South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-12-05
NEW sERIEs-voL. vIII-No. AZ.

The Clerk OF the Senate In 1871, who was Ia
nilsr with the rates OF charging BY Mr.. Walk
er's predecessor refused TO certify his account
for the Senate Journal Tor that year. The Clerk
Of the House and the Clerk o. the Senate In lss,
refused to certify but three fnarths Of the amount
Of sor,e of his bills for legislative printing, and
felt compelled by sense Of duty 10 reject Ger
tain items in his accounts aud to reduce aud TO
correct others. These examinations, investigas
tons and refusals on the part of officers to GER
tify his accounts, either give evidence OF coutin-
ued injustice to him or prove a continued and
systematic effort on his part to obtain more for
his work than he was entitled To.
liz ought TO have been removed from Office be-
fore the expiration of his term. But while his
accounts undergoing investigation by
Committee Of the House, and subsequently, by
the House itself, II would have been brcach of
the privileges of the Legislature If had removed
him. And his term expired before the House
took final action upon the reports before IT. The
act providing for letting out the printing by
contract which passed near the close or your late
session, provided that iDss.cdiateiy after its pas
sage, the Commissioners Of Public Printing
should advertise for proposals for the public
printing, binding, stationery aud printing paper.
did not then suppose that this law would re-
main uuexecuted for considerable length of
time. There was some delay on the part Of the
commissioners at first as ] understood IL, for
the purpose Of getting information as TO the char
acter and quantity of articles probably needed.
subsequently learned that IL was the opinion OF
the commissioners that the con tracts under your
late act could not take effect until the second
Friday in January, 1874. In the meantime, Mr..
Walker was doing the printing as usuul. then
thought il was time that should interfere, and
accordingly entered the order Of August 30,
last, quoted above. On the following day the
commissioners advertised that proposals would
be received for the printing, binding, stationery
and printing paper until October 3. The COM
missiouers awarded the several contracts to Mr..
Walker, and they were afterwards submitted 10
me. declined to approve these contracts, as
| had a constitutional right to do. When he be-
came Public Printer in 1877, he gave bond aud
was as much contractor with the State, then,
as he or any one else could become under the
new law.
think have shown conciusively that he,
| heretofore, again and again, abused the trust
confded in him as Public Printer or contractor.
!, therefore, could not regard him as ''respon-
sble bidder" for the same kind Of work, and
therefore, declined to approve the contract made
with him by the Commissioners.
am fully convinced that Mr.. Walker has re-
ceived large sum Of money in excess OF the a
mount lie ought to have received, and that he
ought TO be compelled to refund il to the State
In matter affecting so seriously tie public in
terest, have the right to ask the moral and ma
'erial support of the Legislature. 7, therefore,
recommend that you authorize suit to be insti-
tuted against him, and that you provide means
for the payment Of fees Of wi,nosses and other
expenses incident to the prosecution ADD rial
Of such action. JOHN J. JACOB
Charleston, West Va, Nov. 10, 1913.