Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-02-16
The State Printing .

lake, has kept up a continual yelplng abo't
the printing. Their central organ failing
to effect an arrangement by which it would
obtain half the work, set up its howl, charg.
ins the majority with an open violation of
the constitution. in ordering the Clerks to
procure the necessary amount Of printing for
the two Houses, until law could be pass
ed in compliance with the constitution upon
the subject. and the printing let under 1t.
This charge has been reiterated in every
possible shape by the whig papers, which
have all at once become SO much alta ached
to the new, constitution. The simple facts
Of the matter, stripped Of the fog that has
been thrown about it, are these, s.
The Constitution provides that the print
ing of the two Houses shall be let out to the
lowest responsible bidder in such manner
as shall be provided by law. But printing
would be needed, would be indispensable,
before any law, either on that or any other
subject could be passed. The two Houses
therefore, passed resolutions instructing
their Clerks to provide for the printing by
contract, at prices not exceeding those paid
last year, until law could be passed and
the work lei in compliance herewith. In
compliance with these resolutions the Clerks
contracted with Col.1 Medary to do the
work, and also to print So much Of the
Journals as comprised matter that had al
ready been printed for the legislature. For
letting this last item the Clerks, Col. Me-
dairy, and the democrats in the legislature
have exposed themselves to the ban of whig-
cry and have to encounter their bitterest
denunciations, notwithstanding they must
know that it is matter Of economy, for, if
the work were let to any other person, or
to be done at any future time, the State
would have 10 pay for twice setting the
same matter.
The following report of the Clerk Of the
Senate, in reply to resolution of that body,
is full and to the point, and will serve to
disabuse the public mind in reference TO
this subject:
SENATE CHAMBER, }
Columbus, Jan. 90, 1852.
To the Hon. WM. MEDILL, President of
the Senate:
Anticipating the passage Of the resolution,
this morning introduced, the Clerk during
the recess, prepared himself TO repor. forth.
Nth" and he submits the following:
In answer to the frs. question, which is
as follows: "Wi,h whom he hos contracted
for the printing of the Senate, and al what
prices?'
The undersigned hasothe honor to state
that he has contracted with Samuel Medary
for the printing Of the Senate, unosr the
prices stated in The following resolution,
passed by the Senate, on the first day Of the
session:
"Resolued, That the clerk of the Senate
be directed TO procure the necessary print
ing for This body for the time being, and un-
Ill a law can be passed providing for the
public printing, as prescribed by the Con.
stitulion. Provided, that the prices paid
shall not exceed those paid for the Senate
printing at the last session."
In answer 10 The second and third ques-
tions, which are as follows: I'd. s'How
much printing has been ordered?" Sd.
"How large portion Of the printing so or.
dered, has been executed, and when the
portion unexecuted will be ready for the
Senate?'
The undersigned has the honor TO state,
that all the printing required 10 be executed
by the Senate, has been SO nt to the printing
office Of the contractor. In answer to The
third question, the clerk regret his inability
y reply in full and satisfactory manner.
The repor: on Common Schools, the Agri-
cultural report, the report of the Deaf and
Dumb, and Blind Asylums, and the report
Of the Fund Commissioners are not vel
printed. All except the Agricultural re.
port, and the report Of the Fund Commits
sioners, i. is understood, will be completed
within the next ten days. The Agricultur.
al report is too large to be completed within
that time, and the copy of the Fund Cons
missioners' report, although ordered to be
printed by the Senate, has not yet passed
into the hands Of the contractor TO do the
printing.
In reply TO the fourth question which
reads as follows: 18th. Whether the nature
of the contract he has entered into is such
that more than one charge is made for CON-
position Of any matter pointed for the use
of the Senate.
The undersigned would state, that if the
contractor to do the Senate printing at the
last session was allowed to charge for the
re compositlen of any matter printed for the
use Of the Senate, the contractor for the
printing ordered al the present session will
be allowed to do the same. The udder.
signed, however, let the late Auditor Of State
in auditing those accounts decide ns he
would, is clearly Of opinion that no such
extra charge is allowed, for the terms of the
contract of The last session expressly pro.
hibit it.
Acting under this belief, the Clerk of
the Senate has ordered the Appendix to the