Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-06-03
TAKING BIDS.
The Prevailing, But Parsimonious Gus
tom of Getting Something
for Nothing.

for Nothing.
An article in a recent mum Der of The
National Printer Journalist, written
by S. E. Haigh, of The Columbus ind
Republican, contains so much that
should be impressed upon the mind of
the public, as well as of publishers,
that it is herewith reproduced:
The custom Of the various societies
and organizations of a city or town to
60 from office to Office for lob of
printing and get Did from each, no
matter what the work may amount
to, is rapidly growing. Not long ago
a gentleman came to my Office to get
bids on a job that only amounted to
ST .25. This was for an entertain
ment for the society of which he
was a member, and which expected
all the newspapers In the city to
give the entertainment q gratuitOus
notice. [ gave him my bid, but did
not get the work. The next day he
appeared with notice to be published
free. On being asked if the society
expected to make money out of the
entertainment, he replied that it did,
and that was why it was to be given.
L told him that he must then pay for
the notice. ''Why, | take your paper"
he said, 'why can't you accommo-
date mein this respect?" He had the
notice published and paid for it.
So 1t is with church socials and must
Gals where a charge is madetor the sole
purpose of making money They
should always pay for their advertise
ments and get their Job work done
where they can be benefited by write
up before and after the entertainment.
Newspapers everywhere should have
the preference for printing Job work.
They, as a general thing, are better
prepared, and can be of more service
to the party getting the work done
than a job office. Merchants expect
a newspaper to write up the city and
give the best points for a manufact-
uring business, calling attention to
the splendid facilities and advantages
possessed. They expect the papers to
''roast" citizens who 60 elsewhere to
purchase their goods; but they forget
the newspapers when they wish price
list, letter-heads, cards or other mat
ter. They very often get this work
done away from the place where they
do business. 1t is the same, only in
greater degree, with the manufact-
urers and bankers.
1t is true that Oftimes a merchant
has large lot of printing to do, run
ming into the hundreds of dollars.
In the interest OF his business, work
of this kind should be let out by bids,
but for work which only amounts to
a few dollars it is simply ridiculous
A newspaper is an expensive luxury,
and it is also an important factor in
the education OF the community in
which 1T IS located, and it should be
supported by every class Of people.
The impression prevails that a polit-
lcal organ. If It's party be in power,
derives sufficient revenue from public
patronage to support it. There never
was greater delusion.
But the subject, '"Taking Bids" car-
ries with it other ideas that may be of
value to the members of this associ-
alton, and especially to the newspaper
job office The manager of a newspaper
plant, who aims to make a reason
able profit from his business, has
many things to take into consider
alton while taking bids. When the lob |
is submitted to him to figure on, he |
can in a short time tell the amount |
of stock to be used. He will also be |
familiar with the price to be charged |
for press work. But other things will |
come in that swell the cost very
[ may mention forem an
ship, proOf-reading, corrections, inter-
est, rent, fuel, light, ink, oil, Irvine,
waste, wear on material and machin-
cry, care Of office, delivering goods, etc.
Sometimes there must be added
ga herring, stitching, trimming, bind
ing, or tableting. These must be taken
into consideration and allowed for
before there is any profit for the
proprietor. The manager Of an Office
when he fully understands his bust
ness can know what the Job will cost
him, and make his bid intelligently,
so as to give him a fair profit. He
should firmly insist on this profit,
knowing that the competitor who fol
lows method will soon find his Office
in the hands of his creditors. A news
paper should also refuse to make bids
for city and county advertising at
less than legal rates. The real object
to which | would direct your atten-
ton is the necessity of ascertaining
the exact cost of the job offered, and
then make your bid at such an
amount as will leave you a. just
profit.
James Perdue, an old soldier residing
at Monroe, Mich, twas severely afflicted
with rheumatism, but received prompt
relief from pain by using Chamberlain's