The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-09-05

The first business of the next Leois-
lature should be to amend the law 40
that only bids by Vermont printers
Will be considered for the State print.
ing. We are not interested financially
IN the matter as we have no job Office
connected with this paper, but we are
Interested as citizen and taxpayer of
the State in having Vermont work, as
far as possible, done by Vermont worA-
men, and the money kept in circulation
in Vermont.-Barre Telegram.
For several years we have had Job
printers ring. Members OF this ring
bid on different parts of the public
printing and rarely bid against each
other. The element OF competition is
lost in the deal, and this may explain
why an outside firm has been able to
secure the contracts from a board
which is evidently doing the public
business very much as a private firm
would do it.--Rullsnd Herald.
The reason for the action of the
State commissioners of printing is not
given, but presumably it is that the
New York concern offered much lower
prices, and if 80 we don't quite see how
they could have avoided making the
award under the law. But the union
men are right in seeing that it doesn't
lit in with the protective tariff argu-
ments with which they have 30 long
been fed. -Braltleboro Reformer.
The Albany house is a concern of
unlimited capital that has its offices
equipped with linotype machines and
is soliciting State work throughout the
country at cut rates. The Vermont
printers, including the Caledonia office,
have done this work in the past at a
lower figure than is charged in other
New England States and had every
reason to suppose that they would re-
ceive the contracts this year, as the
work had been satisfactory and the
price was only advanced on the paper
used in the work. But those who by
law have chsrge OF this work threw to
the winds the great Republican doctrine
OF protection TO home industries and
have given a slap in the face TO Ver-
mont publishers who have worked in
season and out of season for the lest
interests, not only Of the Republican
party in this State, but for the grand
old commonwealth itself. Aud now
they g.t their reward by baving work
that belongs TO them sent out of the
State aud thousands Of dollars AIKEN
fIom their business. Everyone is in
digu"nt ut this affrunt 10 Vermont in
dustries and the result of this action of
the printing commissioners will be far
Observation-Disclosures, St. Johnsbury.
The bulk of the State printing will be
done in Albany, New York. There is
no instance at hand when Vermont has
gone to another State and jobbed out
Its printing. Why, then, has it been
done in the last year of the 10th GEN.
tury2 Who are the commissioners?
Secretary OF State Fred A. Rowland, a
partner OF candidate for the Senate, W.
L. Dillingham;, Hiram A. Huse, like
wise partner of candidate for the Sem
ate W. P. Dillingham;, and State Au-
ditor Orion M. Barber, an earnest
worker in the senatorial cause of W.
P. Dillingham;. But two State printing
establishments are favored with any of
the State work. The printing of the
laws has been given to the Free Press
association of Burlington, and the
printing of the directory of the Legis-
lature goes to the Waterman company
of Montpelier. The Free Press and the
Wdtchmdn are the two most earnest
advocates in the political interest of
Mr.. Dillingham;. We are accusing no.
body of deal. These are the facts in
the case. The reader can draw his own
conclusions. -Essex Record
Any agricultural county in our neigh
boring State of New York pays as
much or more money to tn press than
The whole State of Vermont, and now
20 squeeze the printer still more t q
commission sees fit to give what little
here is in the way of printing to an
outsider because forsooth il may save
few dollars to the State. No fault
,au be found at saving money to the
State if all branches are made to COZ
orm to that principle, but unfortunate
Y such is not the case.-Poultney
'ournal.