Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-13
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
From the Cleveland Banner.

Some of the brethren of the press-of
both political parties-are becoming consid-
erably exercised about the public printing
the whole secret being that they want fin
ger in the pie themselves. A combination
Of the country press" against the ''metro-
politan press" is talked about and urged.
We hope the members, in their good sober
judgment, will treat such combinations as
they deserve. Every fair-minded publisher
in the State, if he is asked for his opinion,
will say that the Nashville papers should
have it. They are the acknowledged Or
gans of the party; they are printed right
under the nose of the Legislature; have to
publish a synopsis of the proceedings each
day; have to defend the action of the
majority, and do many other things
that the ''country press" would never hear
Of The party in the majority in the Legis-
lature would be wanting in gratitude if
it were to turn the cold shoulder to the &C
nOwledged organs of the party throughout
the length and breadth of the common
wealth. We are of the "country press"
but we do not belong to the combination
nor amt going to, either. We have fought,
bled, and died upon as many battle-fields as
most of our contemporaries of the 'country
press" but still we do not think we ought
to be selected over men equally wOr-
thy, when those men live right where the
printing has to be done, and have the ma
terials to do it with, and we have nothing
of the kind. Most of the "country press"
is in our deplorable condition; if they had
the public printing they would not know
what to do with it. This being the case,
we see no good sense in going to Nashville
Al rrI1frn md
mouth, and asking members to elect
you public printer. All. but you say them
Nashville fellows may give you a cou-
pie hundred dollars hush money. Suppose
they do. Counting your travelling expenses
to and from Nashville, your board while
there, the loss of time, the amount paid for
the profits would be?
In conclusion, we say to the Legislature,
to elect the proprietors of the "UNION AND
AMERICAN and the "Nashville Banner"
Public Printers; they are deservedly enti-
tied to it. Don't let the printing out to the
lowest bidder; if you do that it will not be
half done; we tried that some years ago
and it failed; pay liberal price and have
it well done.
THE PUBLIC PRINTING AGAIN.
From the Athens Post
The following occurs in the Senate pro
ceedings of the It'll:
Whereas, the same matter is often re-
quired by each House of the General As
sembly. but, inasmuch as when the printing
is ordered by each House separately, the
cost of such printing is greatly increased;
therefore, be it
Resolved, by the General Assembly of the
State of Tennessee, that the committee of
the two Houses on Printing be directed to
inquire and report whether some rule cannot
be adopted to prevent said increased cost of
printing.
The resolution was adopted under sus-
pension of the rules, and transmitted imme-
diately to the House.
From the indications economy, retrench-
ment and reform in connection with the
State printing is likely to be the leading card
of the session; but, gentlemen of the Gen
eral Assembly, while you are zealOusly
standing guard by the spile, don't forget to
turn your eyes occasionally in the direction
of the bung-hole. If there is anything de-
fective in the laws in regard to the public
printing, let them be amended at once, and
open the work for fair and honorable com
petition by letting it out to the lowest re-
sponsible bidder. We hope to see the pres
ent Legislature as far as it has the power
initiate rigid system of economy and &C
cOuntability in every branch of the public
service, and smash every ring or combina-
ton that has for its object the fleeing of
the people. The people expect this at the
hands of their representatives now assem-
bled at the Capitol, and will be satisfied
with nothing less.