The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-03-16
PUBLIC PRINTING.

Every winter some member of the Ohio
Legislature feels it his duty to attack
the newspapers, by tinkering with the
law in reference to public printing. This
winter a man by the name of Wes. has
introduced bill to give out advertising
to the lowest bidder Some years ago
Mr.. Dodds of Cincinnati undertook the
same thing, but when we said we had no
objection to the law provided he would
extend it to all officers in the State, he
replied that that would never do; incom-
petent and unworthy men would always
underbid good men, and the offices
would all be secured by bad men. We
told him that there was more difference
among newspapers as to competency and
value as advertising mediums, than there
was among men as to fitness for Office.
This man West has procured the pas
sage of law in the House, repeating the
law requiring the publication of the num-
Der of horses. cattle, hogs and sheep in
the several counties in the State. We
hope the Senate may give this matter
careful attention. IL is of great impor-
tance, not to the newspapers, but to all
the farmers in the State, and enables
them to regulate the raising of stock to
meet the demand. 1t gives the number
of each kind of stock for the year when
the publication is made, and for the pre-
ceding year.
We will illustrate the value of this pub
lication.
Some years ago we were engaged in
raising Chester White Hogs, and all
kinds of hogs sold very high. We had
quite a number of hogs on hand, when
neighbor who was looking at them, ad-
vised us to sell at once, while prices were
so high-that they would soon be lower.
We referred him to the statistics, just
published, by which it appeared that the
number of hogs had fallen off largely in
Jackson county in the past year, and had
fallen off several thousand in the State,
and that the supply being short, prices
must remain high until there should be
an increase in the supply. And we were
correct. The information published ena-
bles farmers to regulate the supply of all
kinds of live stock SO that neither pro-
ducers nor consumers can suffer loss.
A bill is likely to become law to fix
the price OF advertising. This is right.
1t would prevent such swindles as that
attempted by those who published the
Il 4 Na
make prices uniform throughout the
State.
There is also an effort being made to
have legal advertisements published in
two papers in each county. This is right
Let two papers, one of each party, having
the largest circulation, be selected. Why
not conduct public business the same as
competent men conduct their private bu-
siness? If man wants to sell his farm,
does he 60 around asking the newspapers
to bid down, and then does he accept the
lowest bid, and advertise only there? Not
at all He goes to two or three papers
and advertises, and pays the price asked,
and he.fnds it pays. When Sheriff has
land to sell, it is to the interest of all
parties that it should sell for all the
money it is worth. The way to get this
price is to let all the people in the county,
of both parties, know about the sale. The
additional cost would much more than
be returned in the increased price, caused
by a much larger competition.
One thing more Some years ago there
was a law requiring the publication of
all laws of a general interest. This law
never should have been repealed. The
citizens OF the State have a right to know
what laws they are required to obey, and
now they have poor means of knowing
The price offered should be low-say
ten cents per square, each, for setting |
the type. The papers OF the State would |
accept the offer.
Suppose our lawmakers think about
this matter. !