The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-04-25
POSTAGE STAMP PRINTING
Private Concerns Are scheming
to Get It.
The Government Is Now Doing the
Work at a Saving of a Hum
dred Thousand Dollars
u Year.

Washington, April 2O.-There are indi-
cations of a lively contest over q bill re-
Gently reported by the senate %postoffice
committee. providing for the printing of
postage stamps by private parties after
competition. A short time ago the bu-
reau Of engraving was awarded this
work and aver since there has been q
constant agitation by private parties to
have 1t taken from the bureau and
thrown open to competition of private
printing establishments. When the
work was awarded to the bureau of en-
craving. the government expended
over 500, 900 for machinery and
a force of expert workmen
has since been collected which
gives the government facilities for
printing the stamps tina are certainly
equal In every respect to that of any
private establishment. Besides, the bu-
reau has surrounded the manufacture
OF postage stamps with all the safe
guards that attend the printing of notes
ana securitiese of the government, II
while the execution of the work reaches
the highest degree of excellence, the
expense Is very much less than 1t has
been under private contractors. The
printing is nov being lone at a saving
of about $100, 900 a "a n this saw
Ing will be increased In accordance with
the increase OF the quantity OF stamps
printed.
The aggregate value of stamps annu-
ally printed is now $50, 900. 900, and as tho
postal is a constantly growing service,
this aggregate Is steadily becoming lar
ger. 1t would seem hat good policy re-
quires that all the securities or obliga-
lions of the government should be under
the absolute control of its own officers.
and particularly when the work can bo
done as we'll and at lower cost than by
private parties. 1t is urged with regard
to he printing OF postage stamps that
the work should be given to private con-
tractors for the reason that the govern
ment should perform no work that "a
be done as we'll by other parties. This
Will apply to the building OF wal vessels
and the manufacture OF war materials,
for which large and expensive plants
are required, and the establishment and
maintenance Of which is almost indis-
pensable to the public defense.
But there is a vast difference in estab.
lishments of this character and printing
establishments for the manufacture 81
public securities. There is as great reason
for the government manufacturing post
age stamps as its circulating notes and
other obligations, and it would seem thai
public policy would be best subserved by
keeping the printing of all national stamps
and securities under government control
even If the expense should be greater than
the same work could be done by private
concerns. g.
Those Interested parties who are direct
ing their energies to securing contracts for
printing postage stamps, will find it diff.
cult to explain why these particular
stamps SHOULD be taken from the bureau
OF engraving while that bureau is given
~undisputed possession of the revenue
stamps and other forms of government
business paper, and particularly in view of
the fact that the government has made a
large investment IN establishing a plant
for printing postage stamps and is doing
the work quite as well and at much less
expense than was done under private con.
tract.