Democratic banner., 1851-02-24
For the Banner,
PUBLIC PRINTER.

ic printing since last session, and also re-
,ealing the supplemental act, passed last
curtsiling the fees Of the public
Mr.. Sims said this supplemental bill was
On the last day Of the session, in a
great deal Of confusion, ard that too, after
MI. Lusk had been elected. He believed
the act referred 10 should be repealed. and
MI. Lusk allowed compensation for all work
executed for the State under the law Great
inc the Office OF Public Printer.
NJ. Crockett said, from what he had
he did mol believe the public prin-
ter received an adequate compensation.-
On many jobs, he had been told, Mt. Lusk
not receive as much from the State
as il cost him to have the work DONE
He was therefore in favor Of the rssolu-
ton.
To show the iniqnity Of this supplement
tel act materially cnr'siling the prices of
public printing, it is only necessary to re-
fer to the way it was struggled through
the General Assembly.
After Mr.. Lusk had been elected, end
defeated the metropolitan, it was determin-
ed by certain persons to put down the In
quirer-a bill wss introduced and passed
on the very last day of the session. |, was
designed for M other purpose than TO pros
trate Lusk. Its consPirators and coadju -
tors came forward this session to take away
from Lnsk the printing. after having failed
at the last session, and are again foiled. MA
nv Of the prices now allowed by the law
are ruinous, and II 10 Int sheer justice
TO MT. Lnsk end the State, that the law
under which he was actually elected
should be restored.
The above is from the Jefferson City CORES
pondence OF The ST. Louis Union. II will be re-
collected that James Lusk was elected Public
Printer at the session of 1913 -49, through the
influence of Thomas l.. Price, who was regard
ed land properly too,) az the proprietor Of the
Jefferson Inquirer. The election then, In effect,
was the election Of this gentleman, who figured
so extensively during the whole session in bring
ing influences 10 bear for his benefit O. lessee Of
the Penitentiary.
Boon had been Public Printer the two years
and had discharged the duties Of The Of
fee 10 the satisfaction Of every one, and conse-
queRtly It was bnt reasonable to suppose he
would be reelected 10 the office. But on the
day Of eleciiun Boon was defeated by the votes
Of the Wing member. Of the Legislature.
At that session Che session Of ls4S II was
universally conceded that the fees IF the Public
Printer, a, fixed by the law Of ls45, were sxor-
biianily high, and there was a general de'ermin.
alton 10 reduce them. il was the wish Of . large
number that the public printing should he lat out
10 the lowest bidder, and a bill for thai purpose
passed the Senate Icing before the close Of The
session. That bill came to the House and was
read the second Time in its regular order in that
body IN the morning oftire 9Th Of March. ISee
page $50. Fl. journal.1 On motion it was refer
red 10 q select committee Of FIVE. The member
who made the motion stated his objections TO The
bill then before The House, and if the reference
were made, The committee could examine the sub
iect and report in lien thereof On act amcndsto-
~ Of the old law. reducing tie fees. The COM
mittee appointed reported a bill TIE next mor'-
ing, s'which was read the first time, rule sus-
pended, read a second and third time and passed."
[See page 54S.l So thoroughly convinced were
the members Of The justice and expediency Of the
reduction made in the bill, that the rules were
even suspended in order that il might pass. A
members desiring its defea: might have OBJ
their object, by refusing 10 suspend the
Tho ayes and noes were not even called
on ans motion.
Now let u, refer q moment TO the Senate Jour.
nails. On page 497, Of The proceedings Of the
session of the 10Th Of March, this biil,
among many others, was reported TO the Senate.
On page 400, it seems the bill came up and was
read by the Secretary in it, regular order. The
following entry appears in the journal: "The
substitute bill from the House of Represen!a.
entitled an act IN relation 10 Public Prin-
ter, was read a first lime, rule suspended, read
a second and third times and passed"
Now, on page 500 Of the Senate Journal, and
555 of The House Journal, we find the election
of Public Printer, which appears TO have been
during the evening session Of the 10Th March,
after the bill in relation 10 Public Printer had