Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-20

less than the Augusta bid, which would
amount to about s2700, not including the
Australian ballot. The gentleman from
Portland talks about $4,000. do not know
how he gets 10. 1t is not admitted by the
friends Of the Augusta plant that the bid
contemplates any such figures; S2700 is
all there is Of it. That is not a very big
amount in contract OF this magnitude.
But still it is worth saving and ought
to be saved if everything else is equal.
But everything else is not equal. Take
the matter of printing these reports of the
State officials. Suppose that has to be
done at Portland, and certainly plant
cannot during the coming year be estab-
lished here that could do all this print
ing. OF course the Legislative printing
would have to be done here but have an
idea that these people would try to dc
this printing of the reports of State Off
Gals at Portland. But these officials have
to write copy, they have to give direc-
tions about the style in which it shall be
printed, correct errors, and that would
necessitate frequent trips up there with
travelling expenses and delays which
would amount to very considerable sum
as a positive loss to the State. When You
come to Legislative printing everybody
admits that it must be done at Augusta,
and it cannot be done here with the ex-
actness and harmony which is required,
by plant less excellent and complete
than the plant of Burleigh & Flynt, which
they have perfected for years and on which
they have spent thousands of dollars to
make it meet the requirements of this
work. Do you believe that this Lake
side Press which is to do this Legislative
printing would establish a plant here of
anywhere near the capacity of that of
Burleigh & Flynt? Surely not, and if
not, the result would be vexatious delays
and the prolongation of our sessions,
which would cause a greater drain than
at present from the pockets of senators
and representatives into the capacious
maws of these Augusta landlords. Who
expects to return here or has a friend of
his coming back, desires such result as
that?
Take the matter of printing the Acts
and Resolves, the book printing which Is
a part of this contract. Do you believe
that the Lakeside Press could establish a
plant here that could print and prepare
for distribution these Acts and Resolves
within a. days after the adjournment of
this session? Two years ago Burleigh &
Flynt were required to do this, and it
taxed their splendid plant to it's utmost
capacity. And that must be done here
because comparisons must be carefully
and frequently made with the originals in
the archives of the State which cannot be
removed from Augusta. 1t is absurd to
think of doing. this at arms length.
hnC
from Bradstreet's reports about the finan-
cial standing of these two concerns. l
have simply this to say, that Burleigh &
FIynt pay cash for stock and that they re-
ceive the lowest cash price on all this sig,
600 or more of stock which they buy, and
that is saved to the State. 1t does not go
into their pockets-it is saved to the State
because they are able to buy for cash. Do
YOU believe that this Lakeside Press,
with its financial history, is in position
to do as well for the State in this particu-
lar and save them as much money? do
not There is no reason why this thing
should be done elsewhere, or why this Au-
glsta bid should not be accepted. The
question is, whether this bid of Burleigh
81 Flynt, which is the same price that they
have received for years for this work, is
exorbitant. On that question l have to
say that it is about 25 per cent. less than
was paid by the State for it's printing from
1865 to 1869 1t is about 90 per cent. less
than was paid from 1869 to 1S79,an it is
Just the same as was paid in 1879 when
the Greenbackcrs ran this State and de-
creased salaries and put everything down
to the lowest possible figure 1t Is just
the same as has been paid for this work
ever since 1t is 90 per cent. lower than
is paid by the state of New Hampshire for
composition and hour work. and it is
nearly 125 per cent. less than is paid by
New Hampshire for press work. 1t is -
per cent. less than the ordinary market
rates which prevail for such work here in
Augusta. Is there any good reason in
your 1sinds why, these things being SO,
underall these considerations some Of
whichI have alluded to, this House
shou1HHelay another hour in approving
this.contract, which committee of this
House. made up of the best men OF the
Hotkse and of the Senate concurring with
them, which committee eof these two
bodies have unanimously agreed upon,
committee of undoubted capability and
integrity think not
Mr., Dickey OF Fort Kent salu tiilt as
a member of the committee, he tried to
investigate the proposals that We're made.
This question has been bone of conten-
ton in the House here for a great many
years. Our committee, apparently, were
about equally divided when we began
discussing the question, but, finally,
every one of the committee came to the
that the contract should be
made with Burleigh q Flynt. The Lake
side Press invited me in there and wanted
my picture to print, and gave to under
stand that it should not cost me cent.
Finally / gave them picture and they
wanted to tax me SIS, and / asked them
for my picture, and was darned glad to
get out of the office. That is my expert
encc with the Lakeside Press.
This is really political question. You
cannot very well carry on the Republican
party or a Democratic party without some
press to rely on And I don't stand
in the way of the Republican
party, or of my own party. ! am not
there very often. But the fact OF 1t
is that the cooked hat will always come
out in these printing bills, and nobody
can prevent it, The Lakeside Press could
not do the work if they should try.
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