The Newspaper Monopoly Holding Seattle Hostage
In 1887, the Post-Intelligencer exposed a 'printing ring' between rival newspapers that artificially inflated the cost of public contracts.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Post-Intelligencer has taken the first opportunity to call upon the Board of County Commissioners and the City Council to rescind the contracts under which it is now doing the city and county printing. At this time, it is an easy proceeding, as no legal complication can be done thereby. The present contracts were made, we believe, in 1885, to run until June, 1887, and for the city until September, 1887. At that time, they were made a combination listed among the newspapers published in Seattle, by the terms of which they agreed not to bid against one another for public printing. Because of this combination, the Post-Intelligencer assessed the full rate allowed by law on both contracts. This combination between the newspapers was formed as similar combinations are formed by railroads, mill companies, and other corporations. The present management, however, is convinced that the rates paid under these contracts, though within the maximum fixed by law, are higher than justified by the amount of work performed. They are higher than the rates obtained by the Post-Intelligencer in general advertising and are in excess of what should in fairness be demanded. It asks that the old contracts be canceled and that bids for the performance of the work be again advertised for. It is ready to perform this work at less than one-half of the rate now received, and it will accordingly be to the best interests of both city and county to cancel the old contracts.
“This combination between the newspapers was formed as similar combinations are formed by railroads, mill companies, and other corporations.”
This 1887 editorial mirrors modern-day concerns regarding municipal waste and concentrated corporate power. Much like the 'printing ring' of the 1880s, today's Seattle voters frequently grapple with the lack of transparency in large-scale government contracting and the high cost of public services.
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