Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-05-05
cLEARFlFLD, PA
"7he STATE Prfnfing'' - ny a
Member Of inc L6gfSf0furC.

sNtHotF Of tUf 1t = tt0fuFfs
Two weeks ago, in referring TO the
closing scenes of the Legislature, we
alluded to the State Printing job as
now conducted, In doing so, we
have unearthed member Of the com
miltee appointed TO investigate that
leak in the Treasury, in the person of
Mr. Meek, editpr OF the Bellefonte
Wdfcimdn, who intimates that Mr..
MCullongh talked the minority report
Of the committee to death and further
states that we were on the floor OF the
House at the time. We confess that
We were caught in bad company that
day, but, instead Of watching legisla
ton, we were, at the solicitation of a
member with several other outsiders,
examining a baslSctfil Of gold watches,
chains, silver pitchers, and a bundle
Of gold-headed canes, which several
members of the mutual admiration
society bad brought into the House
for the purpose OF starting a gift en-
terprise, as we supposed. We never
dreamed that legislation was going
on, because there was moro noise and
confusion in the House than there
was at Marietta during the riot sew
eral days previous What Mr.. M'Cul-
Tough said or done in the premises,
we know not; but viii proceed to
give Mr. Meek's version, as we find IL
in the IFdtchmdh of last week:
"Aner giving its opinon-and very poor one
tits too-of the Legislature in general terms, the
Cisarfeid Republican says
we we're greatly disappointed In one thing.
committee was appointed TO investigate the state
Printers account, bat It failed to make a report OF
its proceedings We never expected more than a
gAiie wagAihg report, but to be cheated even out
Of that Is too bad That the taxpayers have been
for several years robbed Of S5O,00O annually by
the 'loig printers Of Harrisburg, there can be no
question, and Why this committee failed to report
The facts is remarkably strange TO the outside
world. Perhaps the members eau explain We
do not reeolleet tho names Of that committee, or
we might be more pointed, but We will endcayor
% ferret them out
"For the benefit Of our good friend Goodlauder,
and the 'rest Of mankind, as one Of that commit
tee the writer Of this article will attempt to ex-
plain. The resolution instrueting the committee
ON Printing 20 examine the State Printers account.
a a.. A.. I'll T.
under the rules, il was required TO lie over one
day, and although repeated efforts we're made to
have It considered, yet it not until the gath Of
March that it was acted upon and passed finally.
This was 80 bate in the session and just at the
tune that members arc kept busy trying to get
their local legislation attended to, that the com
mitiee had little hopes Of pori,rm thoroughly
the duties imposed upon them by the passage Of
the resouton. Yet II went to work in good earn
est. Meetings we're held almost every day a. the
minutes will show, papers, and bills, aud persons
connected with the State printing were examined
but SO short was the time, and 50 great the work
to be accomplished, that the committee after labor
tug assiduously until within twenty -four hours d
The close Of the session, and finding It impossible
TO make such an investigation, and report as duty
to themselves and the pnblic required, concluded
to ask authority Of the House 10 finish the invest
CATION and file their report with the resident clerk
70 be acted upon by the next Legislature.
"No one for a moment believed or even dreamed
that the House would refuse to grant the cexiension
Of time asked for, to complete the work inasmuch
as the same authority had been granted almost
every session to other committees, and to n con
mittec ofthe Senate at the late session. nrosiiga.
ting the soldiers orphan schocis But Judge Of
the surprise Of the committee, when, upon the Pre-.
sentation Of the resolution, granting more time, il
was vigorously opposed by Mr.. strang and sever.
Rl other members on the Republican side, aud De
cided By the Speaker that the House had no power
70 extend the time and that any report the CON.
mittee bad to make should be presented before l2
o'clock Of that day-ienving but about forty min.
utes in which to write out aud make the report.
"Afier this decision the majority Of the commit.
tee absolutely refused to take any further action
in The matter. Tho member from The llth district
Of Philadelphia, Mr.. Bum, and the writer Of this
dissenting from the decision Of the majority, con
ciaded to make such report as the facts ascertain
cd and the limited time would permit This wa
done, and few minutes before twelve O'clock
the earliest possible moment-oaerod that repor
on behalf Of the minority Of the committee. Du
here again was oppositon-an that opposition
was from the Representative % cicaraeld county
Mr.. Mccullough, who, purposcly and with the dc
sign Of preventing the fling Of that report, ros
toa poini Of order and BY iIatory action occupied
the time Of the House until few moments afte,
" O'Clock when he raised the point Of order thai
ii being past twelve o'eiock--the hour Of fina
ndiounmcnt--tht report could not be received
which point the Speaker decided well taken, an,
thercport was not permitted to 90 upon the record
These facts the editor Of the Republican Is awar
Of for he was upon the hoor of tho House at Ii,
time Of their occurrence
'The facts set forth in thatrrpori were about a
follows.
In 1885 the State printing and paper anountc,
to but ss5 2s2 " in 1858 1t reached the sxhorbi
tant sum Of Sl37,223 l7--an increase Of slOi.
$40 6s,and s6o,Si4 IS more than in 1864 vher
the war was being wagcd, and almost double u,
amount Of printing being done That nulnerou
orercharges were made-an instance is found il
the Legislative Directory. a small pamphlet con
tHning 9 pages with about 1909 ems brewer d
the page was charged at the rate Of SEQ per thou
sand eaPies-the STATE furnishing the paper. III
actual cost OF this Directory could scarcely oxcec
$40 per thousand Cards, containing nothing bu
The name of and eounte, represented BY, the dif
f'rcn' members printed in tho piainest style wer
found charged a. the rate of 81 per paek-station
e'y % 60 cents per quire, ADD envelopes and o,ho
matiers in proportion. Instead Of he sol pc
cont di'souut being taken fiom al Or TIE pfintnl
ana hindiag a. the minority Of the eommiiie, he
ieted he hw and she contract rc9nrd, & wa
M taken from about 5at.ihita Of the work only, ih
remainder being chnrgsi at Or above regular trad
nlef Therepor closed asfollows,
%under the 40, of Assembly Of 1854 the head
oi Department. ore anthoried to order such print
ing a. they may dccin necessary and In such man
her ~ 'hfy may prescribe. The law under whicl
me state printing Is contracted flr. specifics ho,
a certain elass of work shal he done and M, con
traei hEes tho rate per centum below rerrlnt trad
n NIui "a I.U O..