Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-12-28
THE STATE PRINTING.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS :
SOME MISREPRESENTATION.
MUST BE AT THE CAPITAL PRICES
REGULATED BY LAw-wHY PRES
EMIT INCUMBENT SHOULD BE
RE ELECTED.

AUGUSTA. Dec. % Especially There seems
to be no good reason why the present
While the conditions under which this
work is done, and the requirements de-
mandeo for doing 1t are generally under
stood by the printers of the State, there
appears to be more or less misapprehen-
sion regarding 1t among people who are
not familiar with the conditions pertain
ing to 1t.
the legislature to call for bids for this
work, Notwithstanding the fact that 1t
was In the very nature OF things abso-
iutely necessary that 1t should be done at
the capital.
Various committees rwrestled with the
| problem, only to come finally to this
| unanimous conclusion. Various compli-
cations arose out OF this fact. One SEES
| sion 1t was discovered that the lowest bid
| der was an Augusta printer whose total
| equipment consisted OF a few cases OF
| second hand type and one small press
which he run by foot power.
Inasmuch as 5000 plant with large
force OF skilled printers was at that very
moment working night and day and sup
plementing the overtime work OF It's other
employees with overtime work from the
members OF its large newspaper force in
order to keep up with the demands Of the
Legislature, the humor OF this bid was
very apparent to members of the legisla-
ture who we're on the ground and in q
position to see and appreciate the practi-
cI necessity of the situation. Yet the
committee having the matter In charge
was severely criticised in sections OF the
State where the people did not understand
| the facts OF tue case for falling to accept
this bid.
| MUST BE DONE AT CAPITAL.
Agaiu, outside printers did not feel that
i 1t WAS a fair thing to be asked to bid In
work which, In the very nature OF things,
must necessarily be done at the capital.
Whatever views members might have at
the beginning OF session, they invaria bly,
came before It's close to the recognition Of
one plain, business fact, namely, that there
| Inaos VIC Nv Suo 0tnbo SoPit0t
plant, big enough and strong enough,
with skilled printers enough to handle
promptly from day to day the printing OF
the session, IL the work OF the legislature
WAS to go forward without interruption.
There was no disagree ment on this prop
| osition when the members of the leg
islature came face to face with actual con
ditions.
The legislative work Is the supreme test
upon the plant which does the State
work. 1t is one which strains even its
splendid resourc ss-for 1t lie one of the
best IN New Engiand-to the utmost. In
addition to his large regular force, the
State printer hires in all the printers be
can get, which at best are not many; for
printers capable OF doing this grade OF
work are nearly all employed In perma-
nent places, aud are not looking about for
temporary jobs.
When the State printer, therefore, has
secured all he can, he Is still short of the
number necessary for his purposes.
There Is only one way for him to meet the
situation, and that Is to work bis avail
able force overtime, and help them out at
the pinch with overtime work from his
big newspaper force. In this way he
makes his connections, the work of the
session goes steadily forward, and the
legislature is enabled to adjourn when Its
| work - finished, its members sitting in
mock session the last evening, while a
big force OF printers is engrossing the
final appropriation bill.
| PRESENT PLANT FINE ONE.
Printers who have visited the Kenmebec
Journal Office In the closing days OF
the session have never failed to be i'm
pressed with the order, rapidity and
accuracy with which this seemingly over
whelming volume of work is rushed to
completion. 1t Is hoped that every MEM
| Der of the legislature will visit this big
plant the present winter, for 1t Is credit
| to the State.
Not only is 1t necessary for the legisla-
| ture to be In close touch with the State
| printer, but 1t Is also essential to the work
of the State departments that they be in
similar touch. The claim has sometimes
been made that certain portions OF the
| State work could be done outside of
Augusta. Possibly, at great Inconvenience
to the departments. The important rea-
son for keeping this printing together,
however, has always been the absolute
necessity Of maintaining a plant at the
capital big enough to handle the legisla-
tive printing.
In order to insure plant 1t is necessary
to keep 1t at work when the legislature is
not In session. No man could be expected
to maintain such plant In idleness for a
period Of two years for the privilege OF
doing three months work. 1t wouldn't
be business proposition. The interest
on his investment, together with insur-
ance, rent and taxes would more than eat
him out of any possible profits. Even II
he were willing, however, to maintain
such plant for such a precarious pur-
pose, he would scarcely be able to pay a
| large force of printers to loaf the two