The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-01-27
DARE RErurE IT.

The attention of Senators is called
again to the fact that the decision
rs TO the cost Of the publ
cation Of the journals on the basis
of the two bids presented, was not
only against the acceptance, in the
first instance, of most economical
bid. made by the STATESMAN,
but that the lowest apparent
bid. even under the second
proposition, was, because of style
proposed, that one presented for the
STATESMAN. This may be most
simply demonstrated by reference
to the publication of the official
journal of the Senate of Wednes-
dav, printed in Thursday mornings
STATESMAN. These proceedings
filled precisely two columns in the
STATESMAN. The same official
proceedings were printed in quarto
form, and Senators are invited to
refer to them and make comparison.
The two bids submitted we're:
FIRST BID.
STATESMAN. composition per 1000
ems, 40 cts; combination" SO cts.
(These were rejected).
SECOND BID.
STATESMAN, composition per 1000
ems, GO cts; combination" 30 cts
1t was our desire to set the
journal matter in most solid
form, using three columns to
page of "Record," if Record" it
had to be, thereby economizing
space by having 70 long break lines.
An accomplished printer has care
fully measured the type used in pub
fishing the proceedings of the day
named, both in STATESMAN style
and in the combination" style, and
the computation of cost to the Sen
ate on the two styles stands thus:
FIRST BID.
combinations" "RecOrd" style So 4S
STATESMAN. .................... 4e
A careful computation of the diff
ference in this expense would place
the combination" price more than
fifty per cent. in advance of that
price for which the STATESMAN
,.o,o,ol 40 Jo tba uOrl- Rnt
these first bids were rejected
and the second, upon which
the decision was again against the
STATESMAN, shows computation OF
expense as follows:
SECOND BID.
combination" "RecOrd" style,
composition on days proceedings So u
STATESMAN ....--.......... ~
Between these two styles there is
an absolute difference of 20 per cent.
In favor of the three column style,
proposed by the STATESMAN. There
are the days proceedings, print
ed in the two different forms.
and one is so expensive
in style compared with the
other that one makes larger bill,
with smaller figures even for COM
position, than the economical plan
proposed by the STATESMAN. These
are no fancy figures. The Senator
talked about the State being saved
500 or $500 by the rejection of
the STATESMAN bid. He knows
nothing about figures, and is
dared to a proof before the Sena=
tors of what is here asserted. BY
the STATEsMAN's first proposition
more that so per cent. of expense
in composition could have been
saved. BY the second 20 per cent.
could have been saved. The differ
ence even on the last proposition,
would be $500 or $4OO less during
the session. Let measurement and
figures, not words, refute these
statements.
Had the first proposition of the
STATESMAN been accepted, the Off
cial journal of the Senate would
have appeared every morning in
this paper without cost to the
State. Such contemplated publ
cation was plainly stated to the
chairman of the Printing Commit
tee, and if it was not communicated
by him to the committee and the
Senate, it was, to say the least, neg
ligence on his part. Thus fully five
thousand citizens would have had
an opportunity each day of know
ing the course pursued by their rep
resentatives, while now only those
TO whom Senators see tit to mail an
occasional copy of their Record"
know, officially, what the Senate of
the great State of Texas is doing.