Butte record., 1854-04-15
State Printing.

printing, the early publication Of the
laws and journals and the distribution OF
the same" 1t was introduced bv Mr..
Herbert, and is, if we remember rightly,
the fourth or fifth bill introduced upon
this subject. 1t establishes the price of
composition in the English language, at
$2,75 per one thousand ems-being
reduction of twenty-five cents on the
one thousand ems from the prices estab-
lished by other bills. which have been in
troduced during the present session. 1t
makes no change worthy of the subject
and the legislature of California. The
contract system, which has been found
to work well in other states, has been vir-
tually decided against, and the legisla-
ture content themselves with the intro
duction of bill after bill upon this sub
joct and still the question is not disposed
of, nor is there any probability that they
will apply the remedy which this subject
demands The state printing can be as
we'll executed for $l,75 as for $2,75.-
If the legislature have the interests of
.he State in view, and are not pledged
to, or controlled By, any individual or
faction on this question, let them reduce
the price of the State printing to $500,
and not continue the exorbitant price
now paid, that iactional presses may be
sustained to divide and distract the dem
ocratic party. The State should only
pay a fair compensation for the work,
and not the exorbitant rates now paid
Tho closely contested election of last
fall, should induce the legislature to dis
pose of this question with view to the
interests of the State, and not be gov
erned by the assertions Of those who
have sold their political birthright for
the purpose of securing place at the
public crib, and fattening upon the con-
stantly drained treasury of bleeding
and outraged state. 1t seems to be the
intention of the legislature to draw from
the state treasury, and appropriate TO
themselves or their tools, as much of the
funds as possible Their course upon
this question would seem to indicate that
such was their intention. The import
ance which this question assumed in the
last canvass, is not remembered by those
who are now enjoying their seats in the
legislature. They seem to forget that
they were elected to relieve the state of
this onerous burthen and not for the
purpose ofperpetuating it. To suppose
that the democracy can again uphold
such unnecessary, uncalled for and
reckless extravaganza, is counting too
strongly upon the gullibility of the Cal
nornia public, and is no wise connected
with democracy-democratic principles
or democratic usage. Under the cir
cumstances in which the present legis-
lature was elected, it should have been
their endeavor TO have curtailed the ex-
penses of the State Government as far
as practicable, and established the dem
ocratic principle of short sessions. There
has been no earthly necessity for drag
ing out the present session for term of
Eve or SIX months And the democracy
will soon be called upon to endorse the
actions OF the Legislature and sanction
its extravaganza at the ballot box We
shall do nothing of the kind-but shall
condemn it as unworthy the great DEM
ocratic party, and discountenance those
who tolerate it. Members who now by
their actions, permit the session TO be ex-
tended beyond its necessary length, and
sanction the perpetuation of the extrav-
agant prices now paid for the state print
ing are unfaithful TO the democracy who
60 nobly supported them last fall, and
are creating a lever to overthrow their
party and themselves.
The State nrintinp. as we have here