The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-28

close and active, and prices reason
able.
'"The argument is made that this
bill would be good thing for the
counties Let us admit that the goods
would be cheaper to the counties if
furnished at cost, but is this good
reason for inaugurating the principle
of the state going into the manufac-
turing business in competition with the
individual already established in bust
ness? It establishes a monopoly and
compels the purchaser to buy from
one source
"a furniture factory could be estab-
lished for making desks for school
districts and not compete with an
established business in the state. Like
wise a bridge factory could be built
for making bridges for counties and
townships. Or factory for making
steel furniture and vault fixtures for
court houses. But would it be policy
to establish such a system OF paternal-
ism?
ION this point Judge Greene in the
fist Kansas reports uses these words
in his decision: Our constitution was
framed and our laws enacted, with
the idea of protecting, encouraging and
developing individual enterprise, and
if we now intend to revise the policy,
and to enter the state as a competitor
against the individual in all lines of
trade and commerce, we must amend
different system of government All
the justices concurred in this opinion.
eff you decide upon adopting this
policy you should increase your APP
preparation. The amount provided in
this bill is barely sufficient to put the
printing plant in condition to prompt
" do the work now required of it.
estate officers and state institutions
can not now get the work and all the
work required as fast as it is wanted,
to- <N-,f
delayed thereby. Already the plant is
not large enough for the work.
ITO carry out the provisions of this
bill would require the state printing
plant to be transformed into a regu-
larIy established business house, with
its force of bookkeepers, cashier, stem
ographers billing clerks and packing
departm ent to fill the numberless small
orders from over 5000 school districts
and townships. This is a large item
of expense and responsibility which
has probably not been taken into con-
sideration in the plan of inaugurating
this policy, and is by no means small
item, the usual rule is that these over
head expenses amount to % per cent
of the business done.
1.-THE item of taxes is of consequence.
While the state would nay no taxes,
this plan, if it drives from business
the established houses, will cut off
$4,000 Of personal property taxes an
nually in this county In addition,
there are four other large houses IN
other cities and eight counties where
the work is done by local houses.
I'm general, the policy is bad from
whatever point you view 1t. 1t is
well known and well established fact
that the state can not compete sue
cessfully with the individual. Care
lessness and neglect of little details
of expense creep into the public work,
which the individual will correct.
1.-THE state printing plant is IN its
infancy. It has thus far been honest
" and judiciously managed. and it is
presumed that it will be by the honor
able gentleman who will take his po-
sition next July. But as the plant gets
Older and the delicate ana expensive
machinery begins to show wear, the
cost of operation will perceptibly in
crease.
During the campaign, preceding last
falls election it was publicly stated that
there IS a blank book trust Tha1
statement to the best of my knowledge
and belief is incorrect. There is abso-
Iutely no combine, pool or agreement in
restraint of trade amongst any OF the
Kansan blank book houses or printers
but open and sharp competition which
keeps the prices down to the minimum
The competition is so strong that the
houses from Missouri and other states
have for years past abandoned the ter
ritory as improbable. 1t is only the
sales OF Otner gOOuS III our 11ue WHICH
makes it profitable to keep our sales
agents in the field.
Let me mention just one condition
to show the inexpediency of what is
proposed by this bill. During the SEES
sions of the Legislature and for three
months preceding and succeeding, the
state printing office is crowded much
beyond its capacity. This is the very
time when it requires the work of hair
a dozen large printing offices to make
the tax rolls. tax receipts and assess
ment rolls. BY attempting to do this
work at the state plant the counties
will be annoyed and delayed and lnJur-
ed to an incalculable extent. These
goods cannot be made in advance but
every year at the right to fit the years
requirement.
I'm conclusion I ask that you do not
inaugurate the policy of smothering ana
destroying individual industries unnec-
essarily, particularly while the state
printing plant itself is experimental ana
when the state has no money to spare
for such experiments, and with trade
which calls for the very highest grade
of expert mechanics and artists, expen-
sive and intricate machinery, and the
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