The State vs. the 'Gigantic Octopus': Washington Votes to Print Its Own Schoolbooks
Olympia's senate passes a bill making Washington a textbook publisher, selling spellers and readers to children at cost to break the American Book Company's grip — 27 to 4.
OLYMPIA, March 7. — Special. — Hutchinson's bill for the issuing by the state of a series of textbooks, to be distributed to the school children at the actual cost of publication, and appropriating $50,000, was passed by the senate this afternoon. A similar measure by Shaw was also on the calendar, but was indefinitely postponed at the author's request.
Senator Frink urged that the senate pass the bill for the reason that the state has been and is being systematically robbed by that gigantic octopus, the American Book Company. He stated that he had given the matter close examination, and was convinced that the saving to the state would be large. He cited an estimate secured on the cost of printing the textbooks now used, and showed that a certain book on philosophy now sold at $1.35 could be produced for much less with a fair profit. He said the state should ignore the company and break the combine at any cost.
The bill provides for the printing of a series of books to consist of a speller, five readers, two arithmetics, two grammars, two physiologies and one history. The books are to be compiled by competent persons employed by the state board of education, the printing and binding to be done by the lowest responsible bidder residing within this state. After the printing of the books the electrotype plates are to be returned to the state for safe keeping. While the books are not free, they will be distributed to the children at the actual cost of compiling, printing and distributing, and for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the bill $50,000 is provided.
Senator Brown favored the bill, he said, but as chairman of the board of education he had given the matter perhaps more careful consideration than some others. In the first place he was satisfied that the appropriation of $50,000 would not publish one book. California passed this law four years ago, he said, and the state yet lacks one book of completing the series.
Other members were willing to vote for the bill with the hope that the day would not be far distant when the children would be supplied with school books free of charge.
The bill was passed, ayes 27, nays 4, absent 1.
“The state has been and is being systematically robbed by that gigantic octopus, the American Book Company.”
In 1895 Washington's senators wanted the state to print its own textbooks and sell them to children at cost, an early American experiment in public publishing aimed at a private combine. Senator Brown's warning — that California had tried it four years earlier and still hadn't finished its series — is the same caution heard about every public alternative to a private vendor. Who sets the price of a schoolbook, and who profits from a captive audience of children, is still being argued in statehouses and school boards today.
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