The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-09
TIlE BILL.
An Explanation From M. A.. y. Jones ~ to
tho Cause OF Its Defeat.

TILE PRINTING BILL.
An Explanation From M. A. ". JODes ~ 10
the Cause OF Its Defeat.
To The INDEPENDENTS II you will permit,
l would like TO make a short and terss re-
ply through the columns Of your paper to
an editorial article which appeared IN the
Herald OF March 9th, In order that | may
disabuse the minds Of the reading public OF
the false assertion made by that paper up
on the committee who drew up the public
printing bill. In the first place. l am free
to ndmit that tho public printing bill pro-
yided that the board Of public printing
shall, biennially, between the first day OF
July and the first day Of January, proceed
to advertise and contract for the public
printing OF course had this provision
been adopted and the bill become a law, the
intervening time between the expiration of
the present contract and the provision in
the printing bill, from the 1st Of March to
the LIST of July, would be four months.
The committee in prescribing the date for
the bids for the state work never thought of
this point when the bill WAS drafted, MOI
were they even aware at that time that the
present contract expired the LIST of March.
However, after the bill had been intro
duced in the house, this point was men
toned by several parties. and 80 the COM
mittee OF Helena Typographical union, who
were sincerely and earnestly working Tor
the interest of the craft. called on MI. DAY,
the gentleman who introduced the
bill in the house Of representatives.
and explained the matter to him
and he offered an amendment to this pro-
vision for the Advertising and reletting. OF
the contract Immediately upon the expira-
ton of the old contract. Several other
amendments were made to the measure; n
finally Mr.. Harlan, representative from
Missoula county, offered an amendment al
lowing bids within the state an increase
over and above the price charged BY outside
points of 10 per cent. After carefully con,
sidering the matter, the committee talked
with Mr. Day, Mr.. Howey. and Others, re.
questing them if possible to "kill the bill,"'
as we considered then that it would be OF
no good to the printing fraternity nor to
the publishers and managers of newspapers
because we did not think it possible Tor
plants in the state to bid on and get the
contract, for we considered the 10 per cent.
margin too small, and we do to-day, for
that matter. Therefore the COMMITTEES paid
no further attention to the measure-ln
fact, made our report to the union on sun
day, at a regular meeting. the first day. OF
March. and asked to be relieved from fur-
ther duty, as the bill was in such shape
| UAdb u WOul0 III oAA - AO
managers of printing plants, as they coule
not expect to bid for the contract and make
anything. After thu trst of Match oul
committees work ceased. as we we're re
lieved from further duty However
after being told .o. mat the here ons nood
|, without instructions from the union, wen
to the senate and had a talk with severa
members, asking them to support tn
measure, for the reason, as gave them
that If there was an extra session 1T woult
be in existence, and could again be bronen
up for an amendment, and could finally b.
put in good shape. After the above ex
PLANTATION and the admissions, Of which
must confess l freely make, and which.
hero submit to the public for their impnrtla
perusal and consideration, and with IN
promise that atiidavits shall be Forthcoming
If desired, or if pushed to it, | do not sc
how anyone who reads and thinks can for
moment entertain the idea set forth by tn
> Herald, that our committee were making a.
effort s'to railroad it through with tn
= clause extending the present contract for
8 period of foul months"
admit, too, that the then state con
! tractor favored our proposition from tn
.. very first, and expressed himself as willin
. to submit to the demand of competition
: the lowest bidder to get the contrac
! Further han this, then. there was no MOI
! show for the journal than there was for tn
n Herald, INDEPENDENT, OF any oVAoi pAAAVAA
9 plant in the state.
In conclusion, | will say that l do not bt
lieve that any legislator in the session jul
. closed had any doubt as to the serious in
G c tentions of the Typographical printing con
. mittee, working in behalf of the unto
printers of the state, and all whimsical an
fancied ilnaginations set afoat by the wis.,
: acres were concocted and schemed for tn
y purpose of misdirectinR the public from tt
= true %facts-their firm determination of d.
feating any measure looking to the legislt
. ton for this advancement Of any trade {
! labor organization in the state. All tt
= printing fraternity asked, and all they trie
= to get, was that the vast amount of printin
= = being sent out of the state be debarred
= ! the future by law from a further contint
= ance of the old inaugurated policy of ind
= viduals who are destroying our business fo
. their own selfish ends. What defeated tx
measure, in reality, was the simple fact tn,
the publishers throughout the state desire
, to keep the public printing (as of DID, {
political pap in such shape that it migl
be manipulated by inoumbents in office
: an award for services rendered by newsps
. . pers in advancing the interests of grovellin
! politicians in an election.
: M. A. f. JONES.
MAJ hi ~