Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-05-06
NO. 49.
Public Printing Again.

IL tHe tue journal 70 oeieet and break down the
Sentinel and by any Deees can accomplish
this, and the public printing Cor his own Office he
will be entitled to the praise and gratitude Of the whie
party. 1t is for Democratic members Of the LeQiss-
ture to see that such system is adopted Congress
has always elected their printers year in advance.
This has been done to enable them prepare exc.
cute the work with promptness.
But Mr. Deirees tells that be will not be candi-
date This declaration he supposes, will give strength
to his opposition to the present printing bill Nov we
understand all this manoeuvreing. De(rees knowing t
would be hopeless case, will be candidate; bat
certain Wing minister who publishes religions peri
odicai at the Journal establishment, but who owns no
Office, is to be the candidate for the benefit Of Deees
history ST the present printing law BRIEF but it 10
full OF interest We will give it as we find il Of record
At the session Of 1910 and Al Immediately after the
election Of Gen. Harrison when Whggery had swept
over the country like whirlwind the Legislature con
tanned a large majority of Wings in both branches
Bills for the election Of public printer, were intro
dueed both the Senate the House without any
delay The prices fixed in these bills were at least 30
per cent above those proposed. The bill ia the
Senate originally introduced by Mr.. Stevenson,
Wing from Putnam county. 1t was referred TO q com.
nittee composed Of Messrs Aron Parker Collins and
still further increase the prices, which was adopted
and the bill passed
In the House bill for the same purpose had been IN
troduced by Mr. sweetser Of Marion, Whig, and re.
fered select committee consisting of Messrs Dow.
ling, Derees, and Morgan all Wings. This Dsfrees,
it will be remembered our own dear John D. Delrees
who then represented ST. Joseph county. This COM
mttee made report from which we extract the fol.
lowing:
The committee Of opinion that very eonsidsra.
bic reduction be made from the present prices allow
ed to the public printers for which will appear
obvious TO the House. By the act of lS39 adopted by
our immediate predecessors it will be that tho pr
ces established are as follows:
For composition. per 1000 ems, plain matter, 62t
Figure work. per 1000 ems,....-.......-.-.... 934
Rule and figured work, per 1000 ems. ......$l 20
For press work, per token, common forms. 62t
Broadsides, per token, e3s
Folding reports and bills for one hundred copies
eacn signature,..;;: :.'............-.;...... lxt
Stitching reports and bills per hundred copies. %
The bill sent from the Senate proposes to reduce these
prices much below the rates paid, and your
mttee understand, much oelow the prices fixed for
liar work by the of Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois,
The resolution OF 1887, providing for the election Of
public printer and regulating the prices fixed for his pay
%en5; was an exact copy the resolution OF Congress
cent from the prices thereof That resolution passed
both Houses OF the General Assembly with singular
unanmty and the first step place that necessary
aid to legislation the elevated ground which il should
occupy Those individuals who honored with
in this the coordinate branch Of the Legislature,
eral preceding the adoption Of that joint resou
ton, will not have failed discover great improve
in the execution of the orders of this House.
public printer. Under the old system of contracts when
the l0est bidder the successful applicant il but too
often fell into the hands of whose chief object
to make that contract subservent the cupidy and
love of gain which too frequently interfere with the per-
lormance Of duty Taking the work at prices much be-
low the standard of honorable competition, il became
Necessary in many cases, TO slight the orders OF the
House, and to place your tables printed documents
which, in themselves, were living bes the craft
From nordnae desire to the public printing,
the rates were in many cases. so low that the amount
paid per 1000 ems did not enable the public printers
pay their journeymen more than tithc Of what any
other honest mechanic would be willing to reccire-
This condition Of things the legislature should de-
sire re-established, should h seek curisI
expenses at the hazard Of interfering with one Of Tie
useful, well most indispensable branches OF
the mechanic arts.
When the bill came up its third reading, Mr.. Hen
y submitted the following proposition:
"The undersigned if the whole of the printing order.
ed by the legislature for the three years be given
to them according the bill before the House will do
the work and give responsible securities for faithful
performance thereof at the following prloes 10 wit,
45 cents for composition, plain matter;
so cents, rule and fgurei
IS cents, figure work;
IS cents per token, press work,
January 9, Is4I.
This proposed to reduce the prices about fifty per
cent below the prices contained in the bill reported by
the Whig committee. Messrs. Dowling, Delrees, c. B.
Smith, Judah, and all tho leading Whies voted against
this proposed reductions but the instructions prevailed
and the prices fxed those proposed by Messrs
Bolton & Pattison, Democrats notwithstanding the
gsumbIing of the Journal. The law was passed and
the prices have since remained unchanged.
Under this law, in ls4l, John Bowling (not Thonss)
and Cole, under the firm Of Dowling & Cole, Wings,
were elected. AT the expiration of their time J. p.
Chapman was elected. He succeeded by John ID.
Delrees and he by the present incumbent. When De-
frees the printing the prices the in the
bill now proposed, and JOurneymen's wages one dollar
less per week He elected under the law, and for
his services received fair and reasonable cemPensa
tion When the Wings had the power in the State they
attempted to fx the price Of public printing least
forty per above the present prices Derees, then
a member Of the Legislature, advocated and voted for
the high prices When the Wings had majority he
was elected Printer and for three years without
muir or complaint, received the present prices Now
the Democrats have majority, he proposes to cut down
and economize, when that economy will, he thinks,
aid him in breaking down the Sentinel" THIS is
party movement and if he can accomplish il he will be
entitled to the credit of skilful Wing taccisn- We
again say do not blame him: he is playing the right
game for the benefit of bis party
Y
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