The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-08

ASS&oOho oh%o PAoPS1oJ 4'o .'SNO
in the future have degree of pro-
lection from the rapacity of the
Republican Printing Company.
When one looks back and compares
the past with the present it seems
almost incredible that the natural
representatives of the taxpayers
should have tolerated or agreed to
the levy Of such tax for printing.
Yet it forcibly and lamentably
demonstrates the sad condition of
the State of South Carolina at that
time, and the apprehension on the
part of the Democrats Of the return
Of the power and control Of this
Printing Company.
By reference to House Journal,
session 1874, page 215, you will
see that I still continued in the
line of my previous policy. I Of
fered two Bills to regulate the
public printing. I again felt con-
fdent of success. as many other
members were diligently waging
relentless war upon this Printing
Company. Both Bills had the same
objects and designs, viz, reduction
of the expenses for printing. Mr..
Meetze, Mr.. Bowen, Mr.. Crittenden
and others assaulted the ring at
every weak point. Among other
things they charged that the Re-
publican Printing Company would
not employ colored compositors. A
Committee was appointed to investi-
gate the several charges. In their
report, among other things, they
recommended the passage of "a Bill
providing that the contract for print
ing be awarded to the lowest bidder,
not to exceed fifty thousand dollars
per annum, and that such contractor
should employ compositors without
regard to race or color" The Com
mittee on Printing failing to report
back any Of the Bills referred to
them, and also failing to report a
Bill in accordance with the recon-
mendaticn of said Committee, Mr..
Crittenden moved that the report of
the Committee referred to hereto
fore, and all Bills now pending, be
referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary, with instructions to report
within FIVE days "a Bill for letting
the public printing to the lowest
bidder at an annual cost not to ex-
ceed fifty thousand dollars, and such
contractor to be bound to employ
compositors without regard to race
or color" This motion prevailed.
By this time the ring was complete
ly demoralized. By reason Of the
specific levy their supplies were cut
of, it being in that Act made q
felony to divert any of the taxes
raised for other purposes to that of
printing, their friends daily desert
ed them, and finally they suc-
cumbed to the inevitable facts and
results before them. On the 18th
day Of February, 1874, MIR. Meetze,
Chairman of the Judiciary Commit
tee, reported "a Bill regulating the
public printing" embracing most of
the provisions set forth by Mr.. Crit
tenden in his resolution. This Bill
passed and was ratified March II,
1874, the ring preferring it to either
of those introduced by me, as mine
took the entire control of the matter
out of their hands.
After my election to the Senate,
the House Of Representatives passed
a second printing Bill as recon-.
mended by Governor Chamberlain.
When under consideration in the
Senate see Senate Journal, page
GAL |:
"On motion of Mr. COCHRAN, Section
proviso: pas i: That It no no Contract be awarded to
exceed the sum of forty thousand dollars for
all the printing and binding of the General
Assembly for any ono year and the annual
reports Of the executive departments Of the
State government
This amendment fixed the aggre-
gate cost of printing at ten thousand
dollars less per annum than under
the Act then in force. Although
the Bill passed in this shape, it
never became q law, the enemies of
economy and the friends of the
printing company having managed
to prevent its reaching the Governor
for approval.
Again, at the regular session of
1876, I introduced "a Bill to pro-
vide for and regulate the public
printing" [See Senate Journal
1875, page lO2. This Bill passed
the Senate at the special session of
1877. By the House it was amended
in several particulars, many Of the
restrictions thrown around the man
agement Of the printing being
stricken out as not necessary
under the changed adninistra-
tom This Act was approved by
Governor Hampton, June Sth, 1877.
Under this Act, the printing by
contract with the State Printers,
Messrs. Calvo & Patton, has cost an
nually the small amount Of sl1, 1896
per annum, or S38,l04 less than
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