Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-04-17
THE COUNTY PRINTING LAW.

The law enacted by the last Legislature
in reference to the public printing Of Ju.
niata county, is one that meets the apprc-
baton Of all liberalmirded and just men
Of both parties. In years past when there
was only two newspapers-the JUNIATA
SENTINEL and the Juniata Register pub
lished in the county, the public advertise
mcnts were published IN both papers, and
both parties were thus afforded an oppor-
tunity Of reading them, but after the Jp-
nia'a True Democrat was established
these advertisements were given almost
entirely to the two Democratic organs.
only few appearing occasionally in the
SENTINEL. Although the Republican
citizens Of tie county paid fully one-hali
of the taxes they were debarrcd the priv
ilege Of reading the advertisements unless
they subscribed for one of the Democratic
papers. Notwithstanding it is evidently
the true intent aud meaning of the old
law that the legal advertisements shall be
published in one each of the papers of
the two leading political parties, yet the
law does not say so, consequently the
county officers shielded their action be-
hind lis broad and inde finite construction.
The Republicans paid their taxes-a
part Of which was appropriated for pay
ment Of county advertisements which
they seldom if ever seen, and from which
they derived no benefit, but the County
Commissioners cou!u see 20 necessity ioI
inserting the public advertisements in
more than t,co papers. This was all right
and the public were satisfied. But a new
move was made about year ago. An
o.hcr paper was started-the Jmiata
RcpuJ Jlicda-in the interest of this same
Democratic party. Heretofore, it will lc
remembered, the County Commissioners
had failed to see the necessity for insert
lug the public advertisements in more
than two papers, but as soon as it was as
certained that the RpuLlic0 would be
conducted in TIE interests Of their party
they seemed TO see an immediate necessity
for publishing the public advertisements
in three papers, and from that time up to
the present the necessity has c.ristcd and
the public advertisements ALL appear in
the three Democratic papers, viz: the
Jnaiata True RepaJlican, the Janiata
Register, and the Janiota True Democrat.
1t must be admitted by all that the Re
publican citizens of Juniata county are
taxed for at least one-half of the money
that comes into the County Treasury, and
it is equally true that the Republican
party embraces almost one-half of the
population Of the county. The County
Commissioners decided, year ago, that it
was necessary, and have been paying since
that time for the publication of county
advertisements in three newspapers. And
now we ask, have not the tax PAYERS
right to demand that the advertisements
for which they are taxed to pay shall ap-
pear in the three newspapers having the
largest circulation in the county? A
shrewd business man, when he desires to
advertise his business or wares, never
seeks newspaper that has but a hundred
or so Of circulation. And this is the
object of the law, published below, regu-
iatlnS the county printing. The county
advertisements must, hereafter, be pub
'ished in the three newspapers having the
largest circulation We believe the SEN
TIHEL has as large, if not larger circu-
lation than any other paper in the coun:y,
and If this is the fact we can assure our
friends throughout the county that they
vii! at least have the satisfaction of read
ing advertisements for which they are
taxed to pay.
SECTION 1. Be 1t enacted Jy tie Sen
nte and House Of Representatives. of tie
Commonwealth Of Pennsylgania IN Gen
cral assembly met, and 1t is AcreJy en-
acted Jy tie authority of the same, That
immediately after the passage of this act
the Commissioners Of Juniata county are
hereby required to notify the publishers
or owners of all newspapers published in
said county to furnish within ten days
thereafter to said Commissioners bona
.;'c LIST Of subscribers &c each paper Ic-