Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-05-12
Why Is Ite-A Reply Wanted.

law inr the county printing. After
awarding the contract To the morning
paper, the vote was rccOn-Idcr.d and
the matter laid on the table. An in
quirv into the cause Of this action de
Nclups the fact that 4 belief existed in
the mind 1t some member Of the
Council that there must lie a " COM
Einc" among tn" Publishers, and i; 81
tie latr> must. uf necessity, he too
hI-a.
That hi. impression is seriously en-
'crtained 10y those who seem to have
little knowledge OF newspaper rates, Is
further shown by the action OF the
County Commissioners who, on the
day prescribed by law, opened bids Tor
the county printing (adver,i>img) and
on finding them substantially alike
promptly rejected all bids, although
the figures were twenty per cent. less
than the maximum rates they are an
thorhcd To allow 10y law.
That there Is anything unusual, inn
proper or reprehen>ihle, in the con-
duct OF the publishers in this matter,
we most emphatically deny. That We
have as much right to charge a rea-
sonable price for our products as the
grocer tor his pound of sugar, the
shoemaker for his pair of boots, or the
farmer for his ton Of hay, will be evil
dent on a little reflection. II remorse-
less competition has at times driven
the publishers into actual loss for this
service, does il follow that competitive
prices shall forever rule thereafter?
Is it expected that citizens who are
heavily taxed on the value of the
plants they own, shall have no right
to receive reasonable pay for services
rendered the public? Is this privilege
denied to anybody else?
A combine does exist, between the
newspapers, just so far NJ determine,
ton and agreement to charge hiring
rates hereafter for all CLASSES of ddrer-
Using The STANDARD has always
been ready for such a combine, but
while there were two daily newspapers
in this city, each with knife at the
others throat, the conditions did not
exist for enforcing just rates, and the
consequence was all suffered and the
county got its printing for actually
less Than The cot Of placing its Hirer-
tisind ia fBpe. Does it expect such
suicidal policy to con,inue2 II. in the
senseless contention Of rivals. the
county succeeded in grabbing the pie.
does il follow that il shall continue TO
be fed on pudding at few taxpayers
expen.e'
The amusing feature Of this contest
ii contest il isis now being icvel.
oped While the Commissioners have
been travelling all over this and the
adjacent counties. at the public eI.
prnse. and auditing their nwn hills Tor
expenditure. Ia obtain nowlcLgr that
would enable them Ia make Judicious
selection ~ poor farm. no sooner IL
that selection made than clanor
arises, and what do these same very
conscientious commissioners do but
upliit their arms IA the press aud eH
claim. " Save us. CAssiu.. or We sink ="
Then u IL that the newspaper. gratui.
tously ~ course. must publish explain
ations. determine the value III " broad
sows, and decide uptn the precise de
gree Of relationship that must exist
between one ol tho Commissioners
aud the fortunate owner Of the farm
selected. Ia repel the charge ot nepo
tism. Then II IL that they must com.
hat the accusation that the cKtraofdi
& WV A'tNtNfk
formation WAS probably iorethought
Ia ioriiiy their position 81 fairness IN
making the selection. should any quid
asac call attention Ia the matter 81
consequently Of the contracting par
ties.
Neither 81 the Commissioners Who
voted Ia purchase the RutleIge farm
may have been controlled by more
selfish motive. than the publishers in
the effort 20 maintain the dignity 81
their business. still there are some
who will be az uncharitablc NJ Ca lie
lie,e otherwise. aud probably some
may believe that there Ia n cat under
the meal IN both instances. but ro far
ss the publishers are concerned !,
must. 81 necessity. bo = yeritable kit
ten, when tho highest figures submit
tai Tor advertising were much less
than what the law allows for the ser.
vice