South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-12-05
SOUTH 8raneh 9ntellissneer.
ROMNEY, FRIDAY, DEC S, 1873.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
Upon The Subject Of The Public Printing

The following is the message in regard 10 the
Public Printing, sent in to the two Houses OF the
Legislature by Governor JACOB, on the 18th ult:
Gentlemen Of The Seaate and House Of Eeiegates ::
"a the 29th day of August Lost, made
the following order, which was entered in
the Executive Journal, aud a copy thereof
was the same day served upon HENRY s.
WALKER: "The term Of Office of the Pub
lie Printer, HENRY S. WALKER, expired
on the 4th day of March last, and no pro I.
vision was made by law for the appointment
OF his successor. But, by an act passed
April l, 1878, Commissioners of Public
Printing were named or constituted, and
these commissioners wero directed immedi-
ately after the passage of the act to give
notice IN four newspapers printed within
the State, for four weeks, "that sealed pro-
posals for the execution of the State print
ing and binding, and for supplying the State
with stationery and printing paper would be
received until the 30th day after the publ
cation of said notice." This act further de-
clared that "the Commissioners of Public
Printing, or any two of them, shall within
two days after the expiration OF the time for
receiving the proposals, as aforesaid, proceed
toopen in public oil such proposals by them
received, and they shall award the contract
for printing, binding, printing paper and
stationery to the lowest responsible bidder,
therefor" Notwithstanding the fact that
the term of the Public Printer expired as
aforesaid, and notwithstanding that nearly
five months have elapsed since the passage
of said act, yet the Commissioners of Public
Printing have failed so far to execute the du-
ties imposed upon them as aforesaid And
In asmuch as it has come to the knowled ye
of the Governor, that HENRY S. WALKER,
who still acts in the capacity of Public Prin-
ter, and who has been generally treated as
! such, did, during bis term make serious o.
vercharges for work performed by him, and
i also make charges not authorized by law, by
reason of all of which the State has suffered
much pccuniary loss.
In consideration of the premises the Go
vernon, In pursuance of the authority vested
In him by law, doth order that from and af
ter this date, all the public printing be dons
by CnAs WEBB, of the county of Ka.
nawha, until he shall otherwise order, or
until the same shall be let 30 contract, and
the contractor or contractors shall have be-
gun to execute such contracts. If, by con-
struciion of law, the Office of Public Prin-
ter still exists, and the said Henry s
WALKER be deemed the ibcumben there
of, the Governor being of the opinion that
the public service demands that he should
no longer b. permitted to hold said office,
doth hereby remove the said HENRY S.
| WALK Err from said office. The Governor
doth further direct that all printed matter
now in the possession of the said HENRY S.
! WALKER be turned over or delivered by
him forthwith to the officers respectively
having supervision of the same, OF If in case
! there be no such officer, then to the Secre-
tary Of State. And all printing paper, sta
! tioncry, or other material, the property of
/ the State, now in the possession of the said
/ HENRY 5. WALKER, shall be delivered by
him forthwith to the Secretary of State, for
the future use of the State. This order is
in no sense to be construed to release the
said HENRY S. WALKER or bis sureties, in
his official bond, from any liabilities to the
| State"
! This order was made in pursuance Of sec q.
ton 4 of chapter 16, of the Code, which
reads as follows:
'For good cause, the Governor may order any
| public printing to be done by others than the
/ Public Printer but he shall communicate his
reasons therefor to the Legislature as soon as
practicable"
! In obedience to the requirements of this
I law, / now proceed to state my reasons for
the foregoing order, as briefly as | can, by
| giving illustrations taken from Mr. WALK
FRS accounts, now on file in The Auditors
Office, Of illegal aud improper charges made
/ by him. / cannot bring in review all of
! Mr.. WALKERS accounts, and point out the
unauthorized and unjust charges 10 each
one this would weary your patience and
impose great labor upon me.
On the sixteenth day Of January, 1872,
the House Of Delegates adopted resolution
directing the judiciary Committee to inves-
tigate and report to the House whether or
not there be probable grounds for charges
of official misconduct on the port Of Henry
/ 5. WALKER, the Public Printer, ia charg-
\ ing against the State, and drawing there
from, sums Of money in excess of The law
ful rates allowed for public printing, and if
so, what action shall DO taken by the Leg
islature. Two reports we're made By this
committee, each accompanied by resolu-
lion. Tbesereports and resolutions, for some
reason, do not appear in the printed Journal
Of the House. But it does appear that the
resolution reported by the majority Of the
committee was adopted on the twenty. eighth
day Of February, 1872 it is as follows
"ResolUed, That the Governor and four mem
bers Of the House, 70 be appointed by the Speak
or, are hereby directed to investigate the vouch-
ers and accounts Of the Public Primer Of this