Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-04-06
(By George Gallarno)

Inc O1hceS OF state PRIMER anu STATE
binder, which have been two of the
finest political plums in Iowa since
early in the history of the state, will
be abolished, and the work of public
printing placed upon a competitive
basis, If the senate of the 37th gen.
eral assembly shall see fit to adopt
a bill passed with practically unani-
nous vote by the house.
The house bill as adopted was
substitute for the Helming measure,
presented to the assembly early in the
session. The substitute was prepared
by three members of the house, all OF
whom are printers and publishers.
They are Representatives Stone, of
Hawarden; Miller, of Ogden, and
Nichols, of Iowa Falls. AS presented
the substitute bore the names Of
Messrs. Miller and Stone, and these
gentlemen will be known as fathers
of the law, n it should become a law.
Differs from Helming BILL
Those versed in the history of pub
lie printing In the state are convinced
II the law is to be changed, that the
measure finally passed by the house
is a great improvement over the bill
which is replaced. 1t makes the state
printing commission consist OF the
members of the state executive coun-
Gil, with the document editor as sec
rotary, while the Helming bill created
a commission composed of the gov
ernor, the document editor and the
secretary of the council. The pro-
posed law gives the commission full
authority in handling all matters of
printing and binding and provides that
the state may purchase and furnish
paper stock needed or may let con-
tracts including the furnishing of the
stock by the contractor. All matters
for printing and binding are classified
and competition on each class is to be
open to any printer and publisher in
the state, with the exception that all
printing for the legislative assemblies
must be let to printing and binding
firm or firms in Des Moines.
Senate Actien Doubtful.
While the apparent indications are
that the house bill will receive the en-
dorsement of the senate there is a
chance that it may be defeated in that
body, on the argument that while the
contract system may prove to show
q saving in actual cost of printing
and binding, it is also pretty sure to
show decline in the efficient manner
in which the work Of the various de-
partments has been conducted In the
past.
State officials who have expressed
themselves on the question declare
that there may be something better
for the state in the matter OF printing
than a mere saving in cost, and sena-
tors who will oppose the house bill
are basing their opposition on the re-
port of the committee on retrench-
ment and reform of the seth general
assembly, made to that body when the
same question of adjustment of the
two offices was up for consideration.
After devoting many days to the con-
sideration of the matter OF abolish
ment of the offices the committee of
the 36th assembly reported in favor OF
their retention, and declared that their
investigation in states where the con-
tract system is in force had shown no
advantage for it. Their remedy was
the adoption of law providing for
the naming OF a document editor by
the governor. This law was adopted
and the first report of the document
editor to the chief executive and to
the general assembly showed a saving
of more than $4,000 over a like previ-
GUS period on the same volume OF
work done before the creation of the
office. ~
Would Abolish In 1919.
The Miller bill provides that
the Offices Of state printer and state
binder are to be continued until jan
uary 1, 1919. The present printer and
binder are Robert Henderson, OF
Council Bluffs, and John M. Jameson,
of Des Moines. Each is now serving
on his third term, which began jan
uary LIST of the present year. II the
senate declines to abolish the Offices
the legislature will, in joint conven-
ton of the two houses sometime previ-
GUS to adjournment choose the sue
cessors to the present officials.
Blue Laws Are to Stay.
Although heroic fight was made in
the house by Representative Jones of