The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-19
THE A PRINTING.
Extraordinary Expenditures Responsible for
aLarge Increase in the Cost of the Work.

Tn accounts of Col. J. B. Maynard, clerk of
the State Printing Bureau, show that in 1SS3-84
the States printing cost about SIG, 900 more than
in 1SS4-S5. The increase in the expense during
l884-S5 is only about 81, 600 less than double
what it was in the preceding two years. and the
comparison is so astounding that the State officers
have, for their own satisfaction, requested the
clerk of the bureau to furnish them with specific
information showing the causes of the wide diff
ference. Colonel Maynard has carefully pre-
pared a statement, showing every item of ex-
pense during the four years. and will submit to
the State bureau the desired information when
ever 1T is ready to receive it. During the years
1884 the publication Of the official reports cost
l4'o95.l IL, and the total printing expense was
$2o,Oll.58 The publication of the official reports
for lSS45 cost $50, 24I 10-more than double
the amount spent in the previous two years-and
the total expenditures for printing and stationary
aggregated $36, 993. 13. Colonel Maynard ex-
plains that one cause for the expense in 1884
falling SO far below 1884-5 is that in those years
there were no legislative journals published,
while during the last two years the extraordinary
expenses were for the printing of
Senate and House journals, 5 1858. 90;
acts, So, 849. SO: and the biennial report
VI Otato SUPERINTENDENT aOlcomOe, @4, fo4. 10, TO
which is added So, $50. AZ, charged to the accounts
OF loo4-5, which was paid for the agricultural re-
ports published in the preceding years, making
the aggregate amount of the extraordinary ex-
pense SIS, ia. 49,"
Will the regular appropriation be sufficient to
pay the printing expenses until the next session
of the LegislatureY' was asked.
Il think it will. It will have to be
sufacient Tn appropriation has never been
large enough. and, in consequence, there has
been q deficiency in previous years. The State
has been increasing it's printing without increas-
Ing Its appropriation for the expense. Yet In
diana does less printing than any of it's neiehbor-
Ing States. We need a larger appropriation
How large do you think the appropriation
ought to be2"
I'll ought to be not less than $50, 900 a year. It
is now $40, 600. We do not do enough PRINTING!
For instance, the publishing 1000 copies Of the
agricultural report-a document intended to in
struct farmers in agriculture-while In Ohio 90
900 copies are published. Only 2, 900 copies Of
nearly ali other official reports are pub
into the documentary journals, leaving only 400
for general distribution-an average of little
more than four for each county. If there is any
benefit to be derived from these reports, a suf-
hcient number for circulation among the peo-
pie generally ought to be published. Very little
can be accomplished in the matter of educating
the public in any direction by the publication
of only four hundred reports for general
circulation. The annual publication of several
law enacted by the last Legislature. 1t curtails
printing expenses, but / do not believe it is good
economy. The biennial publication of some of
the reports will relieve the printing fund OF an
expense of $lI, 554. II every two years. It will
save 81 ,420 08 this year"