obedience from school officers until repealed or declared void. It they had done their duty between two and three thousand dollars would have been sav*d . to the school patrons of Jasper county. The school book monopolies <ire taking great interest in the election which comes off throughout the state next Monday. They desire the elejtion of republican trustees in Jasper county, and expect of them, if successful, Ufo retention of superintendent barren The official who premeditatedly violates law he is sworn to. observe and enforce is not w rthy the suffrage of the people.