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

Ase Aiofe can any man do! But some
one has somewhere remarked or stated
that the State wants printing and binding
not bonds Indeed, the State wants print
ing and binding and not bonds, but when
You go further and say that the people of
Maine should put upon themselves this
extra burden Of $1,000 you will find cold
ness, discussion, opposition s7OO0-do
you know how much good this
will do our charities, do you realize
how much good it will do education? Is
not $1,000 worth saving For one / am
curious to know by what process you can
juggle $1,000 out of existence. But Won
say this is not a saving, it would be in the
end loss. Well, have you based your
claim upon facts or fancy ? Is this your
argument, that these Augusta firms do
this work as cheaply as any firm can af-
ford to do? II So 1 claim that you are
not in your premises. You say Pillsbury
81 Co. undertook to do this work few
years ago and failed. That is true. but
when you go further and say that. there
fore, the Lakeside Press will fail YOU
are using rule of logic hitherto undis-
covered. A bank failed a few years
ago, therefore, the Granite Bank will
soon fail. Finally some say that these
hrms have done the work so long that it
would be hardship for them to lose it
now. AT last we have struck the right
chord, at last we have found the great
reason. But if you propose to give them
$1,000, wouldn't it be well to at least give
them the dignity and insignia of State
institution? Wouldn't it be well to legis-
late this work to them continually and
hing ftb In rha 1oI,<
and expense of trying to compete with
them? Now, gentlemen, these are a few
remarks which / have seen fit to make.
In regard to this matter / have tried to
speak fairly, logically and impartially.
say these Augusta firms should not
have these contracts on account of
superiority in skill, because there are
other men equally skilled and expert
enced. | say that they should not have
these contracts on account of superiority
in financial standing, because the Lake
side Press standing is five times greater.
I say that they should not have these con
tracts for fear there would be
hinderance and delay, because
the Lakeside Press is willing to
guarantee by sufficient bonds that they
will do the work without hinderance and
delay, and finally say that these Augusta
firms should not have these contracts,
because they are underbid by at least
$4,000. Therefore, Mr.. Speaker, in the
face of all these facts, it becomes my plain
duty to move you that these contracts be
not approved; also that when the vote is
taken, it be taken by the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Haines of Waterville said that this
agreement House document 1874, has been
passed upon by the joint committee of the
House and Senate. This document con-
tains IL detailed statement, detailed items
of expenditures of the cost of the State
printing in the different lines. There are
some 81 different classes. Under the last
class there are some different sections 1t
is O long contract, just such contract as
this State has made since 1865. At this
late day in the session, when we have be-
fore us so much to do, to bring this mat
ter uD and refuse this contract, to say that
we will not accept the work of this COM
mittee at this time, at this hour, it seems
to me is great injustice to this House.
1t is claimed that there would be small
saving by having this work done in Port
land. The State printing has been done
at Augusta since 1865, at least 1t has
been done by the representatives OF both
political parties. 1t is something that in
my opinion should be done in Augusta.
It is thing that must be done in con-
nection with the business Mt the state
Capitol 1t must be done in connection
with the Legislative assembly. The propo-
sition to take the bills that are presented
from the committee and carry them to
Portland to have thom engrossed, bring
them back to DO amended and send them
there again to be rc-engrossed, to have the
ballot printing done there and the work
of these departments, is perfectly absurd
and preposterous. The question of con-
yenience should be considered in this mat
ter. 1t is not matter of simply dollars
and cents that should be considered. Are
we backed up by the people of this state
in this propositions / hold in my hand
statements to that effect, that 1t Is wise
and proper that we should give the State
printing to Burleigh & Elynt, from nearly
all the leading newspapers in our state.
These statements have been written by
gentlemen who know about this business,
and had rather take thear word Tor 1t
than to take thcsprors bitipn OF the gentle
man from Portland, fora concern which
started, as undGrstai1 in Auburn, and
had some sort of u Alrtial disaster and
then went to Portland and now wants to
come here and do the State printing. But
they say they can do it here. | have had
some experience in getting work for the
Lakeside Press, as agent for corporations,
and If we never get our work quicker than
it has been my experience, we would not
adjourn till next July. Since 1879,
year when everything was put at the
lowest figure, when every mans salary
was reduced to the smallest price, and
every one has been increased in this State
except the State printing-sinee then
Burleigh Il Flynt have done 1t at the
same prices, and understand that those
prices are the cheapest paid anywhere IN
New England. Are we going to our con
stitucncy with any fear of accepting
prices like theses In having this work
done in Augusta where it is convenient
for the officers of the State and convenient
for the Legislature? l don't come to this
Legislature to give contracts to Deering
and those gentlemen who fought us in the
last campaign say that this bid which
has been put in here has been put in Tor
political purposes. have seen cartoon
-,.,-,,1 tl,ro,, oh this LEGISLATURE crlticlZlDg