The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-06-09

VefSal application, LIlab the AaDOF6k Is |
worthy of his hire. No consideration of
partizan rivalry could tempt us to with
hold it from persons engaged in the same |
calling with ourselves. The esprit de |
corps which we have always endeavored |
to cultivate in our profession, would
suffice to prevent such compromise Of
self-respect, if nothing else would. There
fore we viii oppose no measure which
has for its object a reasonable and just
compensation to persons, whoever they
may be, who are to perform the State
printing. We know that the work IN.
wolves large outlay of capital and no
little trouble and responsibility, and itg
executors ought TO be paid proPortionate-
ly with their expenditure and labor.
A bill to fix the rates of the public
printing it now before the Legislature.
The bill has been withheld from the
public eye. We have not had OPP
portunity to examine it; and are not
prepared to speak with full knowledge
of its provisions We understand, how
ever, that the prices fixed are large in
crease over the rates established by the
law of 1866, which are greatly in excess
Of the prices paid before that time. If
this be true, it is unjust to the taxpayers,
who have rights as well as office-holders.
With some slight amendments, the
present law provides ample compensation
to the State printer. 1t is worthy OF es-
peciaI mention, that the price Of setting
type, or in typographical phrase, ''com-
position" was one-sixth higher when the
present law was passed than it is now /;
and that there has been a decline in pa
Der and all other materials employed in
the printing business. With what pro-
priety, then, can an increase of prices be
urged, except as a reward for partizan
services-an object which by the way is
really accomplished when the incumbent
simply receives a just equivalent for his
! services?
Heretofore, it has been customary in
reporting bills in reference to printing
for special committee Of the Legislature
to summon practical printers of both
parties TO their aid in establishing prices
so as to guard the public from imposition.
The rule is a good one; and we would
commend it to the adoption of the pres
ent Legislature, if it be disposed to deal
justly with the taxpayers whose purse
strings are in the hands of that body. We
will venture to say in behalf OF the typo
graphical corps, that no honorable printer
will recommend a standard of prices
below a just equivalent.
In this connection, we are referred to
a single item in bill Of $4,000 which
has been presented to the Legislature
against the State, by Messrs. Fisher &
Kimball. This is charge of seventeen
hundred dollars for printing 5000 copies
Of the United States and State Constitu
tons. 1t may be remarked in the first
place, in view of the number of copies Of
the latter which the people have already
been taxed for printing, and of the fac
that they are not wholly ignorant of the
contents ofthe former, that the job was or
dered by the Legislature for the benefit
not Of the public, but Of the loyal printers
1t consisted of 56 pages-49 plain work
and figure. The job, including u lib
eral allowance for binding, at the rates
fixed by the law under which it was exc
cuted, that is, to say, 50 25 per page fol
the first 800 copies and 81 % for each
additional 500 copies would amount tC
$40 20. And at that rate, it would
yield a handsome remuneration to the
printer. By what sort of hocus pocus il
arithmetical calculation it is proposed tc
make the State pay s1,700 we are at q
loss to know. If it be objected that the
present prices are low for that description
of work, We reply as above, that they are
amply remunerative as any intelligent
man may be readily made to understand.
But this has nothing to do with the case.
The work was executed under tine law of
1866; and is subject to Its provisions.
The Constitution provides that: ''All
laws now in force in this State, not en-
| ''acted in furtherance of secession and
rebellion, shall continue in operation
until they expire by their own imita-
''tion or be altered or repealed by the
Legislature.