The record-union., 1897-03-08
PRINTING OFFICE INQUIRY,
The Search for a Mares Nest Still
FTuitlGSS.
Yesterdays Inquiry Developed Noffi-
ing Against Its rlan-
ageuent.

The special joint State Printing once
Investigating Committee OF the Lesis-
Iature held three sessions IN the 0u-
preme Court rooms yesterday, anu li1'
four witnesses on the stand
The first was a gentleman named
Roche, who represents the CallIorhla
Ink Company which failed to Obtain
contract from the State Printer ana
the State Board of Examiners some
time ago. He said, in answer to
question, that he had feeling against
the State Printing Office on account oI
his failure to obtain that contract put
would not let it influence his testimony.
He testified that the best carmine INK
could be bought FOR So per pound ana
price lists of firms selling these lnks at
prices ranging from $1G to $50 per
pound rather confused him.
w. NJ. Taylor, formerly Of the State
Printing Office and who is one OF the
experts upon whom the accusers or the
State Superintendent of Printing rely
for much of their data, testified that
SIG to $50 per pound was the price for
carlnine ink, the quality varying Win
the price
Mr.. Roche said it would take three
months to test whether or not a press
roller was good or not. During ms
examination Secretary John MarMey OF
the State Board of Examiners, was
called to the stand 10 testify as to the
method of awarding contracts for sup
plies for the State Printing Office.
He stated that the inks were all
chemically tested in the office Of the
State Printer, before the Board, that
samples of work done with the INKS
were also shown to the board, and that
it was on the result of these tests that
the contracts were awarded.
State Printer Johnston was on the
stand during nearly the whole Of the
afternoon He was questioned with
regard TO the alleged apparent discrep-
ancy of $4,000, and gave an eXplana-
ton which seemed to satisfy the COM
mittee. Eugene S. Hadey, the book
keeper, viii, however, be called to-day
to verify the figures presented by Mr..
Johnston, and to give the explanation
more in detail.
Before the afternoon session closed
Taylor was recalled, but no evidence
was taken until the evening session, as
Assemblyman Caminetti desired to
have a talk with the witness before
asking any questions.
In the evening Caminett cOntented
himself with asking very few questions,
and the bulk Of the work was done by
Senators Dickinson and Seawell. The
witness had made a report on the State
Printing Office from which Governor
Budd had made copious extracts in his
veto of the $4,000 appropriation for
the State Printing House, and on this
report he was questioned rather closely.
He testified that he could not esti-
mate the cost of a piece of work, cal
culating composition at the rate of 80
cents per thousand ems, and that his
knowledge Of how things were man
aged in the Office during his time was
rather indefinite. He knew nothing
about the bindery, although he had
charge of it in his capacity as General
Foreman, but thought that twenty-five
or thirty girls would be enough to get
away with all the work.
on being questioned as to how many
girls We're employed during his fore
manship of the office, his recollection
was very hazy, and he gave it to be
understood that he depended on the
Timekeeper and the Foreman Of the
Hindery to look after it.
he was questioned as to the time lost
at elecponS bE empl0yeS or the once,
and said that they might lose a day
once in q while during elections. While
he was Foreman under Mr.. Johnston he
had never known of a man being on the
payroll who did not work. All did
something. though some worked harder
than others.
At this juncture Caminctti arose and
said: Mr.. Chairman, you remember
t.t-
olina made to the Governor Of South
Carolina
"All right" said General Dickinson,
'weu adjourn till haif-past three
o'clock tomorrow"