Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-10-25
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.


The news from Nashville is interesting.
From q private source we learn that, upon
the request of the committee, Col. Baxter
appeared before them on Wednesday, to
make good, by proof, his charges against
the Public Printers, and promptly pro-
posed TO examine the accused parties as wit
nesses against themselves. But, to this,
Col. Burch, one of the accused parties and
acting as attorney for the others, objected.
He strenuously insisted that, under the
Constitution, a man could not be made to
give evidence against himself. To this
argument, Col. Baxter replied that the
committee had been appointed at the re-
quest of the parties accused, for the pur-
pose of vindicating them against what
they were pleased to call his malicious as
PENSIONS, and, being just and fair man,
he was willing to give them an opportuni-
ty of generating themselves by their own
testimony, if they could do So
After considerable discussion, the COM
mittee decided to proceed with the exami-
nation. The accusation is that the Public
Printers presented and received payment
accounts, to wit, for more paper, tokens
and ems than they were entitled to. Mr..
j. o. Griffith, the business manager of
the onion and american, and one of the
firm of Jones, Purvis & Co., being present
before the committee, was first introduced
and examined with about the following
result:
@. Who did you buy the paper from con-
tanned in the House Journal for 1890? A. L
don't remember.
@. Who did you buy the paper from that is
contained in the House Journal for 1901? A.
l don't remember.
Q. Who did you buy the paper from that is
contained in the appendices for l869-7O and
1901? A. don't remember.
@. Who did you buy the paper from contain
ed in lst Heiskelrs reports? a. L don't re-
member.
Q. Who did you buy the paper from contain
ed in 9th and 9TH Coldwelps reports l don't
Q. Who did you buy the paper from on
which the acts were printed? A. l don't re-
member
@. Which member of the firm purchased the
paper2 A. l don't remember
Q. Can't you name some one party from
which you bought paper during the period that
you have been printing for the State a. No
| Q. Can you name some member of your firm
who can furnish the information inquired for or
| a part of it? A. No.
| Q. Have you any bills of purchases? A. 1
suppose we have, but don't know.
q. Where are they? A, suppose if we
have them, they are on file.
Q, Will you furnish the committee with them
tomorrow a. If they can be found.
Q. How many ems of composition are con-
tanned in this book? (the House Journal.) A.
l can't tell.
@. How much paper does it contain? A. 1
| don't know. II LAX
@ How many tokens2 l don't know.
| q. Can't you estimate it A. No, not with
| out help.
@. Who made out the bills of Jones, Purvis
& Co.? a. don't know.
Thus the examination went on until the
committee adjourned, but eliciting nothing
\ except the fact that Mr.. j. o. Griffith was
about as near "know-nothing" in refer
ence to the public printing as can be found
within the limits of Tennessee.
His utter inability to furnish the desired
information renders an examination of the
other members of the firm of Jones, Pur.
Wis & Co. necessary, which we understand
will be done, but with what result theil
answers alone will determine. AS fast a
the facts are ascertained, we will publish
them for the information of our readers.
We state these facts as we have hear(
them. Our readers can form their Owl
conclusions. 1t will seem strange to bust
ness men that the Business manager" o
! SO large concern az that of Jones, Purvi
/ & Co. should be so ignorant of the bust
5 ness. We await further development
with interest.