The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-03-30

the Prachc,I Painters Of Columbus.
praying Jor projection against, Rats, in
the Senate, March, 10, l649.
The select committee, 10 whom was
referred tile memorial Of the Practical
Printer Of the city Of Columbus praying
for protection against Rds, have had the
saIne under consideration, and now ask
lesye torepdrt: That the species Of Rails
referred4eo by the memorialists, are diff
ferent 10 genus from those pesiifer"ns
animals which harrass housewives and the
granaries of the farmers; and unlike the
Norway Rat, which digs under ground
and undermnes the foundations of the
most stupendous build ngs--but the effect
Of the pestiferous class to which the mes
mortal refers, is equally deleterious upon
the interests and welfare Of that mertor-
ious class of mechanics, the Pra ciicaI
| Printers. For, as the house rat steals
into the farmers cellar or granary and
destroys the proceeds Of seasons toni,
or the Norway Rat who undermines the
building Of the solid foundations; so DO
these Printer Rats creep into the print
ing Offices Of the slate. and by reducing
the price Of labor destroy the prosperity
and happiness OF all those who depend
upon the profits Of labor to support their
families, and properly educate their
children. Not only do they do This. but
like she Norway Rat, they undermine
the very foundations upon which The pros.
perity Of labor depends, viz: fair com
the great inroads which
have been made upon the prosperity Of
the craH by persons who claim TO be
Printers, who knew little or nothing a.
bout goud workmanship, yet experience
has folly demonstrated that under our in
siilutions, i, would be bad policy for gov
ernment TO interfere in the establishment
of prices TO he paid journeymen. or to
require the service Of a regular appren.
ticeship at any trade or profession. be
fore working iherea' or practicing lhere-
in. The history Of the old world, where
the mechanic is looked upon as a serf is
pregnant with arguments why we, who
profess to be governed by fair princi
pie Of equity, should not follow their pres
n'ci"ns cxemple, and degrade labor. and
Ich from The laborer the prof Of his toll
Your committee are opposed to gov
nent in terfering with or establishing the
lime ofservice at a trade, Vnd eqnall,
opposed to any att0mpt To es'abIist, the
prices to he paid for advertising, book or
job WORK, executed by printers. any more
han for work and labor performed bv
,,her mechanics. The Legislature Of
his State has heretofore assumed the
'hall constitute square in advertising
and also the recompense that shall be ,
,aid for the same. This your committee :
Telieve TO be radically wrong, for ifpub q
ishers of newspapers are compelled 10 ,
publish advertisements for the State al
over prices than is done for individuals
he loss must come. indiv dnally off I'll
he journeyman. who works for subsis
ence, and who is BY circumstances com
,eled TO submit to be rabbed, rather than|
'e thrown out Of empo, ment and starped :,
There is standard known among me.
hanics Of every trade, for the value Of
very species Of labors. And the policy
( the State ought to be TO pay fa and
re munerating pricas for all labor per.
prmed for the public advantage II
nav be economical in one point of view
or the State TO put out its work to the
owest bidder; it may lessen the drain
pom the public treasury; but the general
society, and consequently Of
he government. depend upon the prosper Il
" Of the iaborer; hence il is not only the
interest, hut the duty Of the State to pro.
ect the iaborer. The system of auction.
'ering out all public work to the lowest
bidder, is mean niggarly way Of doing
business on The part of 'he State. BE.
cause, il a couh,ractor deceives himself g
n his calculations or estimates. The la. 4
'orer. or the State itself, will he cheated
for large majority ofsuch contractor. "
ook out far their own interests fcst of
III. On nearly all the public works OF
he Stale, while they have cost the pers i
,le nearly double what they ought 10 have
lone, yet the loborer who dug your can
lis, and built your locks and bridges, was
neanly and niggardly paid! De~agognes q
ak about political favoritism, when pub a
ic officers Of one party give employ mont
o their party friends-but our govern
nent, where public officers are so of'en 5
aud so directly account able TO
he people. his system is far hetier
han that Of public bidding, where the
aborer is sure to be robbed! As remun-
Grating F{ices are always understood as
nopg mechanics. n committee Of disin.