St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-06-03

SNlnS wear NGIc dhNA0S0 ~ ea-N
Yesterday at prices ranging from 80 to 100 per
cent above those of two years ago which
embraced the 1890 Legislative printing.
1t then went on to say: So.
That the state is going to be robbed OF
thousands Of dollars by the contractors, as
designated at yesterdays meetlng OF Inc
commission, there IS not the slightest doubt
unless the ensuing legislature takes some ae-
ton and revokeS the contracts made Dy the
commission"
Alleged steal.
State Expert David Ramaley is
charged with having "been fully aware
of the proposed steal" after which the
article says:
s.There were only three bidders for the
work this wear. the secretary of state having
been very subtle about inserting advertise
mentS for the same. and nearly all OF mem
in such very obscure sheets as to make 1t al
most impossible Tor the printers OF Mlune
sofa in general TO find them. The three DID
ders had everything all liked whereby there
would be no other bidders, and whereby eaeh
one of them should receive a slice OF the
plumber.
For instance, j. W. Cunningham gets the
first and second class of printing at only 30
and 81 per cent discount, while two years
ago the discounts were ID and 5542 per cent
Smith & Harrison, of Minneapolis, get the
third class at 3313 per cent discount, WhlIe
The fourth and FIFTH classes this year were
let to Walter j. Driscoll at 20 and 81 per cent
discount, while two years ago Inc discounts
were 81 and 50 per cent, respectively Inc
latter two classes show a most ASTOUNDING IN
crease i'll the price of printing for the state
for the next year. during the IeglSlau'e ses-
sion aud how a commission could tolerate
1t without a protest is something that the
public cannot explain.
Mr. Ramaley says that the bids were 100
ttvn hut all OF the firms are IN
existence today.
In order to show the immense stefl
that was consummated "Wednesday NJ.
Burns gives the discounts of the sue
cessful bidders of 1890 and 1892. Tie
figures follows:
Per Cent
1890. Discount
First class, j. ". Cunningham, ATTY
Second class. Fred Driscoll DR., at. ....59I2
Third class +. L. Smith. at. 66z5
Fourth class, J. w. Cunningham, at ID
Fourth class, f. L. Smith, at..............so
1892
First class, J. W. Cunningham. at. ..35
second class. j. W. Cunningham, at. $50
Third class, Smith & Harrison, at. 3315
Fourth class. Walter j. Driscoll. at .-.....2 20
Fifth class, Waiter j. Driscoll, at. .--..---5O
RamaIey Replies.
Expert Ramaley was seen at his home
PIT Sherburne avenue last evening, and
asked about the charges. ''.lim has it
in for us OH account of the charges made
against him. was the veteran printers
reply. las matter of fact the con-
tractors have lost money on the previous
contracts. Two years ago the Pioneer
Press had the contract for some OF the
work. and it was all done at loss. That
year, JohnsOn-Smith of Minneapolis, had
the contract for some of the work, and
while they lost on some they probably
got out about even on what they did dur
ing the year. Last year the Minneapolis
firm had the contract for all the work,
and lost money on it all. This year |
was in doubt whether any one would
bid. Two weeks ago the men who have
had the contracts in the past declared
that they did not want it at the figures
that had prevailed, and said they did not
think they would put in any bids.
Whether they prevented any other firms
from bidding do not know, but / know
that the bids were regularly advertised
for In the Minneapolis Tribune, ST. Paul
Dispatch, and other papers, and that
there were three bidders. The bids
were regularly opened and the contract
awarded, and the rates are not uHrea-
Sonable. The work will cost more than
either last year or the preceding year,
but In both those years the State saved
about $4,000, which came out of the
pockets of the printerS-a dead loss to
them. Last year there were bids of as
high as 90 per cent off from CONNER
cial rates, but this year the highest per
cent off is so, while it ranged from that
down to 20, some of the work being at
40 off, some at 80 off, and little at 25
off. | have investigated this whole
matter, and there is no money to be
made in any state work at more than 80
per cent off. At that price a man would
PROBABLY get out whole. but when he
goes above that he will lose money.
The trouble is that printers get a big
Office on their hands and take the work
of the state at ruinOus prices because
they think they can fill in with it, as
they do not have TO furnish any stock
the state furnishing the paper. That is
all there is TO it."
MIR. RamaIey called attention to the
fact that Burns had charged the city Of
ST. Paul $40 thousand for its election
tiskets. whereas the state pays 81 a
thousand.