Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-02-07
oREGoN's PRINTING BILL.

The bill providing for the purchas
of a printing plant by the state is re
ceiving some sturdy whacks from th'
newspapers of Oregon. The editor
of these papers are, with scarcely al
exception, practical printers. The!
know that a state-owned and state
operated plant with a strictly politica
management and an ever-increasinl
payroll, would soon make the annua
printing bill one of the heavy burdens
to the taxpayers. The expense of the
state printing is already far too high
and a state-operated plant would make
conditions much worse.
Oregon does not need a printing
plant. This fact has been plainly
pointed out to the legislators, and any
member of the house or senate who
casts his vote in favor of the proposed
graft on the taxpayers will never be
able to plead that he was not given
fair warming AS the Observer and
other newspapers have frequently
pointed out, all that is needed is a re-
vision Of the existing scale of prices
so that the state will be required to
pay no more for its printing than any
other corporation or individual would
be charged for like amount of work
in the open market This is all that
any reasonable taxpayer can, or will,
ask. Such a revision of the existing
antiquated scale could be made in a
few hours by any of the master print
ers of Portland, in whose offices four
times as much work is turned out an
nually as is produced by the State
Printer. Such revision need not cost
the state 800, and it would save the
taxpayers $4,000 year.
The Salem Statesman, a newspaper
that works with 'commendable energy
to secure new Industries for its home
city, draws the line at a state-owned
printing plant. 1t points out that
while such an industry would be worth
far more to Salem than the present
printing office, the expense to the tax
payers of Oregon would be doubled, or
even trebled. Answering an accusa-
tion made by the Eugene Guard that
the Statesman is Influenced in its
opinions by work given It by the State
Printer" the Salem paper says:
The Statesman is not sharing in
any way in the profits of the printing
done at the expense of the state. That
statement is a plain lie. The States
man is not doing any work for the
state Printer
"rhe Statesman can stand It very
well. If the State Printer is put on
fiat salary, for il will be a good thing
for Salem. The Statesman Publishing
Company gets about one-fourth of its
business from this city. which business
of course, will be better If conditions
are improved here.
Putting the State Printer on fiat
salary would mean a new building in
Salem. 1t would mean a thoroughly
equipped new plant with which to do
the printing. II would mean more men
employed here In doing the state
printing; or, rather, In doing the busi-
ness in the front office. More men,
also. in the typesetting and press
rooms. Ihls would all add to Salem's
prosperity.
But II would cost the state more,
and that is all the Statesman has said
In defense OF the present system. III
would not be long Till the sum invest
ed in building and plant II put out at
interest, would be enough to pay the
present cost OF the state printing.
And It would not be long Till the
changes Of the front office would cost
like amount
so the state printing. under the fiat
salary system. would cost about three
times what Il costs now.
The legislature can do as Il
pleases. but Il knows the facts That
is all The Statesman has contended I
q.