Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-03-22
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.

ne EODbiO- FhlkNtiksU'
We have before alluded 10 the manner in
which the public printing was lei out A com.
mittee was appointed by the legislature TO re.
ceive proposals and contract for the printing
They were to eccept the "lowest and best bid,
all things considered" which, il it meant any
thing, certsinly meant the manner in which the
work was 10 be done, and the time required TO
do it. A majority OF the committee made re-.
port, giving the printing TO their partisan editors,
at an enormous sacrifice to the State: the minor
ty also made report, setting forth the loss that
would fall on the State, if the majority were per
mitted to close the contract on the terms they
proposed. The House refused to adopt the report
OF the majority, yet they have gone on to con
tract for the printing, and in so loose manner,
that it leaves the contractors at perfect liberty TO
fleece The State TO almost any amount they please
Attempts were made by several members to ar
rest this wholesale swnding, by passing resolu
tons instructing the committee on printing TO
make their contract in so specific form as that
it could not be violated, and inferior work palmed
on the State at an e1orbitan, price. This, the
ocofocos of the House, in the name Of democra
cy. refused to do!
Col. DAVIS OF this county, then offered the
following:
WHEREAS, the committee appointed by tn s
H House 10 contract Tor the printing OF the laws
aud journals, made report Of their actions and
proceedings in that matter 10 the House, which
report was by the House laid on the able ill the
4,h day Of July next, because said committee
. had not pursued the authority Civ en- to it by the
resolutions by which said committee was raised;
And, Whereas said committee, by its chairman,
gave notice to this House at the time their report
was laid upon the table. that said committee
would proceed 10 close the contracts mentioned
in the said report, by taking bonds from the per.
sons named in said report, to secure the public
printing upon the terms specified. Notwithstanding
this House had. by decided maj otity, laid said
report upon the table ill the 9TH day of July next
And, whereas, also, the said committee now as.
sumo the ground that they can make their own
contracts and as they please for said public
printing, and deny that this House have any au
horty over the subject and that they are not
bound to make report TO this House OF their &C.
ton upon this subject: Therefore, Resolved
l. That said committee appointed by this
House TO contract for printing the laws and jour
nails Of the present session OF the general assem-
bly, is hereby dissolved and discharged from fur.
Their consideration OF that sub ect.
g That the Speaker OF this House appoint
another committee, in pursuance Of the original
resolutions upon This subject adopted by the
House, and that said committee proceed to con.
tract as therein directed and that they make re-
port 10 this House OF the contracts to be by them
made, for its approval or rejection.
The Speaker decided the resolutions out Of
order, and an appeal being made TO the House,
the chair was sustained Mr.. Davis made the
following remarks on the OCCASION
The question intended 10 be presented by the
resolutions, (said Mr.. DAVIS is, whether the
committee under the original resolutions are now
permitted 10 act independent Of this House and
not subject to its control on the subject OF the
contract which it may make as 10 the printing Of
the laws and journals. 1t will be recollecled
that only few days since the laboured reports Of
the majority and minority Of that committee made
10 this House, touching the contracting for
the public printing, after having been printed for
the use OF the House, were, by solemn vote.
laid on The table ill the 4lh day of July next
And why? Because the House were OF opin
ion that the committee had not pursued the Letter
or spirit OF their authority, under the resolutions
by virtue Of which they were appointed to act
ard we are next notified by the chairman, Mr.
Rogers, from his place here, that they will pro
coed to take bonds from the bidder, in pursuance
OF the very propositions contained in the report,
which this House, after lengthy discussion reject
I ed, as being an attempt on the part Of the agen
Of this House to transcend the scope OF its. su
thority. and we are now told by a member OF tn,
committee in his place, Mr.. Boss, that the com
mttee have proceeded to close the obligations
for the printing on the terms and in pursuance o
the same identical propositions contained in lht
o report which this House has laid upon the tabIt
till The fourth day OF July next.
mir. D. called for the reading OF The origina
! resolutions and was informed by the chair tina
said resolutions were now signed by the Execu
' tive, had become the law Of the land and wert
filed in the office Of the Secretary OF State, anc
not in reach Of the House.)
1t will be seen, CONTINUED Mr.. d. that TIT
4 resolutions offered do not attempt to alter o.
r change any part of the original resolutions, bu
propose simply to discharge the committee from
: the further consideration OF that subject. and tina
the presiding officer of this House appoint new
j IL i