The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-04-28
BEST JOB IN OREGON.
The State Printers Annual Profits are
Estimated at @2O, 900.

Estimated at $40, 900.
1t has long been recognized by those
acquainted with the workings of the
state legislature that the Office of state
printer was one of the most remunera-
tive in the gift of the people. Just
what the net yearly earnings of this
official amount TO, hewever, it has
been impossible to ascertain, owing
to the complex nature of the work.
Various estimates of the profits of
the state printer have placed the
amount from $5, 900 to $4,000 year
ly. A careful investigation of the
methods and expenses of the Office,
together with list of the various APP
preparations for that work, show that
the state printer must have balance
Of no less than $4,000 yearly, after
paying all legitimate expenses con-
nected with that department.
In the majority of the work which
goes through the state printers hands
is printed twice; for instance, the
laws are each printed in a pamphlet
form and afterward collected in one
volume.
The state pays for the full amount
of composition in each case, while
the type is kept standing, 50 that
almost the entire composition on the
second run is picked up" by the
printer.
Whenever it is possible to do SO, the
clause allowing extra compensation
for two, three or four columns of
matter is taken advantage of, and
much work that would be as useful to
the state If set in one column is made
to occupy two or more, without ad-
ding very materially to the actual
cost of composition.
The calendars of the house and sem
ate, which are printed every day dur
ing the legislative session, offer the
best opportunity for graft of this kind.
and an examination of these docu-
ments shows that the state printer is
fully cognzant of the fact.
These calendars could be run in one
column without materially interfer-
ing with their usefulness, and were
at one time so printed. At the last
session, however, these calendars were
carefully arranged so as to be set in
four columns, thus doubling the price
Of composition. Not only did this ar
rangement double the price Of com
position, but it very materially added
to the amount of white space in
the work, and which is measured as
if solid type. The matter in the cal
endars is added to day by day, but the
state printer receives pay for all mat
ter contained therein. each day. In
this way the state pays for the same
composition as often as forty times.
It is not hard to figure the net
profits on this one job, as it was done
exclusively by the night force at the
state printing Office. This night force
consisted Of from four to seven print
ers working twelve hours each night,
one pressman and one press-feeder do
ing the presswork in few hours in
the early morning. These compost
tors were paid at The rate of price and
one half, that being the union night
scale. Their earnings came to Just
~ each night, or $40 for all of
time, while the pressman and feeders
work brought the amount up to about
$54 day. As the paper and binding
is paid for by the state, the net profit
in this work is the difference of $54,
or less if the entire seven men were
not employed, and the amount receiv-
ed by Mr.. Whitney. At double rates
for composition, set in four columns,
and the allowance of 55 cents token
for presswork, this work figures up to
$6 page for every page Of the house
and senate calendars. These vary
from four pages at the beginning to lOS
pages each at the end Of the session,
or daily average of about 80 pages
each. Thus, Mr.. Whitney received a
daily average amount from the state
OF $500 day on this one job, Of which
over 5000 was clear profit. This is
only one of many of the ways that the
state printing office is made to pay big
profits.
I0cal 0nti0n pefition.