Washington telegraph., 1862-12-03

PuPLrc PRISFER-On Wednesday evening
last Mes-r-. Eakin E,ter. of Washington,
Hampstead county, were elected Public Prin-
ters by very decided najority. ". II. Etter,
Esq, is now the oldest man engaged in con-
Quoting public press in the State, aud is
worthy Of this or any other honor which could
b. conferred upon him by the people or their
representatives,. Many, many yesrs ago, when
Southern Arkansas was almost an entire viii
derne-s, ne started the Telegraph, at Wash
ingtOn, in Hampstead county, and his efforts,
through that paper have never ceased, to give
our people light, and to disseminate correct
information.
But it va. not our intention, when We sat
down to pen this article, to attempt to eulogise
. gentleman, who il well and widely
known. Twas merely our desire to say fcu
words 10 the Legislature now in session in re
gard TO the PSAic Printing. and the spirit Of
justice which should actuate them in regard
| toit.
II has been stated to as that IL was the in
tenticn of the Legislature 50 soon IS the re-
suit of the election of Public Printer wa.
known, to pass bill, reducing the pay of tina,
branch of the business. As well as cutting off a
portion Of the work. To the latter, We can Of
fer but little objcction-inde-d il Is the duty
Of the legislative body TO use the pruning
knife with ,igor, whenever reference is made
to the expense Of the State, and the taxes
wrung from the people. SO far, so good.
Now We come 10 the other point-that Of re
ducing the psy Of the Public Printer, fol
| work he may dn--ithcr book, pamphlet, job
work. or Advertising. Two years since a re
lnction, We believe, was made in the pay o
the Public Printer. At that tine We stated ia
n note written to a committee, that the steT
| Va, a. unjust one. bee ,use We had practica
knnwl-gr re the loss which the Printer wa
! b.unl a. suffer under the circumstances.
Iii, certainly NOT good policy, and u ough
net to he, Of the state. to expect any iniivi lua
to- perform any service without just remunera
ton The Auditor ari Treasurer are PAL
! siIarie- sufficient amply 10 remunerate then
for Their services, and the Public Printer shout
IN like NAM CT. receive such pay for his work
a. will reward him for the labor he bestow,
,ud the laage capital which he is nee essaril
bound t. invest in material necessary to d
til. ~,rk In ordinary times this investment q
capital is large, if -. what must it be not
~h.n the rates for all the material which b
must have, have grown in price, and are sti
increasing beyond anything which the min
had any conception Of few years ago. 70
instance: before the blockade, and When tn
avenues Of commerce were open, paper Il
th. ordinary kind Of book work could be puI
chased Il ON the manufacturers, at from 50 70
Der ream Last spring; before Memphis VI
taken, and when navigation vas still ops
| from this place to that city. We purchased
Augusta, "a, ise, plper Tor the SUI, 81 I.
per ream. and the actual expenses Of tran:
. pvrtation, from that place to this, we're grea
rr, an the eahrs cost Of the same amount
( paper would have been. received from Loui
vile. 81. Louis. or Cincinnati. The reasc
5 for il il obvious: The railroads Of the Sout
~-rs occupied, q. thsy still are in mnYiu
4 s.ltisrs aud Transporting The munitions ,