The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-17
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
ANEFEORT MADE TO LET IT OUT TO
THE LOWEST BIDDER.

An Interesting Debate on the Subject II
the House OF Representatives-How th'
Members Voted on the Mstter-A Close
Vote.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Feb. 12.-In the
House of Representatives yesterday
the question of the public printing
claimed considerable attention. Un
der the present law a Public Printer
is elected. At present Mr.. Charlie:
Calvo, owner of the Register, fills the
position. 1t is claimed by many thai
the State would save money by let
ting the work out to the lowest bid
der. A few days ago Mr.. Reynolds
introduced bill abolishing the office
of Public Printer and instead let the
work out to the lowest bidder. When
this bill came up yesterday MIR. Kin
ard moved to strike out the enactlng
words of the bill.
Mr.. Reynolds said that for great
many years South Carolina had been
letting out the public printing under
contract. Until 1898 the work had
been given to the lowest bidder. In
1877 the matter was considered so I'M
portant that the act, practically the
same as this bill he presented, was
passed. In 1898 the new act allowing
the general assembly to elect public
printer was passed. This bill was sim
ply to let this work to the lowest bid
der just as they would any other class
of work. The bond protected the
State, and, further, the responsibility
of the bidder had to be passed upon.
There was no reason in the plan now
in operation; it had no precedent ia
this State. The practice in regard to
all other work was totally different.
He made clear the point that no high
er prices could be paid under his bill
than those now paid for the work. If
they could offer chance to get re-
duction Of from 10 to 90 per cent,
why not do it. The State had been
paying a fancy price for public print.
ing, fippantly appropriating $2O, 200
for upwards of 20 years without try
ing to get at the bottom prices, while
doing the State an injury. The print
ing should not cost over ST., 900. He
had merely retained the present prices
at the maximum figures, and opened
the doors to competition. This was
founded upon right and reason and
custom. In Georgia, State having
greater population and twice as much
taxable property, only $4,000 was
paid. For 20 years a great deal of
useless printing had been going on.
He quoted a good many figures to
show what could be done by competi-
ton. he believes that the cost of the
work could be done for$15,000 instead
of go, 900, without reducing the vol
ume. The State was not able to pay
this sum if she could get it cheaper.
The cost of materials had gone down
very considerably. He did not argue
that the cost of labor was or should
be cheaper. They were legislating for
the future and there was no telling
what considerations might come to ap'
ply in the selection of a public printer.
Mr.. uderton, as one of the minority
of the committee, said nothing had
been presented to the committee to
show that the printing could be done
cheaper. The prices paid were almost
admitted to be as reasonable as could
be obtained. This being so, he could
not see any reason whatever why
they should take the power out of 134
mems hands and put in the hands OF
Ia few men. They were investigating
boards now. If any trouble came un-
der this why all of them would be re-
|sponsible. They could have a voice
lin the selection of a public printer.
He thought it was unwise to deviate
from the principle laid down in 1898.
Mr.. Stevenson said under this bill
the prices can't be higher than they
are now.
Mr.. Ilderton went on to say that the
present public printer had purchased
IA plant. Suppose by a combination
some people should come and try to
run him out OF business, his plant
would be destroyed. If the combina-
Btion said $4,000 must be paid, the
combination had the State and they
would have to pay it.
Mr.. Cushman asked if when the
public printer was elected it was not
known that some parties were willing
Ito do the work for less.
Mr.. Ilderton said that the commit.
tee had heard some talk of that, but
|no proof had ever been offered that
lower prices could be obtained. He
wanted to know why the necessity for
this bill at this time2 That was the
question. He did not expect to make
any big fight on this matter. The bill
was before the house. There was no
demand for it. The most defective
part of this bill was the clause delega-
ting the power to elect public print
er to a few.
Mr.. Cushman said the matter of Sc.
&ecting a State printer was a plain
business proposition. He could see
no reason why they should require
argument to convince them on this
matter. He said that it had been
Ftated and many of the papers had
stated that lower prices could have
been obtained. It was a fair and
bquare deal. We take no risk in pass
ing this bill.
Mr.. Ilderton said that at present the
printers bills could be scaled by the
general assembly, if it saw fit.
Mr.. E. D. Smith said the principle
involved was just this: What right
bad the State to 60 back upon the
General custom and virtually subsi
3iza q nuhlic printer and nav prices