Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-26
A Communication From the Secretary OF State
State of Maine,
Office of the Secretary of State,
Augusta Feb - lSQ5

My attention has been called to circu
! to the members of the Legislature. Neal
the close of this circular appears the fol
lowing, why not announce, to quot,
from the remarks of the secretary of Stat,
TO our treasurer, no concern even though
they are located in Augusta can do this
work but Burleigh and Flynt," this
work" meaning the State printing.
i l made no such "remark" to the Lake.
side Press treasurer. l made no remark
which by any possible twisting of words
or meanings, could be construed into such
"A statement The quotation is absolute
ly false and in this particular, at least, the
Lakeside letter is lie.
1t is true that for ten years / have op-
posed, as strongly as l could, the giving
by the Legislature. of the State printing
and binding to any parties outside the
city of Augusta-the capitol city of the
State
| l have done this, and l shall continue
to do it, so long as continue to serve the
State; not from any interest in Burleigh
& Flynt, or Smith & Reid, nor from any
hostility to the Lakeside Press, or any
printers or binders wherever they may re
side, but because, with an intimate
knowledge of this business gained from
thirteen years service of the State, know
that it would be unwsc and equally un-
profitable for the State to have its work
of this sort done anywhere else than in
its capitol city.
1t therefore becomes my plain duty as
an officer of the State to oppose any such
attempt
The State, as to its printing and bind.
ing, requires prompt, trained, competent
service, not bond for the possible failure
of contracting parties to render that ser
vice. 1t is not question of dollars and
cents simply and alone, nor of contract,
but it involves very many other considera-
tions equally important.
The seven thousand dollars which the
Lakeside Press claims would be saved to
the State, under its bid and contract
based upon it, could and in my Judgment
would be offset by more than that amount
lost to the State inside the first year after
the acceptance of said bid, to say nothing
of inevitable delays and hindrances
Holding these opinions, and being
charged with the responsibility of direc-
ting nearly three-fourths of the so-called
State printing and binding oatside the
citizen and taxpayer as well as an officer
of the State, / think it is my fair privi-
lege, rs well as my plain duty to honest
ly exert such influence as l may possess
to secure such results as | deem best for
the interests of the State-a privilege
and Il duty, which it seems to me ought
to be allowed to exercise, in common with
other men, without being misrepresented
and lied about by the Lakeside Press, or
by any other parties who may happen to
hold opinions adverse to mine The state
ment in the Lakeside letter that the sec
rotary of State was present at a committee
hearing where Burleigh & Flynt and
their friends We're also present is untrue
The fact is that / appeared alone before
the committee in response to their sum
mons. 1t is one Of my duties as chief of
the state department to attend every
legislative committee desiring my pres
ence, there to answer such questions as
are put, and to furnish such information
as l may be able to give, and while have
never yet voluntarily appeared before any
committee of the Legislature i'm matters
of public nature, | have invariably
obeyed the call Of every committee who
have seen fit to require my presence, as
courtesy and duty combined require me
to do.
Nicholas Fessendcn,
Secretary Of State