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

snouiu ne atteinpt 10 60 into any details
of the printing business If it is a fact
that thin printing and binding must only
be done at Augusta and by Augusta firms.
then by all means let the printers of the
State know that fact, and don't nut ont
your advertisements as though you
wanted bids from all the bidders of the
State, because should want to put in
bid two years hence on this printing and
binding. 1 should seriously object to be
charged with making raid on the State
printing. have no objection whatever
to the contract being given to Governor
Burleigh. in fact l think it should he so
given to him; but told him frankly that
the methods of the committee seemed UNI
businesslike and unfair, and he admitted
that 1 was right.
Mr.. Lane of Augusta. said that he was
not the champion of Burleigh & Flynt.
or any particular firm, but he wished to
call attention to the facts which have
not been touched upon in the discussion
so far, although it has been very gem
orally covered. The claim has been made
by the gentleman from Portland (Mr.
Whelden) that some $1,000 would be sayed
to the State by accepting the bid of the
Lakeside Press The Lakeside Press. in
its manager, as l am informed, is not a
practical printer, but very good baker
He has been successful in that business
and now is manager of the Lakeside
Press. This is my information. No bid
was put in by the Lakeside Press, but a
straight cut of Is per cent. was made upon
the proposal of Burleigh & Flynt. No
bid was put in for binding, but q straight
cut of per cent. on the proposal of
Smith g. Reid. The only criticism have
upon the committee has been stated by
the gentleman from Bath. 1 believe
they were wrong in advertising for pro-
posals. / believe that the contract for
the State printing and binding should be
given to the parties who can best do the
work for the State at a reasonable figure.
But is the proposal of the Lakeside Press
the lowest bid? No, it is not 1 say it
would cost the State moreSif, today, the
Lakeside Press should commence to do this
printing, before the next Legislature shall
have adjourned, it would cost the State
more money than it would to give the
same to Burleigh & Flynt under their
contract. The previous record of the
Lakeside Press has been referred to. They
have made failures in former contracts.
Their work has also been referred to. 1t
is my fortune to have been connected d.
rectly where could observe what good
printing was in all it's forms, artistic and
book printing for the past 16 years, and
say that the work which has been put out
by the Lakeside Press is a disgrace to any
respectable house. 1 say that the work
which has been put out and which / have
seen here in the State library any respec-
table house would be ashamed of l say
in regard to binding that can point to
an instance where the State had work to
do which they wanted to get out in an ar
tistic manner. They wanted little fine
work and they asked the State binders
what it would cost for such an artistic
binding on such work. They told them
Other people told them it could be done in
Boston for 33 per cent. cheaper and finally
they decided to get it done in Boston.
What wss the result? When the work, 33
per cent. cheaper, came back it was SO dis
gustingly defective they refused to accept
it and employed Smith 81 Reid to do the
work over. This is something in regard
to the lowest bidder. In 90 the contract
was given to Pillsbury, & Co. to
do the State printing. They had
all the facilities that the Lake
side Press have to do the work
They didn't have the skilled workmen to
do it, and what was the result before the
Legislature adjourned. A committee of
the Legislature called upon them because
they so delayed the work, and demanded
of them that they should employ others to
assist them. That committee estimated
that the delay of a single day cost $1,000,
even outside of tho pay of the Legislature.
How long will 1t take. gentlemen, if you
have firm that is unable to do the work
promptly, how long would it take to cat
up your $1,000? Not only that look at
the cost to The members of this
Legislature Delay this Legislature a
week and it costs to the officers and
members not less than $4,000. Now,
gentlemen, it is not question of whether
the lowest bidder should have the work.
but whether the lowest bidder will do the
work ..4cccptably at fair price. You
cannot find a practical printer, you cannot
find an established house. that will take
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