The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-04-05

Capital Journal, Of Salem: Accord
ing to figures printed in that paper the
total appropriations for state printing
and binding for four years ending with
1902 were S136, ,465.S1. not including
deficits that may appear at the end
of this period. Besides this there
were other printing bills and esti-
mated expenses for water fuel, light
and contingent expenses amounting
to S16,744.s2. This would make an
annual expense of $4,000 for this
purpose The expense of state print.
ing and binding has constantly In
creased, and the above does not In
clude expenses for printing and blank
books done in some departments of
the state government. This is the
most lucrative office I'm the state.
State printers have sub-let the state
printing for 40 per cent Of the pro-
ceeds, and got rich"
At present the state printing Office
is owned by Frank Baker, (of Port
land) ex-state printer. It is kept free
of rent in the state house. Whoever
is elected state printer will have to
rent the plant Of MIR. Baker and pay
him about % per cent. Of the proceeds
for the use of the same. The secre-
tary of state is custodian Of the state
house, and superyises the printing
and binding, and buying of paper
The printing Office was never located
in the state house until Mr.. Baker was
elected state printer. Under a bust
ness administration of the state print
ing and binding the work really re-
quired by the state could, in the opin-
ion of competent Judges, be done for
$4,000 TO $4,000 a year Tons of
printing are sold for old junk, and the
Office is conducted more from the
standpoint of swelling the volume of
business to the largest possible
amount than from the standpoint of
printing actually needed. The print
ing office is a menace to the state
house in other ways than financially.
The presses shake the walls, and the
large stores of paper and waste satur
ated with oil and ink are source Of
fire danger The state printer should
be put on fiat salary, and the Office
be removed from the state house. At
$2,500 a year a competent man could
be secured by the people-no candi-
date would refuse the office"
The above gives facts with which
the majority Of voters are not conver
SAINT The way the state printing is
conducted at present II Is a detri-
ment, and injury to the printing bust
ness of Salem; as the Journal states. !
And why should the state furnish |
rooms for a printing Office free, es-
peclally to an eX.state printer who, |
while in Office, made enough money |
clear, during his term of Office, to buy |
good farm and considerable more, |
besides living at the top of the pot"
BY what right and authority is a part |
OF the state house used for printing |
office? Give the state printer a |
stated salary, and move the printing |
Office away from the state house; state |
officers may object to this, but, with |
modern conyeniences, telephones, etc, !
IL is not necessary 10 make the print I
ing office an adjunct of the capitol
building where IL has corruptng
influence. Some viii ask, Why so? |
Take note. Just before state conven-
tions, see frequent visits made to the /
capitol by candidates for state printer
also candidates for other state Of
fees. And then how handy the state
office in the capitol during session OF
the legislature is for any little put
up" Jobs. Another question: Why
should the state be at the cost OF
books, etc, and then sell
them as "old junk Tons of state
printing matter has been shipped to
Oregon City as junk. Why should this
be?
As the Journal suggests, would IL
not be a benefit to the state to pay a
stated salary TO all state officers, and
allow no fees? The state would save
thousands Of dollars by so doing,