The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-30
Boston to AbrOgate Its
Printing Contract.
Proposes to Establish Munich
pal Printing Office.
Important Action Taken by the Joint
Standing Committee.

city printing contract with Rock we'll 4
Churchill IL to te abrogated.
This was the decision Of the city ccun
ell joint standing commi; tee on printinI
yesterday afternoon. The vote stood Il
!, Councilman Alfred Newmsrch beinS
the one who "fiocked alone" those VIII,
favored the abrogating of the contrac
being Aldermen John j. Mshoney, Ed
ward w. Presho ana William Il. Donovan
OF ward 8, Councilmcn Michael 4. Gala
nan, John L. Kelly, John }. O'Callag han
and Daniel J. Kelley.
ihe meeting was protracted and deeply
interesting. Mayor Quincy was present,
with superintendent Of Printing " haleu
and the typographical Union committee,
composed of Silas Gamble of the Journal.
Thomas M. Nolan OF the Post, B. W.
Isfort OF the Herald. Charles q. wilkins,
formerly OF Rockwell n Chrrchilps, and
Frank X. Foster OF the Labor Leader.
IL was noticed that Rock we'll q
Churchill were not represented. One of
the committee suggested that Colonel
Rockwell be invited to attend thu meet
Ing and given an opportunity to reply to
certain statements to the effect tbat his
firm charged good round sum for stor
ing material. The Mayer Gid not think
1t necessary.
The Mayor in his remarks to the COM
mit:ce expressed the opin ion that there
is good deal of sentiment in the com
munity In favor of municipal ownership.
he thought 1t woulo be good way to
start la with municipal printing estab-
lishment. II was smsll way, com para
lively, and from all the informrtion he
coald obtain from reliable sour he feit
II would be successful and a saving to
the city.
superintendent OF Printing whslsn also
favors the proposed plan.
Mr.. Frank Foster spoke only as a rep.
resentaiive Of the Typographical Union.
and confined his remarks to the vote
parsed by the union with only two dis
ssnting voices, in mee;iug attended by
over 400 memLeis. They telieve, he said,
In municipal ownership. lie had no cri-
tlcism to make Of Rock we'll IL Churchill.
He was simply opposed to the contract
system at large. but not against this par
,icplar firm having tho city printing. Ho
spoke OF what he believed would be the
to be derived from o munich
pal printing plant.
Each OF the other mem ters OF the Typo- |
graphical Union committee SPOKE In a
similar tenor.
Alderman Presho and Councilmen Ki,ev
and Newml N made a vigorous ef,ort to |
have the matter Tcstponed until toner |
row, 81 that tney might look into the |
mole fully. Alderman Presho |
moved to postpone, and called for tho
yeas and nayp. The motion was defeated.
to 3, Aldermen Mshoney and Donovan.
md Councilmen Callahan, Kelly and
CCallaghsn voting no, and Alderman
Presho, Councilmen kilsy ana Newmarch
yes.
The three latter argued that tho present
Tia not afford sufficient time, inasmuch
IS tho union had taken two di ifferent
ctions In the matter. They requested
urther time to consider 1t thorouR bly,
'efore tnei sc'ion, and they believed that
q Churchill could satisfactorily
xplain the criticisms that had been made
egarGing their charges for storage, etc.
Another motion for oelay,.was defeated
" duplicate vote Of 8 to 3 the same
sr;ies voting as before.
II seems that the committee thought Il
Tould De Q mistake to have the work
iven out around the city to various
rinters. There was no marked oppcsi-
Ion to tho municipal ownership plan, and
My words OF praise were spoken for
3 Churchill. and for the work
hey have done for the city during the
ast 20 years.
AT last Q motion YVES made that the
ontract tie abrogated, aud IL was carried
y yea and nay vote Of z to 1, a. above
lated.
Sons Of the committee, however, Il is
armed, would not have voted for
brogation aud municipal plant had Il
OF teen that the Mayor assured them
nat Rockwell & Churchill woulc retain
ne city printing until the work could
0 done In the new muuicipaI office.
Alderman Mahoney and Councilmep
allaban and o'Callaghan strongly advo-
Itci from the outset TIE umnicipal
ant project and Councilman Kelly gave
Is consent on the understanding that
ockwell & Churchill would not be dis
'rbed until the city was ready to do its
yn printing iu its own Office.
The opinion was general that the city
'ouid do its own printing, and Alder.
an Donovan made motion to the effect
at all the city printing b, done from
NV on by Rockwell & Churchill. tho
me as before, until such time as the
~ Is able TO do its own work with u.
vu plant. Ills motion was unanimously
rrie5. ana rent to the Mayor by request /,
the COMMITTEES. II IL understood by
G committee that Mayor Quincy will
vor such a plan.
Colonel Rockwell was seen by Herald ,
porter late yesterday sf,ernoou, but {
s not prepared 10 make a statement. Z