The Columbus journal., 1895-01-09
County Printing.

like another, always, party considera
tions vary, chairmen vary, members O
committees are not uniform in theil
knowledge of affairs, and thus it hap
pens that what constitutes publishing
for the county varies along with the resi-
of the variations.
Sometimes, at the first annual meetins
of the board in January, publishers arr
requested to present bids for ''such lega
notices as are required by law to be pub
lished in newspaper of general circula
ton in the county," and this would in
clude supervisors proceedings, road
notices, tax-list, the county treasurer'e
semi-annual statements, the estimate ol
expenses, the notice for supplies to be
furnished the county.
Sometimes publishers are requested to
place bids for publishing such legal
notices required to be published in a
newspaper, and which are 'at the dis.
posal of the board" And it has several
times been contended that the road
notices. the county treasurer's semi an.
nual statements (and perhaps some 9th.
ers that we do not just recalD, are not
''at the disposal of the supervisors y but
are "at the disposal of the officer in
charge, whoever he may be.
The past year four newspapers have
been publishing the supervisors pro-
ceedinss, and the tax-list, The COLUMBUS
JOURNAL, the Columbus Telegram, 1.-The
Columbus Wochenblatt and the Humph-
rey Democrat, each being allowed one
third legal rate, making a cost to the
county of fOur-thirds of one full legal
rate.
The legal (or statute) rate for the pro-
ceedings is three and one-third cents a
line. which gives one and One-ninth cents
a line to each of the papers mentioned.
The statute rate for the delinquent tax
list IS 20 cents for each description of
land and 10 for each town lot, and the
rate to each paper is six and twO-third
cents for land. three and one-third for
town lots.
Outside of one item, We believe, The
JOURNAL (thOugh one of the contract
papers), has been given none of the
printing at the One-third rate except
supervisors proceedings and tax-list.
The road notices, etc, have been placed
elsewhere, as not at the disposal of the
board. whether mt the one third rate or
not We have not ascertained, but we
most respectfully insist, not only as a
taxpayer but as contract publisher for
the county, and a business manager of a
business institution, that the county,
which pays the bills, ought to have any
benefits there are in competition, and
that public work is not a private clutch.
OFFICIAL PRINTING.
People who observe business matters
in business way and give any further,
penetrating thought to it will have
noticed that almost all the legal notices
emanating from the county judges Office
are placed with the papers of the county
judges particular brand of political
faith. We would infer from appearances
that Judge Hensley is democrat, which
Of course he has right to he. bnt, not
withsfdnding, nerer the less, parties in
widows, orphans, debtors, who
have hard work to meet their obligations
and can't meet them, and must submit
to he sued. sometimes having little or
nothing left, and they, above all others,
should have the right graciously accord |
ed to them of making the best terms
they can, at the lowest rates they can.
We presume that Judge Hensley would |
say he didn't care continental where |
notices are printed, Just SO the work is |
done right, and We propose to see to it,
so far as lies in our power, that at least |
widows and orphans, especially OF the
poor, shall have cut rate, just as we'll
Is the county or the city, and then let it
,e understood that the party in interest,
hose who pay the bills, themselves direct
where the publishing shall be done.
Certainly, an official land these remarks
Ipply to the county sheriff as well as the
'ounty judge and all the rest of them)
las no right to compel the tax paying
public, or expense-paying heirs or
orphans to pay the highest rate that can
Ne by law exacted, when low rate can
'e secured that will be just as effectual.
Now We do not understand and do not
ny that these officials fix the fees, but,
ct them alone, and let the matter go
Trough the channels fixed by them,
nd the bills will come in at the full
,gal rate, 1Oc line for the first time
nd &c line for each subsequent time,
nth 25c for each affidavit attached.
Here is a sample of what little COM
etition does-for the city, and if it is
ood for a wealthy city like Columbus
which makes no deduction for a pub
sher's occupation tax or his other
axes and makes him pay as much for
ater as do other people which is all
ght), why competition ought to be
BOD for the lowering of expenses to the
idows and orphans of the poor. Last
Gar The JOURNAL printed the ordi-
ances and notices of the city for &c a
ne, and one of our force attended very
Early every meeting of the council, =
most as certainly as did any member q,
the council, took notes of the pre- u
edings, wrote them up, after which the 81
en- of the Office set them up in type and Y
ey were published, all of which was p
ne without cent of expense to the .
y. This year, the Telegram, on a :,
mpetitive bid with The JOURNAL cut A
'ay down to Gf We remember rightly "
cents line. They do not, however, cl
Ike rule OF attending the council "
settings, and our (at present OccasionaD NJ
ports OF the proceedings are SO salts fr
tory that they reproduce them with ze
having the labor of ATTENDING tho I"