The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-02-08
H..B. NO. n.

Mr.. Kennerly, of Choteau county, has in
troduced a bill IN the house bearing the above
number, to provide for the public printing in
the several counties of Montana. We have
not seen a copy of this bill, but we under
stand it empowers the several boards OF coun-
ty commissioner to let the public printing
for their several counties. Under the present
law the governor, the president of the coun-
Gil and the speaker of the house constitute a
board having the power to let the territorial
printing anu the printing of each county in
the territory. The law was drawn up by a
democrat, introduced in the legislative as
sembly by a democrat ard passed both houses
by democratic votes. The object of the law
is two-fold. First to reduce the cost of the
printing for which a county is chargeable,
and second, to aid, build up and protect the
democratic newspapers throughout the terri
tory to the extent of comforting upon them
the printing for their respective counties
Under the operation of the law the cost OF
county printing has been reduced from %
per cent. to SO per cent. In this respect one
of the objects of the printing law is reached,
and the counties relieved of the extortionate
lowed. But the second object of the law
with one notable exception, has not, so far
been accomplished. Notwithstanding a dem
ocrat was installed as president of the coun-
Gil and a democrat occupied the speakers
chair in the house, III W of the three coull-
ties that publish both democratic and repub-
lican newspapers the county printing for
those counties has been awarded to republi
can papers. A democrat saw fit to join hands
with a republican governor, and ignoring the
claims of his own party papers, to give the
county printing to republican papers, thus
building up and protecting his political a6'
versaries.
The MINER, in advance OF its cotempora.
ries, frankly avowed and plainly stated tile
object of the present printing law. 1t las
held--a fact that is plain to every one-tha
the democratic press of Montana is entitled
to and should have the county printing in
democratic territory. When we take into
consideration the fact that a republican ad
ministration bestows its patronage upon it!
auherents and the federal printing is giver
when possible, to its party papers, the posi-
ton of the MINER, in apolitical point of view
is a sound one, and when We further conside
that. as far as this territory is concerned, thu
cost of the printing tor its several countie
has been materially reduced under the pres
ent printing law, we hole that our position i
just. While we are not disposed to enter an.
particular complaint against the law as it nov
stands, we do protest against the perversiol
Of one of its principal objects. The Law
which at the best is an arbitrary one, may b
modified in some of its provisions SO as tt
more fully meet the requirements of til
} democratic spirit of the age. It could con
} cede to parties litigant, who are compelled t.
foot the printers bills the choice of newsps
pers in which their printing shall be done
t while such a modification would virtual
2 destroy The force of the present law, it woul
at least render some of our so-caIled demt
t cratic officials powerless to feed public pap
! distressed or avaricious republican new!
2 papers.