Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-12

ovcrdonc when it is done at the expense
of the standard Of life as we have found
out in the past two years in this country.
Why II Should Not Be Divided.
(Hallowell Register.)
The suggestion is made that the State
printing should be divided. The obiec-
tons to this are obvious upon reflection. 1t
is absolutely essential to have plant at
Augusta, during the legislative sessions,
large enough to do the legislative print
ing expeditiously and well, otherwise
the State would be put to annoying de-
lays and large expense. The supreme
test Of the capacities OF the State
printing establishment is this same legis-
latiyc printing
The journal establishment, with mag
niflcent plant, and one Of the finest forces
of skilled and experienced printers in New
England, has quite all il can do to Keep
up with the legislative procession, but
II docs it and does it well Now it would
DO impossible for Durleigh g. Flynt, or
anyone else, to call such a plant, with
such force Of skilled printers, into ex-
istence for three months once in two years
with no work to keep it employed in
the intervening twenty-one months.
This is the whole matter in nut shell.
II is necessary to have a plant right in
the city Of Augusta large enough and
strong enough To keep the printing Of
the session abreast Of legislation. In or
der that such a plant may exist at all is
necessary TO give it work enough to keep
ii going when the Legislature is not in
session. This is the reason why the
printing has never been divided, and why
every legislative committee for thirty
years that has considered the matter, has
decided that the State could not afford 10
divide it.
II is rather amusing TO hear outside
parties agreeing to establish temporary
plants in Augusta 10 do legislative print
ing! Plants capable OF doing the work
and saving the Legislature from expensive
delays must he very whit as large and as
well equipped as the Kennebec journal
plant, and with equally capable printers.
Such plants are not of the temporary
kind. They cannot he brought into ezis-
tence for three months job like Jonah {
gourd in a single night, once in tive
years, TO disappear almost rs quickly
when their mission is ended. Neither
do printers acquire the skill TO handle thi;
work expeditiously, reducing it to per
| feet order and method. by inspiration.
! II takes work and experience and brains
and all these have a good cash value Il
the Legislature and the State officials
The prices which the kennebec Jour
nal gets are considerably below the prin
ters' standard IN this State. They are a
| low as first-class work can be done with
reasonable profit, As a Geld business
proposition, we do not hesitate to say
that the State would be a loser by d;
change for any difference in figures which
has yet been offered
In line with the above, the Republican
Journal, Belfast, says in this week
issue:
The usual raid is being made upon tn,
| State printing this session. The object
as heretofore, seems to be mainly to taxi
| the work away from the kennebec jour
nal establishment, which has done it fol-
SO many years, and done it exeeedingl,
well. There is no claim that unfair price:
are charged; indeed, the contract was cu
| down to the lowest limit during the brie
GrVenback regime, and has so remained
A plant has been built up only shor
walk from the Capitol with special refer
ence to this work, and it cannot be salts
factorily done in Lewiston or Portland
In connection with the State nrinting is ;
live newspaper, the kennebec Journal
that publishes the only complete and re
liable reports of the daily Legislative pro
ceedings, and this surely is worth some
thing to the State. The present STATE
printers are willing to do the work at I
fair price. and we believe ii would be de
cidedly ill-advised for the Legislature Il
take it away from them.