The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-07-25
PRESENT LAW IS PROVING VERY
UNSATISFACTORY AND Ex-
TREMELY EXPENSIVE.
Ainter Occupies, Without Cost, Quar-.
\ers in Capitol Building and Com
\petes With Private Firms.

is, in fact, an old law reenacted, CIV
ing to one printer selected by the gov
ernor all state work at a statutory
schedule of prices, is already proving
itself both unsatisfactory and extrava-
CANT. Either a deficiency or a cutting
| of reports required by law and other
needed printed material is inevitable
says the Seattle Times.
The governors Office force is now en-
gagged in attempting to apportion what
is left of the $4,000 appropriated
among the various officers, depart
ments and commissions. Estimates
have been called for and it is now ap-
parent that to apportion the funds
equitably will require a pairing down
of these estimates in manner that is
bound to create dissatisfaction IN all
quarters.
Three state officers have already ex-
pressed themselves that the results
accomplished by the law will not be
such as to recommend it's continuance
beyond the meeting of the next Legis-
lature, and already a movement is
starting among the printers Of the
state to combine their efforts in order
to secure a repeal of the law.
The state officers and departments
are dissatisfied because they cannot
get the amount of printing required to
successfully accomplish the work laid
down for them.
Printers Dissatisfied.
The printers in general are dissatis-
fled for the alleged reason that the
state printer is using the advantage
of his position to bid on commercial
work A recent illustration of the lat
ter is pointed out in the securing by
the state printer of sub-contract
from Bancroft, Whitney & Co., for
printing the reports of the supreme
court. This work was not given to the
public printer by the legislature, but
a law was passed requiring the chief
justice and reporter of the supreme
court to let the contract by COMPETE
| tive bids. Bancroft, Whitney & Co.
secured the contract. 1t is a San
Francisco house, and the law requires
that the work shall be done in this
state. Bids were asked by the sue
| cessful contractor from printers all
over the state. Two Olympia firms, in
addition to the state printer, submit
the work.
In bidding on commercial work,
State Printer Gorham, if he continues
to do so, will have the advantage Of
free rent, free light and free power.
Although merely a contractor on state
work, he has been allowed to fit up a
large portion of the basement Of the
capitol annex where he has installed
presses and electric motors. Connec.
tions have been made with the capitol
lighting plant, and his offices are
heated, lighted and given power from
the main building.
When he went in, there was an un-
derstanding that he was to supply a
part of the wood consumed by the fur
naces. If the allowance for mainten-
ance runs out it is possible that the
agreement will be remembered, but the
rent paid by the printer in this manner
is bound to be merely nominal. The
advantages thus given to him enable
him to underbid any printer in the
state if he desires to gafter commercial
| work.
State Senator A. S. Ruth from Olym-
pia, is said to be sore because the
printer has been given all the avail
able office room in the basement. In
the capitol removal fight last winter
the hardest argument that Ruth had
to meet was that the present building
is inadequate and that room could not
be found for newly created officers and
commissions The unfinished basement
of the annex, which is practically a
ground floor, was pointed out as avail
| bic space. This basement has now
zen PIT in use by the state printer,
and that argument would not be good
if another removal fight should come
up in two years, unless the printer is
ousted from his quarters.
To further complicate this situation
the tax commission, railway commits
sion, two judges of the supreme court,
the state fire warden and the state
highway commissioner have been as
signed to committee rooms connected
with the legislative nails that are
needed during the sessions of the leg
islature. Where they will be placed
when the legislature convenes is a
problem now being avoided.
The difficulty confronting the eXecu-