Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-06
PR|h7|hG IN M|XUP.
MAXIMUM PRICE NAV PREVENT
LETTING or CONTRACTS.
State May Be Compelled 20 Under
take Some Of lie Work--May Use
State Plants at Eldera and State
observation-disclosures Conditions
Of Business Affecting Printing.
SPECIAL to Times. Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Dec. 6.--Contracts for
printing for the state, for the year
1920. involving 100000 worth Of work
or more, will be let by the printing de-
partment of the state on Monday. In
view Of the disturbed condition OF tho
printing industry. corresponding to the
unsettled affairs generally, there Is
much wonderment as to just what will
happen or how the state will come out
In this very important part Of Its busi-
ness.
The general assembly, when IT put
the printing department under the
document editor three years ago. pro-
vided that the old rates for printing
and binding. which constituted the
contract between the state and the
state printer and state binder, should
be q maximum for new contract rates
A year ago prices were secured that
averaged probably Is per cent below
this maximum. but on some items
were above the maximum. The exist
ence Of the maximum is increasingly
emba rrassing. It may even stand in
the way Of getting certain classes of
state printing done at all. Several
sealed bids have already been filed In
the office Of the document editor for
next years work. and 1t is anticipated
there will be fair competition for at
least part Of the work.
In anticipation Of a possible mix up
on printing. Ora Williams, document
editor, in charge Of the printing de-
partment Of the state. had-a confer
state industrial school at Eldora, and
the board Of control this week, with a
view to making large use OF the states
plant there and the one at the state
reformatory, for emergencies. It Is
hoped that this can be avoided, but the
state might be put to tho necessity Of
doing at least a part Of its own print
ing. The two plants have been devel-
oped very well in recent years.
II anticipate we will have some
ticklish problems in connection with
the printing contracts" said Mr.. Will
liams. but the state Is in a position to
w DuSAAcSS III SOILlc way. we hight
as well face the situation squarely,
which is that the printing can not al-'
ways be done under the rates which
had been fixed for the printing and
binding in the code. Contracts may
have to be let at rates above the ap-
parent legal limit. But even II so the
state must do It rather than to 90
without having its work done. It is
extremely unfortunate that the last
general assembly Is did not modify
the law SO as to give. US greater lati-
tude in handling the business. No At
tention was paid to official reports and
recommendations with view to bet
ter service for the state. The printing
board will have to do tho best Il can
and II there Is some straining Of au-
thority the fault will not be with the
board. The volume Of printing for the
state is steadily growing and will con-
tinue to increase from year to year.
But conditions In the printing trade
and in the supply Of all kinds Of paper
stock are such as to make the whole
problem Of state printing more diff
cult than ever before"