Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-11-15


better pay than the sturdy laborer who
tolls, ten long hours in sunshine and
storm.
A very understanding little job
came very near being struggled in last
Tuesday by Wilson's joint resolution,
introduced in the Senate, authorizing
the State Printing and Publishing Co.
to do all the necessary printing for the
Legislature cat prices not exceeding
those paid by the United States for
Territorial printing of like character"
This seems, on its face, to be u fair
proposition, provided the Legislature
feels disposed to award this contract
merely as party patronage, without
inviting competition, and without re-
gard to cost, but it is not, in reality,
SO Insignificant as it looks. Mr.. Kin
near, Mr.. Houghton, Mr.. Valley, and
some others, seem to have realized
that the measure SO quietly sprung,
was somebody's scheme, and very
properly asked for joint. committee
to investigate and report upon the
proposition.
The fact is, the incidental" work
OF the Legislature is very largely Of
what is known as bill-work, set in
wide measure with large space be-
tween the lines. 1t is what printers
denominate "phat," and the Govern
ment allowance OF 60 cents per thou
sand ems, is so largely in excess Of the
cost of composition a third-less might
be paid and the contractor still have a
bonanza, if the job was long one.
The present session of the Legislature
will probably afford the latter essen
tial, and the State Publishing Co. will
have the softest job let under the new
Constitution. unless in the interests
of economy, an investigation is made,
when it will be found that there are
responsible publishers in Olympia
who will give bonds for the prompt
and faithful execution of all the incl
dental printing of the Legislature at a
discount of Is per cent. from the Gov
eminent rates.
Mr.. Owings, if he is represented
properly in the press reports, in ex.
planning this matter to the Senate, in.
timated that the Government rates
were 30 low, that while acting as Sec
Rotary many years, he never but once
had q comparative bid for the work
This statement is calculated to mis-
lead. The only portion OF the public
printing let to competition was the
printing of the volume of laws, aftel
the adjournment of each session, fol
which Government rates are not ex
cessive; but the true reason why III
had no competitive bids" was prob
ably because his advertisement was in
variably printed in some newspape
graveyard" were nobody interested wa
likely to see it. The desirable print
ing-the incidental work-during hi
whole term of service, was let to tn,
Courier, and its successor the Partisan
without regard to bids, and when
bid was submitted by Mr.. Bessac 70
the printing for the Constitutions
Convention, he was simply ignored b,
Mr.. White, Qwings' successor, although
his 1ngufes were much less than n1os
paid the publisher of the Partisan
We make this simple statement Q
facts to enable the Legislature to ac
understandingly on the subject, an
to afford the opportunity it, if it reall
has a disposition to save the people
money, for it to do so.
AAO 4<CNyof 10 q 1NCpuUuCdu paper
but it calls for halt. 1t can see tina
reckless waste OF the peoples none
must recoil upon the party which il
augurates such profigate polio
soon = the taxpayers begin to realiz
the natural sequence in the burden
of excessive taxation.
THE Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union, lately in session at Oh
cago, severely censured, by resolution
Vice-President Morton for permittin
bar in his apartment house at Wasl
ington," and they express the
amazement, grief and condemnation
that at this advanced stage of tempe
ance reform, the second officer of tn
Government should thus openly all
himself with the liquor dealers of th
Al