Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-03-12

5 5 90 10 as $500
From all the evidence on the subject,
(see Doc. as, Al, AZ, and say It appears to
The COMMITTEES that paper il now, and Tor
several years last past has been manu'ac
tered and sold from twenty TO thirty ihree
and third per cent less than formerly nu'
there has not been concurrent reduction
in The price OF paper furnished by contrac-
tors. The same price is now paid to con.
tractors that was formerly gwen, when u
was twenty to thirty three and third per
cent higher. II is apparent that the con-
tractors make large profits on The paper
furnished by them.
These contracts are only orders oil the
department, directing the favored persons
to furnish paper, blanks and twine, on the
terms and conditions named in the order,
and are not obligatory on the department
for any longer time than the officers oil the
department think proper to consider them
so. The department is at liberty to abro'
gate the order at any time, giving reason.
able notice to the contractor.
The committee are aware this IS but
small matter, compared with other trans.
actions notwithstanding, they consider II
better to curtail unnecessary expenses than
to discontinue mail routes that are useful
and convenient TO the business communi
fy. The abrogating OF these orders, and
obtaining supplies of paper and Irvine. Ell.
Their through the postmasters themselves
or by fair and open competition oil individ-
uals, would, in the opinion OF the commit
tee, save money to the Government, With
out inflcting injury on the public, or pro.
ducing any change in the business, pros
perity, or facilities Of the people.
The committee believe that the paper
new furnished by contractors is OF better
quality than that furnished the post Office
at Providence for some time past. or this
better quality. William Parker testilies he
sold to G. g. Greene. in October last,
a quantity at So per feam, and MIR. Hay
wood testiies that he sold TO Hill and Bar
ton at 50 ~ per ream; for which MIR
Greene and Hill and Barton received from
the department So per ream. This ap.
pears to the committee to be paying ex
cessivc commission TO favored printers for
the transaction Of the business, and should
be corrected. itappears that the Greenes
supply about one thousand reams Of wrap
ping paper, and Hill aud Barton three
hundred and fifty reams per annum.
The price allowed by the department
to Hill and Barton, and 10 True s Greene
for twine, was forty five cents per pound.
And it is proved by John Edwards, (See
doc 5D that he manufactured the best
quality, of Irvine for the contractors al
Boston, from the eth February. 1880, TO
3lst December, 1881, at 80, cents per
pound. Since that time he has charged
SO cents per pound. That he annually
sold True and Greene and Charles II
Greene about twelve hundred dollars
worth per annum; and that he had also
sold Hill and Barton to the amount of five
hundred dollars in all. Ordinary Irvine,
ii is understood by the committee, may be
purchased from 90 10 % cents per pound
and cotton twine about the same price
What proportion Of the best Irvine, and
proportion OF ordinary, the several &C
counts of the contractors do not state
The Messrs. Greene state they Finished
none but that manufactured by Mr.. Ed
wards. On reference 10 the accounts OF
these contractors for two years past, il
appears that the Greens furnished about
eighteen hundred dollars worth per
annum, and Hin and Barton about four
teen hundred pounds of twine, amounting
to about $3.50 per annum.
In regard 10 printing for the depart.
meat. the committee have but little TO add
to their former report. They made such
inquiries previous TO that report, as 10
satisfy their minds that The amount paid
for printing proposals for carrying the
mail, was large, and, as they believed,
a great proportion Of it an unnecessary
expenditure. But your committee posses
sing little knowledge on that subject, ap
pointed three printers in the city OF Wash.
.ngton to make an examination and report.
They reported Gee Doc. So that they
had "taking the accounts for advertising
proposals for contractors for the year 1881
as they stand charged, and having ascer
tanned what the actual cost of advertising
the same quantity of matter the same
number of times, Uhat is TO say,) once a
week in The National lntelligencer, would
have been and submit the results to the
committee viz.
The amount paid 10 the Globe $3.50 SO
Actual charge for the same ia
the National lntelligencer 2,763 37i
Making difference Of S5,623 1914
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