St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-06-04
Bill Affecting Country
Newspapers.


the printing in the several parishes
a very reasonable price is fixed f"'
the work required TO be done anc
the police juries are required Il
elect = printe TO- perform the wo1t
At these fixed figures. Representa-
tive Toomer has introduced bill
requiring such contracts to bt
awarded to the ''lowest responsible
bidder
In arriving at an intelligent CON
clasion upon subjects Of this char
ac,er there are several important
facts to be considered. The low
est responsible bidder" may mean
something, or it may mean nothing
at all, IN accordance as the situa'
ton may be viewed by the police
jury awarding the contract. Aav'
ing the absolute right to "reject any
and all bids" it is easy to prac'
tice favuritism aud excuse it upon
the ground Of the police j"r. )
opinion Of the responsibility or fit
ness Of the person SO turned down.
Besides, there appears to be an
other point which seems to he over
looked in the framing OF bills such
as that Of Mr.. Toomer's That
hill is framed. upon the theory that
"all advertising looks alike tn
him in other words, that adveri's-
ing is a matter which should have
uniform value from Nova Scotia to
New Zealand. and in whatever
newspaper it may appear.
As matter Of fact, advertising
in one newspaper may not be worth
the time it takes to set it up. ~hite
in another it may be worth a great
deal, just as MIR. 'roomer will u"-
derstaud that the services VI one
LAWYER are worth more than the
services Of another. A lawyer
with no practice aid no standing
before the court, down at tile heels
and pincI,ed will, want may be VIII
ing to take a case, perhaps. for less
than ten per cent. oi the amount
tina: would be charged by lawyer
of standing and reputation: and yet
the litiean with a serious case
would prefer to pay the larger fec.
and have his case Represented by q
lawyer Of standing and ability.
just 20, newspaper without clr-
culation or standing will ofte" be
willing to underbid newspaper OF
large circulation and high s'an"'"g'
for the simple reason that it hasn't
as much to give. Advertisin! is
rated in value in proportion to tue
circulation it receives. A. column
advertisement in newspaper that
reaches three hundred general read
ers Is worth only halt as much as
the came amount Of advertising III
newspaper that reaches six hundred
readers, aud so on in like proper
SION indefinitely. This rule holds
good in all newspaper Advertising
aud the only exceptions to the rule
10 far as we are aware, is in the
case III technical publications IN
tended for, aud only subscribed to
by a particular class Of readers.
The parishes must desir. to
have their public business adver-
tised. else there would be no nects-
city TOR requiring its printing !"
. newspaper. II advertising
be Tie end desired they ought not
to BE- deprived Of the privilege OF
putting their advertisements !" the
most widely circulated newspapers,
II they desire to do so; but under
the provisions Of the Toomer bill
wildcat newspaper ventures will be
encouraged at the expense OF the
newspapers OF standing aud circu-
,o,;on We believe there is not a
,,.r;sl, IN the State which furnishes
its official Journal, under the pres
ent laws. more than neagre IN
toms. i
4 There is not q country editor of
cur acousintance who has grown
wealh, ir thessew.paper business
during the past bs,een yesrs. l"
r,,mhers Of instances that have
.,ouoe under our observation the Gu
-. nroce.ds ot the parish printing
h.ve not su6iced to pay the wages
..~la COMMISSION: and there
- ;ns,apces on record where cut
throat compeileivn for the parish
--;r,inp has resulted in requiring
..,e successful bidder not only to
A. The work for nothing, but to pay
~, Ella nrivelira of doing |