The morning times., 1895-09-23

An advertisement OF bdie uuuei q
trust deed which appeared first on Saturday
last, recalls an interesting incident of the
first part OF the present administration.
Italso reminds a good ma ny personsin this
vicinity of the Farmers Alliance, which
was such a power in the land five years ago.
and is now gradually but surely slipping
back to place with the granger movement
of the early seventies, the Pleasanton blue
grass cure and other fancies that are sailing
AWAY down the Lethean stream.
The offer is in two sections and proposes
toseil the iithographiDg pian of the National
Company, at 46l G street northwest The
outfit is expensive and will probably not
bring half what it cost. 1t was purchased
in the belief that the hackers of the company
had a good thing in the way ola government
Job.
When the Cleveland administration came
in there was with it Hon. Josiah Quincy, or
Massachusetts. Assistant Secretary ofState,
He had as friend Horace Kenney who had
been secretary of the National Democratic
committee. and whose services seemed to
deserve reward.
CAUGHT THE CONTRACT.
When the time came 10 let the contract
for printing the Patent Office Gazette,
which had gone for years to the Norris
Peters Company, it was found To the sur
prise of many that the successful bidder
was the National Lithographing Company.
The total paid for the work was about
$50, 900, and of this a large part was
profit. The National company was awarded
the contract and took up the printing.
A plant was secured and made complete
for printing the Gazette. Mr.. Kenney was
in charge as active manager, assisted by
Mr.. Bailey. At the same time Mr.. Kenney
acquired control of the National Economist
the organ of the National Farmers ALI
ance, and OF its printing house on North
Capito! street. There was the outlook fos
a great and profitable business, with two
horns.
But presently trouble appeared 1t was
charged b President Loucks, of the Farm
ers' Alliance, that c. W. Macune, editor
and chief promoter Of the National Econo-
mist, had during the campaign sold out
the influence OF the organ To the Demo.
rrats, and that J. Fount Tillman, now
Register of the Treasury, had been active
in using the publishing house of the ALI
ance to scatter broadcast Democratic lit
erature.
These charges had an immediate effect
upon the circulation of the Economist. Mr..
aenney took responsible control of the
Economist and Mr.. Macune retired. This
gave color To the charges of treachery and
"a, iuh fp a
At the National Lithographing Company
difficulties appeared no less perplexing.
The Gazette could not be got out until two
to three weeks after it was due and there
were serious complaints by patent attorneys
against the character of the work. The
Patent Office officials were lenient and
agreed that the fault finding attorneys W ere
set on by the disappointed bidders. The
quality of the work was all right, they
said.
THE END IN SIGHT.
They also held that any new contractor
must have a few months in which to get
the hang" OF the requirements. Gradually
the National company caught up with the
time OF publication and everything ap-
peared to be working smoothly. There
were still some complaint, but only enough
to prove the original defense thatthe trouble
was not in the character OF the photo-litho-
graphing, but with the attitude of persons
disappointed in the letting of the contract.
1t was pointed out in addition that the new
contract saved a baRdsome amount to the
government.
Mr.. Kenney seemed in a position to win.
But Just then came q crushing blow. 1t
was charged that the letting of the contract
had been influenced by favoritism in the
interests OF officials of the administration.
An investigation was held and it was
found that Mr.. Josiah Quincy. then Assist
ant Secretary of State, was creditor OF
Mr. Kenney to the extent OF S2o,oOo. The
publication OF the facts caused a great deal
of talk and after a time Mr.. Quincy re-
signed.
Then when the contract was let again
it went to the Norris-Peters Company. The
National company struggled on for time
finally closed its doors. The National
Economist had also gotten its death blow
and about a year ago it suspended. The
business of the printing office continued
along but without gaining. Several suits
accompanied the gradual decline of the two
businesses and only a little while ago a
Judgment OF SIS 900 TO 100000 was re
ceived against the Economist company.
The sale of the lithographinS plant VIII
be near the close of the dissipation or the
bright hopes of two years ago.