The record-union., 1895-01-23
THE NEWSPAPER BILLS.

A large number of bills are before the
Legislature for the compensation of news
papers for publishing the amendments
to the Constitution of the State, proposed
to voters at the late election. Some of
these bills are outrageously high, and
bear evidence of intention either to
''cinch" the State-which is but another
name for robbery of the States strong
box-or of an expectation that the charges
will be cut down, and thus leave fighting
ground for the claimants to get moro
honesty, because it is confession that the
bill is untrue. All such procedure as this
is disgraceful; it blackens the name Of
journalism and smirches every man con-
nected with what should be scrupulously
clean and unimpeachable profession.
Some other bills are in for the publica-
ton of the amendments that never were
authorized. They were made on the
assumption that as number of legiti-
mate bills were to be passed on, the other
fellows had as we'll get in and catch such
droppings as might come their way.
Not single bill that was not distinctly
authorized should be allowed; to do
otherwise is to offer a premium for un-
authorized service for the State in the
way of advertising. and thus open the
broadest kind of door to looting of the
treasury.
But because there are some rascally
bills in; because there are some claims
filed that ought to be pitched out neck
and crop, are not reasons for condemning
the just and reasonable. The discrimi-
mating and fair-minded legislator does
not bundle things together and pro-
nounce judgment upon a group because
of the sins Of a few. There are bills III
plenty in the list of claims for the service
referred to that are fair, honest, were au-
thorized, and should be paid to the last
cent; to cut them or reject them will be
to do rank injustice to hardy worked and
lightly compensated class of citizens.
The RECORD UNION is claimant. 1t
stands first in the list properly. because
it was the first paper in the State to re-
ceive the official direction to print, and
the copy for that purpose, and that au-
thorization was under the law requiring
that the amendments shall be published
at the Capital of the State. The RECORD
UNION bill for advertising these consti-
tutional amendments is at rate such as
is usually charged commercial business;
would have been charged TO anybody
else for the same service, for the same
time and to the same extent.
OF course, then, the RECORD UNION
will submit to no reduction of its claim,
since whatever excessive charges may
have been made by other parties will not
excuse the State from payment of just
bills. The RECoRD-UNIoN will take what
is due to it or nothing. 1t cannot afford
by any concession in the way of reduc-
tion to confess the untruth that its charge
AS w eN6u IuS lIaCtlOu OI u c6uL, excess
ive-the fact being that it il accurately
and precisely just, true and on level of
all charges made by US to the business
men of the State for like service. The
RECoRD-UNIoN will not be put in the at
titude of putting in bill which is reason
able and just and then taking cent less,
and thus confessing that the bill was an
attempt to steal something from the State,
nor will the legislators who entertain an
iota of self-respect or single sentiment
of justice ask that this or any other paper
duly authorized to perform service and
having done it and presented just and
reasonable bill therefor, shall be shorn of
any of earned compensation.
AN OLD STORY.