Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-07

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= = :. nr;nted they had probably stayed away
- sh.v,e While reform and resrenc"-
"..rt .houId be carried forward, gensiemen
an~''H remember that the best 10 the cnesP-
p. The STATE should make its contracts
-;sh narties capable Of performing tneir con-
,r.cts in an acceptable manner.
~ GrsuEI Of Appleton agreed with csov'
nj. IN the Recommendation in his message
he, there sbould be the strictest economy
nr.c,;ced in all branches of this govern
.ent The House is now in possession ..
f.ct, vhich the committee did not have ~
the time of awarding the contract TOT P,l".
ing. and he thought il should avaii nse'. VI
these new facts, if they exist. In tnis ".'N'
of economy he represented not only tue oer ,:
ocra.s and the greenbackcrs but the fePco.r
cans of his district. He was aware Vi "v
saving that s'to the victor belong the spohs.
But this is year when we DreaH 49,
strangely from former precedents. 1t had
haor s.;d that the rer ort of the Fish Commits
.;oner il not gotten up in suitable manner:
Ne was no scholar or printe-. but could read
and understand il. With re .srd to the diner
emf kinds If paper in the journal, there
seemed 10 be . strange desire to break away
from old custom in this matter. Not only
are the reports printed upon different klnds
of paper but our ballots at our elections: Inc
House should treat the matter as legislators
and not rs politicians.
Mr.. Wales of BiddefOrd desired more in
formation rs to technical terms used IN tue
contracts, that he might be able to judge for
himself which was the lowest in price. he
deprecated the making of innuendos and
filings on the floor Of the House. The ex-
preston had been made that certain man
had been dancing attendance ON another leg
islaturc, He had known thousands of men
throughout the state that had been dancing
attendance on the decision of the Supreme
Court for long while and didn't know which
way to move until they heard the decision:
Can we never come together here and feel
that all this is buried, and be here As legis-
lators? He had felt for the last week or two
as though he wanted to come here, and, IT
possible, do something to retrieve the honor
Of the State from the disgrace Of the last
three or four weeks.
Mr.. SWAN of MinOt thought the matter
needed no argument. He considered the
question to be whether the printing shall be
given to Sprague & Son and the binding to
Smith 4 Reid, or to other parties At lower
rate. If the contracts reported by the major
ity of the committee were as low - conld be
made then they should be affirmed. But he
understood that other parties had come for
ward and offered to do the printing for II per
cent. less and the binding for l6 per cent less.
He denied the assertion that the offers
to do the work for the low prices were not in
good faith. The PARTIES who had made the
proposals. stood ready to execute the work
according to the terms of the contract. He
understood they had produced sureties whose
responsibility is unquestioned, for the faithful
performance of the work. This was no more
a political question than the carrying of the
United States mails. He thought notice for
sealed proposals should have been given and
the con ract awarded to the lowest bidder. 1t
had been said the contract for printing last
year had not been given to the lowest bidder.
If that was so it was wrong. 1t is not pos
sible to remedy it now, and it is immaterial
at present. The question now is what We can
do to lift from the shoulders of the people the
burdens Of taxation which now weigh them
down.
Mr.. YOUNG of Brunswick, said the minOri-
ty report contained two propositions that
were irrecOncilable with themselves. The
report was to advertise for proposals. or to
give it to Thomas F. Murphy, and those vot-
ing for the minority report don't know which
Mr.. HILLS of Union, read from the journal
of the last House to show that the matter OF
the printing and binding was referred to the
Governor and Council, who we're to receive
bids and accept the lowest, provided proper
security was given for the faithful perform
ance Of the work. If the Governor and Coun-
Gil had not performed their duty faithfully and
wisely the fault was theirs and not of this or
the last legislature.
Mr.. WILLOUGHBY Of Rocklandsaid that last
year this matter Of printing was discussed day
after day, but no decision could be arrived at,
hoN ps..vSs "a NJ
Pillsbury, whose offer was Is or II pcr cent.
more than that Of Mr.. Sprague, who was the
lowest. Mr.. Sprague was accused of dishon-
ty, and We were preached to day after day in
regard to honesty and reform. We have tax.
en- lesson within the last year in honesty
and reform that we shall never forget. Hon.
esty and reform! He hoped we should never
take Another such lesson. The matter of
printing last year was referred to the Cover
nor and Council who gave it to Mr.. Pillsbury.
He did not consider that the House had more
than one bid before it, and that was Mr..
Spragues. who is reliable party. five give
it to Mr.. Pillsbury We haven't a reliable mar
~. He thought We had seen enough of Mr..
Pillsbury. He didn't believe there was an
honest man in the House who would trusi
Mr.. Pillsbury on his own contract to do IN.
job.
Mr.. MILLrxsx: We are debating whether
We shall give it to Sprague & Son or Thomas
+. Murphy. not to Mr.. Pillsbury.
Mr.. W1LLoUGHBY: 1t is we'll understood
to be all the same.
Mr.. HOWELL raised the point that under
the order creating the committee, the minor.
ity report could not be considered A. a proner
report.
The speaker ruled it must be treated a. d.
report.
Mr.. PLAIsrED, of Lincoln, advocated the
minority report, and called attention To The
iact that the opposition were represented on
the committee by two from the House and
none from the Senate. ~
Mr.. Goss, of Bath, advocated the m.;or;,v
report. He would do in this matter A. hs
would in his own business. If 4 man Offered
to furnish him stores at 10 or I5 per cont
lower than Wholesale, he would have NOTHING
tn do with him. There must be somcth;nss
wrong about such q man.
Inc question was stated TO he n,
amending the majority report BY substitu.;no
tnere Tor that Of the majority, and on motor
Of Mr.. WENTWORTH Of Kittery the yeas md
nays we're ordered and taken, resulting in ths
negative ~ follows: AZ '"e
IEAs-Mesers: Brigham Of No. "A Pi.. ch..,.x
Dufnam. Frederic, Giidden, Gushee. Hssrsr..
Hnenneoun.port, Haskel Hastings. Heart All " y.
CSnntn, MIi, Hilton Of 81. Albs1s, Horn. How:s~