The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-26
From N. 0. Picayune.l
A Statement from the Public Printer
of Mississippi.
JACKSON, Mss Marcb 10 1s8

| JACKSON, Miss, March 10, 1884
Editor Ptcdytne As party of interest
| trust you will allow me brief space to ex
| plain a matter in which | am referred t.
in your issue of the 18th, and in which,
Hon. II. G. Myers Secretary of State. is
not fairly reported
| The report in the New Missi-sippian of
| The l4th was incorrect, because it blended
in one two reports of special committees
one on the office of Secretary of State.
and one on the office of Public Printer. In
the same paper Of next day the reports were
properly published and editorial atten-
ton called TO the mistake. l inclose the
reports as published in THE CLARION and
IS corrected in the New Mississippian.
There was no member of either commit
tee, or of the Legislature, so far as could
| hear, who intimated impeachment or even
censnre of the Secretary of State. The
special committee on public offices, that
had examined his Office, made very COM
plimentary report, after careful scrutiny
of his accounts and the general manage
ment of his office. The examination of
his Office was reopened with reference to
the one item OF approval of accounts of the
Public Printer. The acts of 1882 did not
contain the number of lines to the page re-
quired by the Code of 1880, and the cost
Of the volume was increased by additional
pages. The acts of 1882 were, however,
printed in the style of all former sessions,
and the Printer was not aware-although
he doubtless should have been-that the
size of the page had been increased. by
statute. The Code of 1857 from which thu
chapter on Printing in the Code of 1880 is
copied almost verbatim-required ifty
lines small plea to the page, but no atten-
ton appears to have been paid to same by |
the Printers of that time or since. In 1871 |
new Code was adopted, and the number |
OF lines IN pamphlet acts reduced to 80 Of |
actual law matter. The law was amended. |
in some particulars, but 80 lines specif- /
cally retained. The present Printer, how
ever, declined to take advantage of same.
as 1t would have destroyed the uniform /
size of the volumes, and continued to pub
lish, in the acts of 1876, 1877, 1873 and
1850, 10 lines to the page, besides the run
ming title. In other words, in the volumes
OF the four years named published an ex-
cess OF SIX lines to 3 page on 2720 pages.
and in the acts of II $50, 1906 pages wereeach
i've lines short. When these facts. though
not with so much detail, were developed
IN the discussion of the report of the COM
mlttee, the report was recommitted and
amended so as to set forth fully the equities
Of the case. Finally, all the reports on
the subject were Withdrawn land do not
appear OF record on the journall. and no
further action taken, in view Of the adop-
tlcns unanimously, by both houses, Of q
Joint resolution appointing commission
to adjust the account With the Public
Printer, which includes Eve volumes of
laws, the measurement of the matter Of
Tour being in his favor and in one against. !,
0Ii literal compliance with and equitable
construction Of the laws governing.
Very truly, ]. L. PowKR.
Public Printer for Mississippi.