Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-04
State Printing.

individuals who have been familiar with
the manner in which the state printing has
been let and the quality of work and mate
rial furnished the state under contracts
which have been made will highly commend
Auditor Powell for officially calling attention
to the abuses in this department of state
Expenditures. In his report to the chief ex-
ecutive for the last biennial term the audi
tor says:
while the plan of letting contracts for state
printing by sealed proposals Is admirable In the
DRY, and apparently makes all contracts the result
OF legitimate competition, it is in fact very diff
ferent thing in practice. Indications of collision
in the matter Of bids have been detected hereto
fore, while it is no secret that at the last letting
OF contracts an arrangement was attempted
TO be made covering the whole ground, and was
perfected as to most of the state printing This
was SO apparent-the lowest bid on some items
being three times the price paid on the former
contract-that all proposals were rejected, except
for printing the laws and journals, and for sup
plies for the sergeant-at-arms Contracts were
afterwards made without bids, by which the
state is saved thousands of dollars as compared
with the lowest bids. This is the natural and
legitimate outgrowth Of the method. There is
another serious objection to it. All officers and
heads Of departments are required to make requi-
siton for printing, stationery and statoners sup
before the close Of their current term Of Office
and before the session Of the legislature, and the
chances are that they are estimating for their
cessors, and that the legislature may entirely
change the character and amount of blanks and
other supplies furnished as was true, at the last
session, OF the office of secretary OF state and au
ditor Of accounts Thus but fraction Of that
class OF goods are estimated for and much Of that
Is not used. All supplies and work not contracted
for are to be furnished by the one taking the con-
tract Eat usual market rates." which Is a some
what elastic phrase. More than half the bills for
the past two years came within this latter pro-
vision. While criticising the method by which
the contract was let, make no criticism upon the
contractor or the manner in which his part of the
contract was fulfilled. All business was dis
patched with promptness and courtesy, and the
charges reasonable as could be expected under
the contract made; but 1t Is not business like to
make contract that in eff ect awards $751; 600 and
more in labor and materials with no price fixed
Could not commission be appointed to whom
could safely be entrusted the duty of letting con-
tracts for state printing, which should cover all
printing and stationery required, and thus secure
good quality Of goods at fair and uniform rates
Such commission could-in case of large jobs not
covered by the contracts like the revised laws and
inventories during the last biennial term-make
another contract with all the ad vantage Of
competition"
To the uniformed it may not be out of
place to explain that under the contract sys-
tenn bids have been made for state printing
which, il fulfilled in strict accordance with
the terms of the proposals, might give the
state satisfactory quality both of work
and material, but would inevitably bankrupt
the bidder. To avert this catastrophe, work
and material inferior in quality TO the re-
quirements of the contract have been fur
nished the state by the party who CHANGED
TO succeed in undertaking his rivals. Sta.
tionery 30 wretched in quality that it could
not be used has been furnished state off.
cials, which has been thrown aside and new
stock ordered. Such orders, being outside
of all contracts, have been filled at current
rates-the rates customarily charged for
good article, and which, it is hardly neces-
sary to add, have been much in advance of
the contract prices. This is one feature
only of the abuses which have prevailed
under the contract system. A detailed ex-
animation OF the operations of the printing
department of state expenses would speedily
convince the legislature of the need of re-
form in that direction. Whatever abuses
may have existed, it is but Just TO say that
the state has been a party to them. 1t has
demanded impossibilities of printers and
winked at the evasions by which contract
ors have sought not merely to save them
selves from loss. but to put little money
in their purses. The whole business has
been demoralzing to state and contractors.
The state has been systematically cheated
and has encouraged bidders TO devise ways
to cheat Here is fruitful subject for leg
islative enquiry and field for action. A1.
ditor Powels suggestion Of remedy is SEN
sible and business like and is worthy of the
careful consideration OF the legislature.