The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-11-16
Ex-State Printer Can Afford to
Give Plant Away
MADE FORTUNE OUT OF OFFICE
Bakers Offer Brings to Mind That
State Printers Should Work
Cn Flat Salary.

Frank G. Baker, ex-state printer of
Oregon, will at the coming session of
the legislature make the state pres
ent of his printing plant at Salem,
used by the state since 1886, when
Baker was elected state printer for the
first time, says the Portland Journal.
He states in his announcement of the
fact that he can well afford to make
the present to the people since they by
his election gave him the opportunity
to make the value of the plant many
times over. He says that for eight
years during his incum benoy of the
Office he made $4,000 year net out
of the plaut and that recently he
offered Willis S. Duniway, incoming
state printer, $4,000 a year for the
state printing and the offer was re-
fused.
A Journal reporter called on Mr..
Baker and asked if he had read the
Journal carefully.
"Why, certainly, read it carefully
every evening"" was the response.
"And SO my friend Duniway is putting
in suitable materials with which to
do the states printing. That's all
right. He knows his business. He
doesn't need to solicit or even pay at
tention to suggestions as to how to
run printing office. /"
But what about your printing ma
terials now in the state house known
as the state printing Office plant?" he
was asked.
II have received an offer from the
Bancroft Whitney company Of San
Francisco to rent the plant, and far
better offer than any proposition Mr..
Duniway made me; but have not ac-
cepted that company's offer. / am
going to make the state of oregon a
present of that plant. Why not? In
1885, when elected state printer the
first time, was a clodhopper of
journeyman printer earning $40
week at the case. just think of $25 a
week when compared with $4,000 a
year net, and for eight yearsl'
''Is it worth $4,000 year now?"
Mr.. Baker was asked.
"Is it? Why just the other day /
offered Mr.. Duniway $4,000 a year
for the Office, conditional of course, on
the legislature not putting him on
salary. He declined the offer, saying
he wanted all there was in it for him
self. Don't blame him."
SIS the office worth more now than
when you had it,"
'It is worth $4,000 year net, I"
was Mr.. Bakers enthusiastic re-
sponse.
"Did you have an interest in the
office When Mr.. Leeks was state print
err" was the next question.
eyes, be gave me 25 per cent of the
net profits of the Office for the use OF
the plant and helping him secure the
nomination in 1894, and -FOUR years
later. And why should / not make
the state present Of the plant? More
over, Mr.. Whitney rented the plant
on terms satisfactory to me. Irepeat,
why shouldn't make the state pres
ent of it? know that the people of
the state will appreciate the gift; for
it will be the means Of saving to the
taxpayers of the state more money
than all the salaries of the entire state
officers (his own included) put to
gether. But do not care to discuss
this subject further at this time"
This offer of Mr.. Baker puts more
definite foundation under the rumor
that the legislature would be asked to
put the state printer upon fiat sal
airy and makes the effort a practical
certainty. If Mr.. Baker makes the
state present of his plant, as be pub
licly promises to do. and If the state
accepts the gift. it will be another
step taken in the consummation of the
campaign to provide state plane and
salaried printer.
It is is now privately asserted by
those who are in sympathy with the
movement that the fiat salary bill will
be presented and that it will be
backed up with such force that there
ran he no d0ubt of ita naasiup.