Uniform Text Books

One of our prominent citizens, and one who, by, reason of his position as treasurer of the school board of this city formany years, is prepared to speak inteligently lupon the subject, in nonversation the other day said, in effect what follows : "Do you know tliat Mr. Sawyer has au opportunity to make himself as solid, or even more so with the people than has Mr. Pingree?" "How is that?" was the reply. "By framing and securing the passage of a law requiring unform text books throughout the state. The law should cover all district, primary, ward and gramuiar schools at least, if not the high schools. For instance, in arithmetics, reades, spellers, histories, geographies, and such studies, what is the object in changing text books every little while? And why cannot the children of the state- to say nothing of the benefit to the pocketbook of their parents- be benefited by studyiug from uniform text books?" "My idea in regard to this law would be to have a state cominission forrned, of which the governor should be a member, this cominission to be selected from amon eduoational people, they to have charge of the entire matter of selecting what text books should be used. I would have the law eompulsory, and any district that ref used to comply should lose its primary school money. Perhaps otlier penalties might be attached, also. "The law should le that no book acepted could be changed within a period of say teu years. "You see the benefit of such a law, don't you? To-day tliere is hardly a fainily that has not, piled away in the garret or elsewhere, dollars and dollars worth of school books that are out of date and valueless for one reason or another. The books that you bought for your oldest son are worthless for the younger inembers of the farnily, because the authorities have listened to the persuasión of some shrewd snioothtongued agent, and had the books published by his house substituted therefor. Then again, families move from place to place, and every move made requires a new set of text books. Just think of it! How utterly absurd and useless, besides being costly, our system is? And yet when a legislator proposes a chauge, as Capt. Mauly did wheu he was in the legislature, a great lobby is formed by text book publishers, and school teachers, and officers who no doubt make a little something out of the many changes, and every such proposition is defeated. "Now this proposed law is in the interest of the common people, and the man who secures its enactment will, in my opinión, be honored years after he has passed away, for the people do not soon forget the men who have the courage to champion their cause and the persistenee to win for them victories. "How would y ou have these books fumished, by private publishers, or by the state?" was asked. "Oh, as to that, let some proper state officials enter into a contract with some publishing firm to furnish these books to all book dealers at a certain figure. The competition among the different publishing flrms would be sure to fix a low, or at least a moderate price, then let a uniform commission or percentage be decided upon for all booksellers, and the retail price printed plainly on each book. It inight be well to have a penalty fixed for a violation of this price by sellers. It would be a benefit to the bookstore men, for then they could not be loaded down with a lot of text books that would be out of date and of no value, and they would always be entitled to a fair percentage for handling the books. These books should be in series for the various grades, and the best talent of the state secured to make the selection. In the sciences, or where changes in books might be necessary, the coinmission should be given the privilege of using their discretion, perhaps, in making necessary changes, luit the ordinary (Coutinued on Sth Page.) 1 UNIFORM TEXT-BOOKS. (Contlnued from lst Page. text books should remain the saine for a number of years. "The text-book publishers who have grown rich, without exception, oppose this law, very naturally. It may not be in their interest, but it is in the interest of you and I, and any legislator capable of securing the passage of such a law would win for himself a lasting place in in thê hearts of the people. "Some school superintendents and teachers are opposed to such a law I understand, but I have never y et heard a good reason given in opposition to it. "Yon can do no better thing for the people of this community and of this state, than to agítate the passage of a law for uniform text-books. "Of course these thoughts rnay be crude, no doubt they are, but they give the idea, and froni many years service upon the school board, I certainly believe them to be right. "What is your opinión of free textbooks," was asked. "I am opposed to free text-books. I do not believe that the people in general desire to have them. Our law as it stands furnishes children of parents too poor to parchase them witta text-books free, and I think that is as far as the law should go. I have not time to discuss that matter now. But you can not put this question of uniform text-books in too strong a light." Capt. Manly, being asked what he thought of the subject said: "Why i consider that it is one of the most popular measurer that could be introduced. The man who can succeed in passing a bilí for the uniformity of text-books can have anything he wants from the people of the state. It carne witliin two votes of passing when I championed the measure in the legislature. The publishers lobby proving a little to' strong for me. I believe that Mr. Sawyer, with the strength he will have can secure the passage of such a measure, and il' he does he can have anything he wants at the hands of the people, for they want such a law."