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

AoSt HtuLeEI anu luut 100 Wnen laO0rinp
under Che disadvantage of having to lei
out all his work TO other parties. By
reference TO the report 1t will be seen thai
House bill 04, containing four pages cost
the State $94, or just three times as much
rs 1t would have cost under Mr.. Frew
But II is said Mr.. Walker charges the
State no moro than his customary rates
TO individuals, and that this Is the critic
rion by which to ascertain what Is the
lowest customary rate. But this reckon.
ing will not do The usage Of ono print.
ing Office docs not constitute the "cISLom''
meant by the Code. II so, the Public
Printer may fix such excessive rates as "a
drive OIL all work ofprivate parties and
make up by the excessive rates charged
for State work.
When tho investigation had extended
this lar, | moved that the Committee call
witnesses to testify as to other items Of
printing, that were clearly book work, for
tho purpose Of having them measure and
calculate what the Acts and Resolutions
OF 1871, and tho House journal Of the
same year would come to at the lawful
rates, and also to send for tho vouchers
on file In the office Of tho Auditor for said
publications. The Committee refused 10
examine witnesses as 10 any other mat.
tcrs than the nineteen bills. OF course
had no power to prosecute the investiga.
lion further by way Of oral evidence.
Butt believe could not properly dis.
charge the duty which this House had
imposed upon nc rs n member OF the
Committee, without asCcrtaining from the
records and vouchers which were aces.
siblc to me In common with the other
members OF the committee, what had been
paid for such work, and comparing It
with such standards Of book printing rs
were within my reach.
AT my special instance the vouchers for
payment for the Acts and House Journal
were produced, and official copies taken,
which are filed with the report which
have had the honor to submit. The ma.
lority did not examine these vouchers,
and declined 10 proceed in any way be.
You'd the consideration Of the nineteen
House bills. From an addition of the
amounts paid, 1t appears that the Public
Printer has drawn from the State for the
printing, binding, &C., Of the Acts OF
1871, not including paper, the sum of
$5,222,73, and for the House Journal Of
1871 the sum Of $2,773OO, not including
paper Two vouchers for paper amount.
ing TO $5,4l340 arc also filed with the re.
port 1t does not appear TO what partiCu.
lar use the paper was applied, but most
probably part at least was used in these
books. Although not in evidence and
hence not properly before the House, yet
measurement and calculation OF the law.
full rates for these books was had ut my
request by the following practical printers,
who had been examined by the commit.
tee upon the other matters inquired into,
viz: John T. Merrill, G. r. Mcintosh,
John Frew and Ed. Moore, who, upon
being Intercepted by me, stated that if
called to testify they would make the
same measurement and calculation under
oath. From this calculation which hold
in my hand, it appears that the lawful
charges, mot including paper, so as to
more readily compare the figures with
the amount charged aud drawn from the
State by Mr.. Walker) for the printing and
binding Of this book, which / hold in my
hand, the Acts Of 1871, are $2,572.7G, and
for the House Journal Of 1871, not in
Guiding paper, the sum OF 81, 092 SO, and
from the vouchers on file 1t appears that
there was actually paid for the former,
not including paper, the sum Of 81, 222.73
and for the latter tho sum Of g, 77300, or
an excess beyond lawful rates in the first
instance of $2,G4097, and in the last an
excess of $1,G01.55, or a total overcharge
on these two publications Of $4,341.52.
But, Mr.. Speaker, l conceive that /
could throw more light upon this sub.
ject, and enable the House to act more
understandingly in matter so seriously
affecting the fair fame and honor OF one
OF the officers of the State, by putting
together and comparing, not measure:
ments and calculations, as against the
amounts charged and drawn from the
State by Mr.. Walker, but the books which
| now hold in my hands, and to which l
invite your close attention.
The Code of West Virginia, containing
about 1000 pages, substantially bound in
sheep, in an edition OF $500 copies, cost
the State $l0,503 IS, or So 03 per copy,
including paper. The Acts of 1871, con.
tanning less than hall so many pages, viz.
430, half bound, pastcboard covers, in nm
edition OF 9, 500, cost the State, not inclu-
ding paper, $5,222 70, or over SO 90 per
copy
The Fourth Volume West Virginia
Reports, printed by Morgan u Hoffman,
containing 500 pages, substantially bound
lin LdD calf in an edition Of 500 copies,
cost the State $4,000, or 81 60 per copy.
The House Journal Of 1871, containing
504 page. half bound, paste6oard covers,
in an edition OF $50 copies, cost the
State, not including paper, the sum of
$9,773 90, or over eleven (Sl1) dollars per
volume. Look on this book and then on
that!
The vouchers as TO costs 81 Code and
Fourth West Virginia Reports were &c.
cessible to the majority Of the committee,
and half hour any day would have
sufllced to make the comparison have
given. From these facts and figures
could | come TO any other conclusion
than that there was probable grounds for
believing, not to say absolute Ger.
tainty, that The Public Printer had
charged against the State and drawn
thereirOm sums Of money in excess of the
rates allowed by law? Having arrived
at this conclusion, from which l think no
fair and candid mind in this House will
\ dissent, the only other matter LEFT to DO
determined was, in the language Of the
resolution, to ascertain and "report what
action, II any, should be taken by the
Legislature" and without doing which,
an investigation would be lruitlGss. After
mature delibcration and full exchange Of
views with my colleagues, l arrived at
the conclusion that'the proper action to
be taken should be that embodied in the
Joint resolution submitted with the minor
ity report and which IS now under con.
sideration, and which l hope 1t may be
thn Measure of the uoiISe 10 aiont Tho