Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-02-02
STATE PRINTING Of
SCHOOL TEXT BOOKS

Inc printing trades unions Of the
State Of Washington are preparing
to have introduced into the legisla-
ture two bills
l.. Creating a state printing
plant.
2. Providing for the printing,
and free distribution by the state,
OF all text books. used in the ele-
mentary schools, in the state print
I1ng plant.
Below you will find q condensed
statement Of the two proposed bills,
together with some arguments and
statements in favor of the same which
We earnestly ask you to read and
consider.
After reading what Kansas and
California are doing and what a
great saving It is to those states by
printing their own text books we feel
sure that you will be heartily In favor
Of Washington taking the same pro-
gressive step and will gladly fill in
the attached Endorsement that we
may present to the legislature.
We believe that the amount set in
these bills will give the State Of
Washington one Of the best printing
plants in the country, one that will,
not only by the printing Of text
books but by materially lowering the
cost Of all other state printing. save
the taxpayers Of the state thousands
of dollars cache year, in fact the
printing of text books alone when
in full operation should save not less
than 100000 each year besides the
amount paid out for wages and ma
terial, a lot of which will be kept in
the state.
State Printing Plant Bill Provides
(a) For the selection Of site on
the state capitol grounds for pub
lie printing building, and the appro-
priation Of 100000 for the con-
struction Of such building.
(b) The appropriation of $751;
900 for the purchase and installation
of presses and equipment.
(c) Making the office of state
printer state office, at a salary OF
$4,000 per annum.
(d) Providing that all state
printing shall be done by the state
printer in the state printing plant.
(e) Authorizing the state printer
to employ necessary foremen. proof
readers, mechanics and laborers who
will be paid weekly.
School Text Book Bill Provides.
(a) That the state board Of edu-
cation with the state printer shall
constitute q state school book COM
mission.
(b) That this commission shall
have the power to select secretary
at a salary not exceeding $1,000 .
year, qualified to determine the edu-
cational value and use Of school text
books.
(c) The state school book COM
mission is directed to adopt. write,
select or compile or purchase COPY
rights for . complete set Of school
text books to be used in the element
airy grades.
(d) When adopted. these text
books shall be printed by the state
printer and shall be furnished free
Of charge to all school children Of the
state, and all schools in the state
shall be required to use these books
and no others.
(e) This act appropriates $4,000
as revolving fund for the use Of
the state school book commission, to
pay authors. compilers Of books. or
purchase or lease copyrights.
Two states are operating plants
for printing text books. California
IL the more notable - IN example.
% its plant has been established for
years and the experience Of that state
has been most varied and profusely
commented upon. After years Of po-
litical strife and pickering, the print
ing plant Of that state has made
good. despite its detractors and crit
ics. The savings last year 70 the
people Of that state, over the retail
prices charged by the book publish
ers for the same texts, amounted to
$4,000. Kansas has established
it, plant but recently and. on &C
count of the state being under con-
tract with publishers for many of
their text books. only q small per-
centage Of the books are now printed
in the new plant. The savings made
for the Ave months ending December
I. 1915. were over $4,000. The
percentage of saving is approximate
" the same as the present expert
ence of California and with increased
production the percentage Of saving
will naturally increase. From the
experience of these two states,
Washington, If state printing OF
texts is adopted. will save at least
40 per cent on the texts she IL using.
In addition to the actual saving
Of thousands Of dollars, there must
be taken into consideration the fact
that all the money paid out for labor
and some Of the materials used In
manufacture will be kept within the
state of Washington. helping to build
M the state and improving indus
trial conditions, not alone at the cap
itol city, but at the paper-making