The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1920-12-16

provides for the distribution of the
book on the basis of so copies to
every member of the legislature,
copies for all school and institutions
of leaning and SO many for the gen.
eral public. AS an appeal to the
vanity of the members of the legis-
lature and to insure the much need
ed Blue Book appropriation, the
book carries photograph OF each
legislator and a stick or so of bio
graphical sketches each adding to the
cost of manufacturing the book and
which by the way are authorized by
law it is found; that the title page
costs $500; the state flag in colors,
$500; the great seal of the state in
bronze, $500; and three maps, $1,000.
The Blue Book or legislative manual
seldom reaches the legislature much
before the 18th or goth of January
and in its absence a skeleton manual
is generally ordered costing all the
way from 5000 to $1,000. The word
"Joke" hardly does justice to the
Minnesota state Blue Book as it is
commonly known. Much of it's Scon-
tents are out of date before the book
it issued while as to the standing
matter which includes the state or
ganic act, constitution of the United
States and Minnesota, the state flag,
the Great Seal, pictures of The icapi-
toll and other state buildings and the
names of legislators past and pres
ent, burdens the shelves of every
library and institution of learning
in the state. The Blue Book could
be made valuable compendium OF
state information and knowledge,
ergy at its command will not permit
but the law,the repeal of which the
printing trust fights with every en-
ergy at it's command will not permit.
1t is sure some joke.
1t probably is not generally known
that. Minnesota spends annually in
the neighborhood Of $4,000 for its
state printing and that better than
one-half> of it is absolute waste. This
waste is in the shape Of so-caaled an
nual reports which more than one
state printer has rallied against, but
which still persist. Department and
reports were originally
for the legislature and
were accordingly issued bi-annually,
put now; ,theyrare an annual infiic
ion. Showing the valueless feature
If a. majority Of these printed re-
ports the, state banking department
S charged with the publication once
! year of the financial standing of
Zach state bank. It is a costly thing
md covers the condition of the bank
&C. the close of business say June
irst It is issued six months later
Vile / Id the mean time this : same
report has been publisAed
n the local paper. Probably too the
,ank. has gone out of business or has
hanged hands, in any event the in
ormation given is not worth the pa
YER it is printed upon. With paper
It top. cost and publishers all over
he state fairly begging for enough /
o get out their limited newspaper.
litions each week, to see the white
unk that rolls out Of the Capitol
easement each week is enough to
make one fairly weep. This paper
S a janitor perquisite and adds ma
erially to his annual wage. s.: 7, i
GORDON, state printer says he is go
ng to try and induce the legislature /
o reform this abuse of white paper,
nut he has a big job on his hands.
)thers have tried it and failed.
The latest to be mentioned in con-
ection with the state authorship |
,hich Cow Elect ]. A. o. Preus will
hortly vacate is O. H. Smith Of
ester Prairie and publisher of the
ester Prairie News. Talk has been
nnning his way the past week not