Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-12-06
COL. BAXTER AT JONESBOR0'.

| He VentIIates the Public Printers.
| According to previous appointment, Col
Onel Baxter addressed large number of
the citizens Of Washington and adjoining
counties, at Jonesboro', on Monday. He
took occasion to ventilate the "public
printing Frauds" much to the edifcation
of his audience, which was composed of
men belonging to both political parties.
The clearness with which he presented
his points created something of sensa-
ton, and when we say that his remarks
made profound impression OH those who
heard him, We repeat only what is said by
every unprejudiced man who was present
He had with him some of the documents
which came from the press of the Public
Printers, and exhibited them to the audi
ence, and at the same time presented a
certified copy Of the amount charged for
printing them, as the same appears on the
Comptroller's books at Nashville.
For instance, he exhibited copy of the
Calender of Business, of the House of Re-
presentatives of the Thirty-sixth General
Assembly, printed on the 5th day of jan
uary, 1870. He called upon the editor of
the Greeneville Sentinel, who was present,
and who has been defending the Public
Printers and assailing Colonel Baxter, to
say how much the composition on said
Calender was worth. Mr.. Reeve replied
that it was worth three dollars. Col. BaX-
ter said he thought the estimate was little
too low, and then showed the certified
copy ofthe bill paid for composition which
was one hundred and t,Uerty-ttree dollars
and eighteen cents. Not only this but
they had been paid for this Calendar
furnished on the 5th day of January,
1870, and again on the oath day of the same
month, and the same price again on the
14th day of February following, making
in all 1868 81 they had received for compo-
sition, which Mr.. Reeves, the editor of a
Democratic journal, would have estimated
at nine dollars.
The effect upon the audience, of such an
exposition as this can be better imagined
than described. It was electrical, and
placed those who would defend such enOr-
nous charges in rather unenviable attl-
tude with an audience composed of the
honest yeomanry of Washington county.
Col. Baxter was willing to admit that the
estimate of Mr.. Reeves was something
lower than it ought to be, but calling 1t
even double that amount, and it must be
gigantic svindle. He also exhibited
printed copy of the roll of officers and
members of the House of Representatives
of the seth General Assembly, and with it
the certificate of the Comptroller to the
effect that the Public Printers had charged
and received pay for $4,000 ems compost
ton, when no honest printer on earth VIII
estimate the composition at half thai
number of ems.
He told how much tax the people have
been paying into the State Treasury, and
showed that about one dollar IN eUeTy nine
of the amount had gone into the pockets
of the Public Printers. Col. Baxter has
an eminently practical way of putting
such things, and his hearers, on this occa-
sion, were able to fully appreciate the force
of his damaging charges against those who
have been growing rich out of funds they
(the tax-payers) were paying into the State
Treasury. We bespeak good audience
for him wherever he goes, and assure our
readers they will be well paid for the time
they spend in hearing what he has to say.