Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-04-13
To the Public.

| HUGH has Oeen Saiu IN TefaflOn 10 the pubil
printing both publicly and privately-botl
within and without the Legislature-accom
panied in general with total misrepresenta
ton of the facts. that feel called upon as
mere act Of justice to myself and TO thos
whom the work was suh-contracted, to ash
public attention to the following statement Of
facts:
To give complete insight into the whole
subject-to prevent all misrepresentation il
the mind OF the reader-and that every one
may form his own opinion from the facts, and
the facts only give the Constitutional pro-
visions, and the law bearing on the question
to which | respectfully invite investigation.
Sec 25, article Nv. Of the Constitution reads
az follows:
"Sec. 25. The Legislature shall provide
by law that all stationary required for the
use of the state, and all printing authorized
and required by them TO be done for their use
or for the state. shall be let by contract 10 the
lowest bidder; but the Legislature may es-
tabish a maximum price. No member Of the
Legislature other state officer, shall be inter
ested either directly Or indirectly in any such
contract"
Here then is positive provision that ALL
printing " authorized or required' by the Leg
lslature or state shall be let by contract to
the lowest bidder" Could language more
comprehensive, or more imperative be EN-
ployed Is it possible to doubt the intention
of the trainers ofth constitution in the prem
ises ask particular atte nrion to this clause
because it has just been decided by the legisla-
ture. and the position sustained by the Exec
utive that it is only necessary TO vote away
pretended copyright, and have the state sub
scribe for copies of ANY work at double or
treble price, to accomplish all the results of
an election of any party iavorlte.
The clause prohibiting - member of the
legislature. or other state officer" from be-
ing interested in "a contract for printing would
seem equally peremptory, although held by
the authority not to interfere with the
right OF either members officers 20 have
an interest in such work.
Under this constitutional provision, an act
to let out the public printing was passed and
approved August 10, lS4S. See pamphlet
laws, page III.
Section lst OF said law provides that the
work shall be divided into three classes by the
secretary of state. and that he shall advertise
for sealed proposals for doing the same.
These classes are enumerated rs follows;
l For the incidental printing comprising
the printing usually incident 10 the business
of the two houses.
The Journal Of the two houses and the
LAWS.
The printing of the state departments.
Each is Il separate contract, but 1t is TO the
second class that | wish to direct particular
attention. The section further requires spec :
ifications of the cost Of composition, press
work, paper &C., aud flor preparing side
notes and index for the LAWS" &c. all of
which was duly put in, at ii specific price per
volume.
The second section requires the secretary
of state to open the bids and declare who is
the lowest bidder, and let the work to him.
This was done in October last, and all the
contracts were awarded TO me, whereuPon |
entered into bonds to the acceptance of the
Governor. in the sum Of $4,000
Section six fixes the term of my contract at
one year from the lst of January last.
Section four provides that "After the &C
ceptauce OF the bond of security. the person
TO whom the printing has been awarded shall
be the person to do said work FOR THE TERN
FGR WHICH HE WAS CHOSEN, and NO .4C-
COUNT from any other person for printing
shall be considered and allo,oed."
Section five provides, that 1T shall be the
durv Of the secretary of state within one week
after the passage OF any law or joint resOlu-
ton to furnish to the person appointed TO
print the laws, correct copy OF the same,
&c. &c.
Thus the state not only contracted with
me to print the laws for the coming year, and
ordered the secretary Of state to furnish the
copy, but it prohibited imperativeIy any &c
count from any other person being ''consld-
cred and allowed" Under such n state oil
circumstances confess to the weakness OF
supposing that my cont act secured me Inc
right of doing the work. With this impres
sion large orders were made for materials oil
the best quality for the revised laws; and ~
order that there might be no misapprehen-
sion of my readiness to perform The WORK III
n proper manner, notice OF the TACT, al NY
suggestion, was published in the Argus n
number of weeks before the passage Of the
bill to break the public faith pledged TO me,
and which arrangements on my part were
well known
Nv suspicious of some foul scheme on foot
were first aroused about eight weeks since.
by a hideouS din raised at distant points in
the state, all Of a sudden. and by evident cor
cert, about the public printing. The most
ridiculous and absurd stories were put afioat.
and if they were entitled to any credit. the
state was likely to get horribly swindled.-
One fact however disproved ali these false
hoods That was that no member ct the leg
islature complained at, or objected TO. receIv-
ing the work. IF not executed according TO con-
tract, ,uhy ,cas not this done ? Express pro-
vision was made in the law for so doing. II the
work was not done according to contract
and the fac; that after all that was said no.
thing was done. is a sufficient reiutatlon o.
these fabulous reports.
But under this ''noise and confusion,' :
scheme of cold and deliberate knavery was
Matching The plant seems originated witt
CT. Sholes, Warren Chase. and Mr.. Kin
ney. 1t was a bill for printing the revised
laws-aud repudiatipg the contract with me
without pretence or excuse. This bill wa
Introduced covertly, without pruning ana th'
first authentic notice received ut ITS exist
ence was that it had passed the Senate! nF
Sholes first drew the bill giving The work =
himself by name. Finding that II Wou"