The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-03-20
AT THE LEGISLATURE.
State Printing Contract Exeites
Sarcastic Comment in the House.

A MOVEMENT TO FITiINGLY COM
MEMORATE LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY.
enate Amendments to the Lobster Bill
Reconsidered-County Commissioners
Given the Right to Break Roads-Yes-
terdays Legislative Business.
(Specia. to the PRESS.
Augusta, March Practical printers
are scarce in the legislature, but some of
the statesmen had a good deal to say
about practical printing this forenoon in
the House. Mr.. Whelden set the ball
rolling when he moved that the contract
for the state printing and binding with
Messrs. Burleigh & Flint, and Smith &
Reid, be not approved. Mr.. Whelden
made strong argument in favor of the
awarding of the contracts to the Lake
side Press of Portland. Mr.. Whelden's
sarcastic illusions to some of the argu-
Inents urged against the Portland con-
Germ, created considerable amusement.
Several members spoke in favor of
awal ding the contracts to the Augusta
bidders, and the debate proved to be
pretty interesting. Mr.. Whelden's wit
moved Mr.. Plummer of Dexter, to give
him little fatherly advice. Major
Dickey told how the Lakeside did not
print his picture and all told the pro-
ceedings were of an enlivening nature.
AS was expected, the House voted by a
large majority to approve the contracts
as recommended by the committee, but
it is not improbable that the next House
will heed the pertinent advice given by
Mr.. Patten of Bath. The representatives
from Portland and vicinity, as far as
could be seen when the vote was takenI
voted for the Lakeside Press. In OPEN
ing the debate, Mr.. Whelden said in. sub
stance: A
"A t the beginning of this legislative
session there appeared in various news
papers a notice (Which Mr.. Wheloen
read| inviting proposals for the state
printing and binding. In response to
this notice, several firms presented bids.
IThe highest of these bids came from
Burleigh & Flynt, printers, and Smith
& Reid, binders The lowest came from
the Lakeside Press. There is difference
of opinion as to the difference in these
bids to the state, but l understand that
it is admitted that the Lakeside Press
bid is lower than the Augusta bids by at
least SIS, 760 on the printing, and $1,000 on
the binding, making total of Sc, 600
Here was direct invitation from the
legislature of Maine to submit propcs-
ais for this work and it was fair pre-
sumption that it was to be awarded to
the lowest bidders. But the committee
say it must be awarded ia the highest
bidder. Acting unaer TIL. presumptior
The Lakeside Press went to considera ~,
| expense in preparing rheir bid, ana
came here IN person to present the"
these Augusta firms are to have
on this work. it is unjust an,
unfair to hold out these false RIP
tions that it will be awarded to
est bidders
but it is said that this work, /,
done for the best interest of the .
must be done in Augusta. That / appl,-
bend is the real point OF the argument
as it is admitted that the Lakeside
Press bid would save the state Sc, $50.
The Lakeside Press admits that work
| must be done in Augusta. Those OF us
| work, unexcelled this side of Boston,
and what is there about this state work
that is more than ordinary work. The
Lakeside Press have no plant in Angus
ia, but In these days of modern machin-
cry and appliances, an Office may soon
| be set up and put in running order. To
| hear the talk about slich a plant here,
| one would think that it must have walls
of adamant and floors of jasper Then
lit is said that the work of printing 1.-The
Australian ballots rec uires especial skill,
which cannot be obtained elsewhere.
Would it not be possible to obtain some
| of the skilled worknlen of the present
contractor to work for the Lakeside
Press, if they were paid enough fer it?
The Hindoo philosophy tells that the
| universe rests on the back of an ele-
plant, the elephant standing on turtle
and the turtle resting on nothing. This
argument about the great skill required
in doing this state work also rests on
nothing.
| "Now as to the standing of the Lake
side Press. 1t has been insinuated that
the concern is not reliable. Those state
ments have not been made openly. We
do not claim perfection. That is plant
which does not grow in Portland soil
We understand that it fourishes farther
| to the east. Against these insinuations,
we have the raJing of Dun & Russell's
and Bradstreet's commercial agencies,
who report that the Lakeside Press have
$50, 600 to 5000 capital. credit fair oil
high. Burleigh II Flynt have according
to the most favorable report $1,000 to
S., 000..capital. credit fair"
Mr.. Whelden read a statement signed
| by Portland bank officers and business
men to the effect that they regarded the
Lakeside Press as capable Of fulfilling
any contract the directors might accept.
More than this, the Lakeside Press offers
to give a bond tor the faithful perform
ance of the work. But, says some one,
we don't want bond We want print
ing and binding. Well, even Il Short.
| sighted man can see that. The people
want printing and binding. Do they
also want to give away $1,000 without
any equivalent? Do you realize, gentle
men, that this legislature is likely to
make appropriations exceeding by $500,
600 those of it's predecessors. When the
people ask what has been done with this
money, what shall we say? 1t was
needed for education? Yes, some of it,
1t was needed for the various instltuu-
tions of the state? Yes, some of it. But
what of this $1,000 Think of what that
sum of money would do. Even the
state college, in its modesty would not
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