The Van Buren press., 1869-01-26
All of which is respectfully submitted.
S. w. MALLORY,

s. W MALLORY.
Chairman Committee.
The testimony accompanying the re-
port is quite lengthy, and can be stated,
in substance, as follows:
Judge Ware testified that the printing
had been badly done, many errors having
been made in its execution.
J. d Butler testified that certain work
had been done outside the city, and that
the code was not printed as well as Goulds
digest, which was considered an inferior
job.
NJ. L. Rice did not consider the print
ing done on the code as workman like
job. Many errors that were marked in
proof had never been corrected, and in
one or two instances words substituted
which made nonsense of whole section.
j. p Jones had lien on the office and
material Was partner of Price when
the work for the Constitutional Conven-
ton was done that Price had no interest
in the office, except a verbal agreement
that if Jones would do the printing he
should have half the profits, until the 10th
of December, when Price had bought the
Office from him, and he retained a lien on
it. Price had given him power of at.
torney to have the work executed in his
name; that Price had never paid anything
for the Office or materials did not know
whether the work had been well done.
Governor Clayton testified that some
of the work had been done cut Of the
State, and he considered the contract as
annulled by that action on the part of
Price; that the acts passed by the Legis-
lature had been delayed an unreasonable
time, as, also, had been the code. Had
some work done for his office, but requir-
ed it to be well executed. ...#
j. c. Price testified that he was sole
editor and proprietor of the Little Rock
Republican,, Jones was partner prior to
December 10, 1868; no printing had been
done outside of the State to his knowl
edge; had been delayed on the code about
three weeks In all waiting for proof; had
never authorized any printing to be done
outside of the State; never authorized
any one to sign his name to any account
against the State; had delivered about
- copies of debates and proceedings of
Cons titutiqnal Couy ention balance were
in Philadelphia,
j. p. Jones recalled. Price gave him
full authority to sign his name 4 general
understanding between them that they
were to get the work done wherever they
could to the best advantage.
After the above evidence had been clio
tied, J. c. Price filed a statement, asking
to correct his evidence in one or two par.
ticulars. Had given Jones, during his
absence, a power of attorney to sign his
name. The matter escaped his memory
before.
The committee also submitted a copy
of the bill paid for printing the debates
and proceedings of the Constitutional
Convention amounting to Sl2,4Sl so, fol
2,100 copies, and showed that only -;
copies had been delivered.
A statement was also submitted from
the auditor, showing that the sum of s27,
S25 81 had been paid the public printer
The committee also presented copy
of the contract of the printing commit
tee, consisting of the Governor, Secreta
Try Of State, and Treasurer, with j. G
Price to do the public printing in gooc
style, at good time, and that the worl
was not to be done outside of the State
After the above had been submitted
Mallory presented bill to amend the &C
providing for the employment ofa public
printer. The act declares that Price ha
violated his contract and that the con
tract entered into with Him t5do' Che pub
lie printing be declared void, aAd that Thu
Governor, Secretary of State Treasure
and one member from each House of tn,
General Assembly be appointed d print
ing committee, and be authorized to con
tract with parties to do the work at
price not more than ten per cent abov,
that now paid. Read first and SECOND
time and made the special order for 10
o'clock tomorrow morning. ~