Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-05-13
The Printing Again.

The Sentinel still harfs upon the prices fixed in the
BILL AMI contends that they not too high and brings
TO its aid communication signed by journeyman prin
ter. The Sentinel" says wages higher now than
heretofore, but the lourneyman says they not.
The wages, by the Thousand ems, now what they
have been for ten years. Journeymen receive twenty
five cents per thousand for plain natter and the Stale
now pays forty-fve cents. A good workman make
from 81 70 81 90 per day at that price, whilst his
Poyer will receive 81 40 to Sl60 profit his labor
The reduction OF forty cents per thousand (the Cncn
uat price for book work. would affect only the en-
poyer, and not the journeymen. The present prices
paid jouneymen eompositor ought not to be reduced,
would they be, should forty cents be paid We have
always paid the regular prices journeymen, and al
ways expect to de- so.-IndidRa Journal.
We do not rely so much on the aid o( Journeyman
Printer, on the testimony of Thomas DowTing, W.
Mlikan, and John d. Defrees, all printers, and all
Wings. The journeymen printers, it is true, feel IN
dignant the conduct of Defrees they have done
nothing than sign respectful petition to the Leg
sature protesting against the reduction of the prices
The wages for journeymen now one dollar higher,
per week, than they were when Defrees did the public
printing and all his talk about the price per thousand is
only intended to deceive. He employed his wOrkmen by
the week and paid less than the prices paid
As to the profit which he figures up for the State
Printer, it is the difference between the price paid
his ourneymen and that which he receives making no
in the establishment his tme his rents and all the 9TH
contingencies Deduct these, and the Printer.
under the present prices to the language OF Mr..
Delrees will only receive fair compensation for has
labor and the capital employed and nothing more" But
will detain readers longer from the testimony
of Messrs. Dowling, Mikan and Defrees. Mr.. Dow
ling is of the best printers in Indiana. Mr. Mill.
kan the Editor and proprietor of the Laporte Whig
Printer, Wing, and late member of the Legislature.
Mr. Derees the verable John d. Defrees the Editor
of the Indiana Journal, and late State Printer. The
individual who, for sinister purposes is sat.
ing his scords"
Here is the testimony. Read it,
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 7th 1850.
Dear Sir:-The communication Of the Secretary of
the committee of ways and means has this been
received and reply without delay. am asked if, in
my opinion, 'the prices paid for the public printing is
not too high and if too high in what particular or
particularsp My reply is, | do not think the prices
paid, too high, and could give many for that
opinion, were proper TO do so under the call made up
me-
may be allowed add, however, that as a practical
printer with the present law regulating
public printing it is my deliberate opinion, that ma
era reduction could be made in the prices paid with
out endangering the pecunlary standing OF both the pub
lie printer and those employed by him TO perform the
labor The past experience the subject satisfies
that reduction would only reach those who labor,
while any apparent saving would be lost to the State by
the adoption of system of less efficiency than the pres
ent
Since the adoption Of the present law in lS40, there
has been evident improvement in the Of
cutng the public printing, and this has been
Of pride all who take interest in the progress of
our State in the mechanic arts. While legislation
in many tend to public expen
dtures economy is all times desirable but doubt
the policy justice Of reducing tho wages OF labor be-
low fair living and remuneratve price, or of encour
aging a system Of underbiddng at with all notions
Of Justice the employed. l am clearly Of opinion
that the prices paid the public printer not too
high and that no change could be made without doing
injustice to large, numerous, and highly respectable
body of operators whose wages, will always be regu-
lated by the price for the public printing.
Very respectfully, yours,
THOMAS BOWLING.
s. s. MIcKLE, ESD,
Chairman Committee Of Yags and Means.