The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-02-04
The State Printing.

The Annapolis correspondent Of the Balti-
more Gazette wrote to that journal as follows
on Wednesday:
There was considerable excitement here
to-day on the arrival Of the morning papers
over certain statements in the AmerjcdB cor
respondence regarding the action of the
Printing Committee, and in the SIN CORE
spondence from this place relative to the city
delegation and the new jury bill. All kinds
of statements, up to this time had been pa
tiently borne unrebukcd, but now patience was
exhausted.
Mr. Henry Duvall immediately rose after
roll call and said that he felt it his duty to call
the attention of the House to the letter in the
Americdn from Annapolis which was false
and he believed unkindly false. The letter
charged the Printing Committee with having
refused to open certain bids, when the truth
was that the committee had never held meet
ing The committee of conference had held
a meeting last night, but received no bids
He was here to denounce the falsehood of the
statement and to vindicate himself and the
committee from any aspersions cast upon them
Mr.. Morris then said while the correspon-
dent of the american was disappearing the
Printing Committee; that of the Sun was do
ing likewise for the city delegation. In this
mornings SIN they were represented as hav-
bill, when the matter had not been up before
them at all. He certainly thought it singular
that these continued misrepresentation should
occur, and really the representatives of the
newspapers here should be very careful in what
they write to their journals. Mr.. Shultz of
fered an order condemning the 1meric0n for
the publication, but the rules were not sus-
pended and the order was laid over until
today
The fact is, the matter of printing has been
taken out of the hands of the printing com
mittee, and given to u conference committee
from both houses. The committee reported
that contract be awarded to some RESPONSE
bic party for a sum not exceeding $50, 900.
This report was adopted in the House on
Wednesday by vote of II to Is.
The 1ncrican and Sun having corrected
their reports, the matter was dropped.
On Thursday the Senate adopted the con-
ference committee S report and order on the
public printing. This disposes of the matter
for the present, the House having previously
adopted the report While the subject was
under consideration every available space in
the chamber was occupied by members of the
House and others, and great deal of excite
ment prevailed. The joint committee on
printing will meet Tuesday next at the canal
office to open bids and award the contract
In reply to question whether proposals
had not been made to do the printing for less
than S30,000 Mr.. Hepbron, chairman, said
the conference committee had no power to
make contracts, and gentlemen who had APP
peared before it were so informed. An
amendment reducing the amount to $27, 900
was voted down-17 to s.
Mr.. Brattan moved that the adoption of the
report should not preclude the committee
from receiving bids for less than 30,00O, and
requiring the committee to report the rejected
bids and all the facts connected Herewith.
Mr.. Vanderford said he had received bids
at less sum than 5000 Two of these bids
were from persons who did not own press
or type, and one from printing crank, -
who offered to do the work for 5000, and
said be could bring O press from the most
distant part of the state in twenty four hours
which every one knew was nonsense.
Mr.. Allen spoke of going behind the cur
tain in matter involving a large expendi-
ture, and Mr.. Vanderford said if it was meant
by these words that anything had been i'm.
properly done in secret, he scorned the impu-
tation Mr.. Gill said the conference com
mittee had exceeded its powers in reporting
an order for the action of the Senate. Finally
Mr.. Brattan amendment was rejected-l6 to
9-and the report and order adopted, as stated.