The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-04

the Public Printer and Mr.. Merrill were
fully represented by counsel.
AT the conclusion OF the examination
as 10 the specifications containedin MIR.
Merrills charges, the undersigned moved
the committee "that witnesses be called
TO testify as 10 the lawful charges or rates
for printing, binding and completing,
including work and material, the Acts Of
1871 and the House Journal Of 1871"
The object in asking for the examina.
ton of witnesses upon the above pablica.
tons was the great stress laid by the at.
torneys for the public printer upon the
work done for the House In the printing
Of House bills as being job work, and not
book or pamphlet work, and the Difficult.
~ Of ascertaining what In the language OF
the Code as 1.-THE lowest customary rates
Of printing for private individuals or cor.
pOrations" II Is admitted on all hands
that the acts and resolutions of 1871, con.
tanning over 430 pages, and the House
Journal oil 1871, containing over 600
pages and both half bound with stiff GOV.
ers constitute book york, and that the rates
for that class OF work arc clearly and
.unequivocslly defined in the Code, Sec.
II Chapt. 10.
The undersigned believing the obIec Of
the House In passiog the resolution au.
thorizing the Committee Ito investigate
and report to tic House whether or not
there be probable ground Tor such Charg-
cs" lin charging against the Slate and
drawing thereirom sums of money in
excess Of the lawful rates allowed for
public printing! and that the Committee
could not advise or report "what action
should be taken by the Legislature" with.
out further inquiry desired such further
TESTIMONY to be taken. The motion to
examine into such further work or any
other work, and have that included in
the specifications Of Mr.. Merrill, was re.
fused bya majority Of the committee.
The undersigned did not feel authorized
after such refusal TO extend such inquiry
beyond asccrlaining from the vouchers on
file in the Auditors Office that the Public
Printer has received for the printing and
binding Including all work and material
except paper for he acts and resolutions
of 1871, the sum Of $5,222 70, and for the
House Journal Of 1871, not including pa.
per, the sum of $2,773 90, which Is be.
licved to be greatly in excess OF the law.
full charges for the same.
That two bills for paper alone, amount.
ing in the aggregate to $5,413 40, have al.
ready been rendered and paid, but for
what purpose does not appear.
In relation to the House bills printed
the whole Of the accounts rendered to this
date, amount to $50 pages of $50 copies
each, including many blank pages, at a
total cost Of 1856, or an average of over
50 90 per page. House bill No. "a,
containing tour pages, was charged and
paid at the rate Of SO 90 per page or $24.
House bill No. G3, at the rate OF 81 so
per page, or $lS. Other bills were
charged at varying rates.
From careful examination Oi tho rates
charged for similar work for private indi.
viduals, the undersigned is forced TO the
conclusion that in this State "the lowest
customary rates" for similar work, done
in like quantities and manner, does not
exceed two dollars.
The Auditors certified copies of vouch.
ers, for journals and acts, are herewith
filed as part OF this report. From all Of
which the undersigned is of the opinion
that there is probable grounds" mot to
say absolute certainty for believing that
the Public Printer has Charged against
the State, and drawn therelrom, sums of
money in excess of the lawful rates al
lowed for public printing"
AS to the action to be taken by the
House, the undersigned recommends the
adoption ofthc accompanying resolution
and such amendments to the Code as will
more certainly define the rates tor all
other work than book and pamphlet
work, To be done by the Public Printer.
All Of, which is respectfully submitted.
GEO. c. STURGIss,
Fi6. 81, 1879. Of Judiciary Com.