The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-02-22
The State Printers Pudding.


State printers charges for the printing
of the Legislative RecDyd We do
not refer to the basis of the charge,
but the system on which the mechani
cal work is done. No publisher of
book, magazine or newspaper would
dare resort to such extravaganza in the
matter unnecessary and masteful type.
setting. The State printers one idea
is to stretch out the copy and make it
fill just as many columns as possible at
so much column. This method is
not only wasteful of the public funds,
but it decreases from the value of the
Record as work of reference by spin.
ming out in tiresome paragraphs pages
of matter which ought to be tabulated.
Look for example at the last batch
Of badly folded Records that have
come to hand, two weeks behind the
proceedings, on page GO.
There are nearly two pages of COM
mittees, which are set in single col.
ums. Had they been set in double
columns they would have occupied
Just half the space, OF course double
column composition costs rather more
than single, but it would be money in
the State treasury to set them double
column. There is no need of setting
them in columns anyhow. Paragraphs
are plain enough.
Page 68. Here are over ten pages
Of notaries public. OF this space fully
one third is taken up with spelling out
1894, SO as to make it occupy a whole
line and more, as follows:
One thousand, eight hundred and
ninety.four.
Let it be remembered that in the
Legislative Record all dates are thus
drawn out and the State treasury rob-
bed accordingly. Had this list of no.
taries gone into a newspaper, complete
in every detail, it would not have re.
CURED more than o.thirds the type
setting.
But the grand robbery of all is the
publishing of the last election returns.
No less than seventeen pages we're de.
voted to the election for State officers,
which is thirty four times the space
occupied by the same in any one Of
the valuable almanacs issued by some
of the Pennsylvania newspapers. Not
only does it occupy thirty four times
too much space, but Its long drawn
out paragraphs make it most incon-
venient for reference. Just imagine
the folly Of giving the detailed return
from every one of the sixty seven coun-
ties in paragraphs, and making them
even more obscure by spelling out
every figure SO as to occupy from six
to ten times the space that the much
palmer figures themselves would oc-
cupy.
AS If this were not enough TO out
rage all the economies, the very same
II pages, which in the first place ap-
pear in connection with the joint ses.
sion of Senate and House is given
again, beginning on page 100 in con-
nection with another JOINT session to
open, count and publish. There is no
necessity for subjecting the State to
this expense for type-setting again
since the returns are precisely the
same as those previously published by
by the State printer, beginning on
page 79.
There is no reason why the business
of the State should not be done on
ordinary business principles. The fact
that the public treasury is by great
many well m Gaming, and in other re.
cnartc hnpact riti1apc cnpci1ara1 a
legitimate object for private plumber is
deplorable to the last degree. And
our law makers ought to enforce hon
esty whenever they can possibly do so.
A far as the Legislative Record is
concerned, its printing ought to be
done after such rules as could be
agreed upon by committe of honest,
intelligent practical printers. Such as
could be found among our law makers
themselves. 1t is time the reform
were inaugurated.
The criticism in this article has no
personal reference to the present State
printer, (who happens to be a Demo.
crat,) for he is only following the ex-
ample of his predecessors of all par
ties. When it comes 10 plundering The
public funds both parties are equally
proficient. The Legislative Record
could be printed so as to save the State
good deal of money, so as to appear
within reasonable time, and so as to
make it compact and valuable work
OF reference, instead of as now, an ex-
travagant, tardy cumbersome and in
convenient publication, almost worth
less to everybody except as source OF
party plunder for whoever happens to
get that soft snap. the State printer