Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-01-14

LEGISLATIVE EcoSonr-C oSsrsrEScr-On
Monday last, Mr. Biggs, from the COMMITTEE On
claims, to whom had been referred the bills OF the
Publishers Of the Council and House Of Representa-
lives 81 the last session, made report recommending
that they be allowed the sum Of 1892 rs, for work
done to the value Of ,625 3D. at the rates hereto
fore paid in the Territory for such work. In justt'
cation Of this sweeping economy-this cutting down
Of prices agreed to be paid when the contract was
rnade-the committee draw CON PARSONS between the
prices charged and the prices paid in some OF the old
States where labor and all the necessities Of lie 90
not command one half Of the smallest sum for which
they could be contracted for in this Territory. With
all due Difference to the opinions Of the Committee
not unmindful of its strong desire to be economical
in the expenditures Of the public moneys, we beg
leave to differ with it as to the justice of the system
ofeconomy they propose to enforce after the contract
has been made and the services performed. Let US
examine the reasons offered by the Committee, IN
support Of their economy, and see how far they will
60 to justify the conclusions they have drawn-Ihey
contend that because the printers were to be allowed
the usuaI compensation for such icorA," Missouri
Illinois. Indiana, and North Carolina prices should
be thrown together and averaged as the prices to be
allowed by our Legislature. After citing the prces
paid by these several States, the Committee come
to the conclusion that none othem are just the thing
so they select the prices paid by the Congress OF the
United States as the proper ones by which the Legs
lature should be governed. The Committee furnish
es what purports to be the prices allowed printers to
Congress, 1.-THE correctness Of which pretend not
to dispute) and comes to the conclusion that those
who have done work for the Territory should receive
no more That the prices charged by US are much
higher we admit but does that prove that our char
ees are one cent too high. We think not, and we
believe proper review of the subject will convince
evey impartial reader Of the correctness Of our opn
ions. In all countries the prices Of labor find their
proper grade, rising and falling as do the prices Of
the necessaries of life, alike according to the demand
Let us examine matters influencing prices, in Or
der to test the justice Of the conclusions of the COM
mittee, by circumstances regulating trade and prices
Does purchaser enter the store ola wholesale aud
retail merchant and enquire the prices of goods ne
is told the wholesale and the retail prices of the arti-
Gle he wishes to purchase which not unfreqenty va
ries City per cent. What would be thought of the
intelligence Of the man who would refuse to pay
higher price, in proportion for the article at retail
than is asked for the whole lot ewould be equal
ly wise with the one who would suppose that
small amount of labor could be done in Iowa at the
same rate that one hundred times much could be
done for in Washington But.let US go little fur
ther and ask the committee to be consistent and
what prices they will allow for the printing of the
laws For the execution of this work, the Secreta-
~ of State is authorized to let the contract to the low
est bidder-Well, the publishers Of the city papers
actually contract for it at price falling far below the
cost ofthe work, thereby losing several hundred dol
lars by it every year. And why is this 1t is to a
ford employment to their hands during the vacation
of Congress that they may retain them until the next
session. Here them it appears that the printers to
Congress are supplied with such conveniences for
the work that it is thought better to lose rent and
wear and tear of materials, than the risk Of be-
ing unable to employ good hands during that season
when work is pressing upon their hands! And yet
our very just committee think that for the small a.
mount of labor we get to do, we must all risks,
and get but the wholesale price for the article taken
at RETAIL Are they not aware that in Iowa profess
ors Of the cart preventative of all arts" are not with
in the reach of an employer at all times, at the
expense of a passage of from three to five hundred
| miles on the river.
Nor are these the only reasons why higher prices
should be paid in Iowa than at Washington, and at
the Capitol Of the several States whose prices the
Committee have drawn in companion with our char
ges A moments reflection would teach it that in the
old States the board Of hands, rent paper, fuel and
all the other expenses attendant upon printing Of
fee does not amount, in many Items to third of
that which we are compelled to pay in Iowa. conse-
| quenty printers in Iowa have BEEN compelled, al
ways, to pay EIGHT per cent more for composition
than employing printers IN Ohio receiue for the
same work ,cen completed, after deducting all other
expenses! How fortunate for those interested, that
the Committee did not conclude to adopt the prices
paid in Ohio, in that case, all interested would
not only have lost their services in superntend-
ing, as well as heavy expenses but sustained loss
upon every type set, to say nothing of waiting till it
suits the pleasure ola Legislature to reimburse them,
in part for their OUTLAWS. With the same justice
might the members of the Legislature go aon tick"
till the close of the session and then leave the next