Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1850-01-18
The Revised stu.utes---rhe Governor.

Ihe Revised &tSst;tes--~Ehe Governor.
In his annual message the Governor states that conceing
10 be his duty under the law fix the price of those sta
tues taken by the STATE has fixed the price $3.50 per
volume. 1t is not impossible the letter of the law viii
bear the construction which Governor puts upon il. but
be the Correct construction, the Governor may claim the
credit of the discovery. Tie Legislature has been abused
the Governor has been abused have been abused and
every body suspected any connection with the matter has
been abused, and mainly because tosreap such
handsome profit, and the to pay such
nous price for the books when 10 and behold, appears
that the State takes her books for actually less than and
our enormous profits where. Even the Argus with
IFS hundred eyes harpened by The keGncs malice failed
detect this feature the law and AFTER offering from $1,000
TO $500 for the job and failing get it, I'VE wish had
been successful has since up prolonged over
the $4,000 swndc of S0cs. The indignant and patriotic
Citizens of Dane too, who doub think they have pre-
scrpve right to all the disbursements OF STATE funds did
not for one moment conceive that shole he got any thing
could be put of with less than Is of the whole
From the message the first ntimaton that the law is
liable to such construction, and therefore think the merit
The discovery and the application of in such that
he great state of Wisconsin is enabled TO her
the expense partially, of private individual, belongs
rely to the Governor.
We stated that possibly the law, It's lcer, would bear
the consIruc ion which the Governor puts it. but think
no one on investigation, will contend that the spirit of the
law will justify it, Here put under $4,000 bonds to
do the work in prescribed and to complete and
deliver ii certain day We compelled to do all this
and then the Governor allow for the work something
CT nothing he chooses in his view of it, In addition
to this We were required employ person named at
price named to suporntcnd the work. and TO pre-
pare the copy and yet he chooses the Governor need
allow us enough for the work TO pay these individuals
are compelled by thelaw to employ. If we had been allow
ed to get up and print the work in respects according to
our own fancy there would have been icason in allow
ing The price to remain indefinite and unxed
racter of the work known, but when every feature of
the work distinctly prescribed, it be received on
ly if it answered the requirements ard to be mule
ted in $4,000 if it did not what reason is there in Justice
for the price remaining 10 be subsequently fixed and fixed
too without allowing any voice in the matter, or giving
US the privilege of being party bargain which certain
~ Interested Us than any else. Does any one be-
leve that such could be The intent spirit of the law.
Probably the Governor did not design convey the idea
but nevertheless the idea would readily be drawn from
he says that present and asscncd this arrange
men The Governor certainly knew what the popular in
depreciation of the law and he had every reason to sup
pose that opinion different from that of others
yet the first iatnaon had hs opinion of the law
We got from hs annual We were no! in any wa,
consulted; had opportunity Of making statement Of tho
cost OF the work. in short, no respect considered in
the matter We delivered The property spposing the
price to be stipulated the Governor received it without init
mailing contrary opinion, and when the property has
passed out of hands first told that the amount
we shall receive is ixc less than The work cost US
We do not be understood ntimating that the
Governor is honest in the opinion entcrains Of his
duty nor that he designed 10 do injustice fixing the
price he has. He probably thought with others that we
We're rcapng rich harvest III the sale of extra copies
and could afford 10 be generous state But if these
extra copies pay their way, il will be something more
than they promise at present IL worthy be borne in
mind that in this matter of extra copies left to
oar own dscreon but compelled print 200) copies
Now We may sell half of these and may not the ba
lance VIII remain ON hand for indefinite time and prob-
bty VIII never SELL that The profits OF half must pay
the loss on the other Whatever may be the popular i'm
preston the subject, say distinctly, and can show if
necessary that the job under the favorable cosruc-
ton OF the law could not be mrcasonby profitable for
must be borne in mind that required to pay $1,000
for copying and experimenting and also to print one thou
would leave bat small profit under a. we said the m ,st
favorable construction of he law, and under the Governors
view instead Of being profitable, be rinous
The law providing for the publication of Revised Sta
tucs enacted by The competent authority and has in no
respect been inyaidatcd. We have performed he duty re-
qurd under ii. Our work has been accented and the state
is using it and enjoying the benefits of it, The state au
thoy must Gci il pleasure in The premises: pay Us acco
ding TO The spirit and Intent Of the law under which il has
received and using the pay It's its own price or
not pay Us nj all We weak, it is strong and of ,urs
arc without the means of redress