Weekly Minnesotian and times., 1859-12-31
The Printing Question.
REPORT
Of the Majority OF tie Standing Committee
on Printing, on the Protest Of Earle S.

Of the Majority Of tie Standing Committee
on Printing, on the Protest Of Earle S.
Goodrich.
Public Printing, to whom was referred the
protest and communication of Earle S. Good
rich, claiming to have contracted with the
State Auditor to execute the printing, binding
and advertising of the Senate and House of
Representatives, for the Governor, Secretary
of State &C., under an act entitled, "an act to
provide for the letting of the State printing,
binding and advertising, approved March 10th,
liberation as circumstances would admit, and
beg leave to report.
That on the 10th day of March, A. D., 1858,
of the Governor, enacted law providing for
the printing, binding and advertising of the
Senate and House of Representatives for the
Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney Cen
eral, State Auditor, State Treasurer, for the
School and Banking Departments and all other
printing binding and advertising for any and
each of the State officers which are now or
may hereafter be created, or which may or
shall be done under the authority and at the
expense of the State of Minnesota: that said
to be given in one or more newspapers in each
Senatorial District, specifying as nearly as
practicable the kinds, character and quantity
of printing, binding and advertising which
would probably be required to be done dur
ing the period of two years designated in said
notice that on or before the first Monday of
August, 1858, and up to II o'clock M. of that
day, said Auditor should receive proposals
from any person or persons actually engaged
in the business of printing. publishing and
binding, or either, within this State, for the
execution of said printing, binding and adver-
Using, or any portion of said printing, binding
or advertising so required to be or done; that
each of such proposals should be accompanied
by sworn statement of the bidder or bidders,
specifying the place where such printing, bind
ing and advertising, or any portion thereof bid
| for, would be done, and the facilities possessed
by him or them for doing the same, together
with the name and circulation of the paper in
| which the advertising was proposed to be
| published that at the expiration of such no.
| tice the Auditor was directed to open the pro-
posals and award the printing, binding and
advertising to the lowest and best bidder for
tile achole or any portion of said printing,
binding or advertising for the term Of two
years specified in the notice; and that the
bidder or bidders respectively should enclose
with their respective bids, guaranty of such
form and amount as should be prescribed,
that he or they would enter into a contract
according to the terms thereof, and give bond
in double the amount of the estimated sum
| to which the contract so awarded would
amount
From satisfactory evidence in the possession
of your Committee, it is manifest that a COM
bination was formed at the instance of Earle
5. Goodrich, the protestant, by an agreement
in writing, to which he was a party, not only
in the first place to secure, by improper means,
the passage Of the Act of March 10, 1858, but
to enable him, by presenting fair competition,
to obtain the entire printing, binding and adj
vertising contract, at such rates as he might
see proper, to the great detrment and in fraud
of the rights of the State
Fraud vitiates every contract into which ii
enters and although your committee or the
| House may not possess jurisdiction to inves-
| tigate this question, or declare the contract
void because of fraud both in its inception and
progress, yet your committee feel it to be its
duty to lay the facts before the House, that
it might take such action as to that body
may seem best and most advisable.
On Or prior to the first day of August, A. D.
1888, the following bids or proposals for the
public printing, binding and advertising, &C
companed by the requisite statements and
guaranty were received by the State Auditor
said proposals being made, under the adver-
tised direction of the Auditor and in COM
pliance with the intention and spirit of the
law, for nine separate and distinct classes OF
work, to wit: