The Delta independent., 1924-10-24
PAPERS FIGHT TO SAVE
READERS MONEY IN TAXES

The reader has been told by pro-
ponents of the proposed constitutional
amendment to build and equip a state
printing plant that Colorado news
papers are opposing the measure be-
cause they would lose business by its
operation.
While 1t is true that some news
papers would lose some business in
the way of job printing 1t is also true
that the amount so lost Is so small in
proportion to the cost to the owners
of property in taxes that 1t sinks too
far out of comparison to be legitimate
ly assigned as reason for the atti-
tude Of the newspapers.
1t Is also insinuated that vested in
terests" have bought up the press. The
facts are these:
Papers Get No Pay
No newspaper in the state of Colo
rado has been paid a cent for the mat
ter 1t has run in this Colorado Editor
ial Association campaign against
Amendment No. l, or will be paid for
1t The newspapers are donating their
time and space to the protection of the
taxpayers Of their communities just as
they have done before, and will un-
questionably do again whenever incip-
lent graft pokes up its ugly head.
Print Shop First Charge on Funds
The publishers are convinced that
the amendment Is pernicious in that
1t establishes a precedent for possible
unlimited drafts upon the state treas
ury without any of the safeguards
which wall in Legislative appropria-
tiOns. Further, 1t makes the support
of the state printing office, whether
the state printer be honest or com
petent or not, first charge upon the
general fund of the state, which must
be satisfied before other appropria-
tons can be paid, because a constitu-
tional amendment sets aside existing
statutes and nullifies any which might
be hereafter passed which would con-
flict with 1t.
Would you want even your home
town printer, or banker or minister to
have untrammeled access to your
pocketbook? They might all be hon
orable men, and well intentloned, and
yet, through ill-advised expenditure
leave you without carfare some win
ter morning.
Unwarranted Burden on Taxpayers
The newspapers know, too, that the
measure makes an unwarranted draft
upon the funds of the taxpayers of
the state at a time when they are al
ready over-burdened. To justify the
investment of three quarters of mil
lion dollars in building, equipment and
working capital a private concern must
do on an avenage of 2la times, an
nually, the amount of the investment.
This, proponents of the measure ad-
NIT, is a fair ratio and it is the ratio
generally accepted in estimating the
real worth of going business In
printing
Thus the state plant must do 81 ,929,-
O14.S5 Of business annually to justify
the proposed investment.
The total sales of school books In
Colorado per annum during the last
five years has been 1925, 900, in round
numbers, per year. The total of state
departmental printing for the two-year
period ending Nov. 80, 1922, was S2O5,-
098.42, or $102, ,549.21 per year, accord
Ing to the report of the state auditing
board
No Chance to Earn Its Way
Then, the textbooks and state work
alone could not be expected to amount
to more than 1927, ,54921, or one-sixth
Of the total private enterprise would
require to do to continue to operate
with the same Investment.
Who is going to make up the deficit
on more than a million and half dol
lars a year in business which will be
required to Justify the proposed in
vestment in a state printing plant?
There is not the shadow Of a possi-
bility Of the plant even breaking even
on the work 1t does handle and the tax
payers will be called upon annually to
meet a deficit in cost OF operation
which will far more than offset any
saving they might make though they
were to purchase school books at man
ufacturers costs. Business men gen
orally throughout the state take the
same view of the matter.
Further, the newspaper men are con
vinced that the scheme is wholly i'm