The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-22
How the People are Robbed
by the Saints.
A Steal Of $3.50, 900 for Extra Printing
in One Session by a Single Firm.
Nearly Half a Million a Year for
State Printing.

number OF years ono OF the sblggest things' to be
found at the state capital, and the secrecy and Sc
eurity with which SO magnificent q swindle has
been carried on will, no doubt, be matter OF sur
prise to those who are unacquainted with the man
ner IN which IL Is worked Az the present Legisla-
ture was elected on reform principles and as the
Assembly, at least, has been organized under the
especial banner or honesty and economy, II Is de-
desirable that the members In general, and the
Speaker in particular, should he Afforded some In.
sight into barefaced robbery or the State Treas
ury as any ever committed by the Tammany thieves
upon ~ Treasury OF the city OF New York.
THE MoDUs OPERANDI
is simple enough and can be readily explained.
The rival political organs In Albany occasionally
abuse each other in PicAwicKan manner, but on
the subject Of the public printing they are as
amlable ana as loving turtle doves In the spring.
1t has been matter OF surprise to the uninitated
that they never quarrel over the spells or charge
each other with extoron, avarice or corruption In
reference to the jobs which one or the other
manages to get through the Legislature, according
as the complexion OF the Houses may be demo-
cratic or republican The reason Is that they have
o perfect understanding, and satisfy themselves
with their several shares In the stealings. Thus
when one gets the contract for printing-for the
printing Is normally done by contract-the other
goes in for the exrras," and IN the end the SPOTS
are said to be about equalized between them. with
sop to the other Albany papers to III 'hsh nou'ns
and stop apv "~v'"ore~t nusorIos.
THE EXTRA OR OUTSIDE JOBS
are managed as follows:-The Legislative printing
Is done by contract, but the contract Is made to
read that the work done shall be for the use OF the
Legislature. A long bill Is introduced, and men,
Der rises and moves that two or three hundred
copies DO printed 'or the Information of members"
That Is regarded as outside the contract report,
panying bill is ordered printed for the use or In.
formation OF State Ofcers or any other parties and
all this Is outside the contract In o hundred DIFF
ferent ways these jobs are got up and members vote
for them, ana for all manner Of useless books ana
stupid reports-some without any thought that they
are throwing away thousands OF dollars Of the pub
lie money others out OF frendliness to the r.nter,
who Is certain to cover all the members Of the
printing committees with thick layers of soft SOAP
and others from more questionable motives.
THE AMOUNT OF PLUMBER
thus secured is inconceivable to those who not
familiar with the barefaced greediness engendered
by contact with the state Legislature. The Albany
Evening Journal is naturally and leRitimately q
lobby concern. since Its originator was the Father
OF the Lobby. and its columns were used In its
earliest days TO foster that powerful Institution
into existence. The practice Of selling to the Stale
year after year old worthless books, printed from
autographed plates with few pages added, and
charging for them year after year IS new publica-
tons, originated with that concern and has been
A PROLIFIC SOURCE OF PROFIT
to its proprietors for years. Red Books, clerks
manuals, civil lists, Croswell's manuals, super
visors' manuals, Jeferson's manuals, poor law
manuals, town clerks manuals worn out law
books and numerous other publishing old swindles
come under this head Of steangs session after ses
sion in the most shameless manner while every
year some such outrageous robbery as Q digest OF
claims for the last half century, meteorological OBJ
Eervations for twenty years back or something else
Of similar Character ordered ly the Legislature
ana away 20 twenty or thirty thousand dollars OF q
slap out OF the public Treasury into the pockets Of
ON Albany publisher.
THE REGULAR CONTRACT
for Legislative printing is now held BY the Argus
Company, and the amount is $780, 900 for the session.
The contract for department printing is held by the
Euenfn0 Journal pr0prietors, Weed, Parsons, Daw.
son ana Ten Eyck. But outside these, in the SUE.
ply bill OF last year, 1871, the latter firm received
from the State through the medium Of that useful
omnibus nearly
for printing and worthless books IN single session.
The items as they appear IN the supply Dill to the
credit OF Weed, Parsons Co., the 60" being
George Dawson, who runs the Legislature, and
Philip Ten Eyck) or under the name OF John ID.
Parsons. Jr. (Which Is the same nrm under finn
der from the prying eye Of the public, are as iol
lows
SUNS PAID TO WEED, PARSONS 4 co. UNDER THE
sUPrLY BILL OF 1871.