Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-03-13

THE subject Of compensation for the ad-
yertising of the new Constitution, has lately
been agitated by our legislatorsas well as by
several publishers. the first no doubt know
jug nothing about the printing business, the
second but very little. The lack of cxpe-
rience in the latter has become q source of
regret, and their chagrin is expressed in an
assumed virtue which they neither possess
nor feel. They certainly do not know the
difference between general and legal, or To-
cal advertising rates. and when they pre-
sent their bills, falling far short of the mark,
they drop into the arms IF virtue, pair of
arms they perhaps never saw before, and
express feeling of indignation at the high
own ignorance Of rates, and the disappOint-
ment they feel in consequence. We print
ed the new Constitution by order of the Sc
cretary of the Commonwealth, and charged
for the work at the same rate that we
charge for legal advertising generally,
which we believe is just. as we must take
into consideration the room it occupied in
the place of other paying advertising.
Those who are now agitating the question
Of cutting down the rates TO nne-thirG the
present charges, might, with the same pro-
priety, set the prices for all manufactured
articles, and regulate the profits mel
chant is to receive on his goods. The fact
IS that the prices Of printing are already
cut down too low in a business which re-
quires renewal Of costly material every
few years, and that, certain individuals
ought to know, and would know were they
practical men in the art /; and if legislators.
who are entirely ignorant in regard to the
matter, fix the prices Of printing, there will
be but little margin left for n livelihood
among those who have learned the ''art
preservative," and who necessarily follow
il as means 10 procure an honest living.
40 one would prosper much on prices fixed
according to their knowledge of the matter.
4 large majority of the bills presented in
this case are just and right, few are ex-
orbitant, and some are entirely too low.
which we attribute more TO ignorance than
TO avarice, as there are so many in the bu-
siness who have no knowledge whatever Of
the art-who never set line of type
in their lives, and who are entirely untitled
and unable TO count up the costs or the
profits. If a maximum compensation were
fixed at the average price Of the majority
Of rates charged, we have no doubt The bills
would be speedily settled. And as ii is
a difficult matter TO settle upon plan un-
less it is done by paying the bills as pre-
sented-the eXorbitan., those too iOS, and
those which are fair and just, We believe
that publishers woald readily agree TO such
maximum price in order to effect a speedy
settlement of their claims.
We served full apprenticeship at
the business, and have followed it for
twenty-six years in every capacity con
nected Herewith, aud under every variety
Of difficult circumstances, aud we know
that our charge, with some others az"
risht-accOrding 70 published rates they
are proportionatey less than was the
charge in 1888 for publishing the amend
ments to the old Constitution. If the price
in this case is to be regulated by legislators
who are ignorant in the matter, and pub
fishers who are dissatisfied, more from dis
appointment than any virtuous feeling,
then we may as well forgive the debt and
receipt the bill.