Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1911-02-10
THIS FROM THE PENCIL
PUSHERS.
A Memorial.


Kansas:
Gentlemen The Kansas State
Editorial Association hereby sub
mitS the following resolutions,
and begS you to give them "a
most favorable consideration:
Be it resolved, ~ That Sen
ate bill No. 1872, providing for
state production OF county, town
ship and SchOol-district blank
books and records, be not pass
ed. We believe, first, that the
state should not enter INTO cOmpe-
titiOn with private enterprise
where circumstances do not make
such a policy absolutely neceS-
sary, and We do not believe it
either necessary or prudnt In this
case. We believe the use of the
state printing plant should at all
times be confined to its origin
al functions, which are the pub
licatiOn of state reports and the
production of supplies for state
offices only. We would seriously
regard any further use of the
plant as an unnecessary and
wholly unwarranted encrOach-
ment upon the business of the
commercial printers of aKnSaS.
(2) As a matter Of justice to
the taxpayers of Kansas, we be-
lieve that there should be install
ed in the state printing plant
specific cost system, whereby a
general line of information as to
the economical operation of this
state institution may be at the
hands of the state accountant
at any and all times. for the in
formation of the general public.
(3) That no change be made in
what is now known as the legal
rate or printing, namely, 81 per
square Of $50 ems for the first
insertion and 90 cents per square
OF 223 ems for each subsequent
insertion. This rate was eStab-
llShed when the cost of labor
and material in the printing bus
mess was much lower than at
present, and any reduction in the
rate now would be unjustifiable
IN view Of the present conditions
III the printing business. We
are opposed to any bill which
provides for the awarding of pub
lie printing to the lowest bidder.
because no provision could well
be made for the consideration
of circulation or character of
circulation, and for the further
reason that such a practice
would threw the established
newspapers of Kansas at the
mercy of competitors who could
easily start papers with no other
asset than a printing contract.
1t Is the sense of this association
that the awarding of public print
ing contracts should be left as
1t now standS-with the diScre-
ton OF county commissioners, city
commissioners and city councils.
az That no changes be made
IN the price for printing either
primary or general election bal
lots, the experience of the past
year having demonstrated that
the present. prices as fixed by stat
ute are manifeStly fair, both to
the public and to the printer.
(5) That no restriction be made
upon the amount of newspaper
adyrtSIng that any political can
dldate can do, as such restriction
would have a tendency to keep
from entering political contests.
many men not widely known, but
whOg would desire to use the
press as a means of reaching the
public'S attention. Such candi-
dates we believe should not be
hampered by any restriction what
ever, maSmuch as the proposed
law Senate bill No. 270) would
give any OfficehOlder. widely
known by reason of his official
position, a tremendous advant-
age over any other candidate.
Very respectfully submitted.
The Kansas State Editorial Asso-
citation.
By II. C.. STICHER. President