The record-union., 1897-02-10

birds and the times of opening and
closing the season for game. 1t was
amended by striking out robins from
the list of protected birds.
RETRENCHMENT AND PRINTING.
The Assembly Committee on Re-
trenchment met in regard to the in
Printing Office.
Daniel Hicks said that he had stated
the day before that as foreman he
found everything running in good
| shape and the work we'll done. The
instructions of Mr.. Johnston to the
employees We're always to exercise
economy, and during the six years he
had been in the office he had always
found economy exercised. He had,
when IN business for himself, found
that the office figured very closely on
paper and supplies. Everything was
estimated on closely, and he thought
that as large quantities are used the
State got its supplies cheaper than pri-
vate parties do. The employees were
kept at work and so far as his observa-
ton went, he being in the bindery, they
did as much as printers in private
offices.
Last summer the hands were laid off
half the time in order that all might
get a share of the work, showing that
it was not desired to keep hands at
orh unnecessarily. He did not know
OF amy extra number of hands being
put on just previous to the election for
Mayor. AS to wages, they were much
the same as elsewhere His son, who
is one of the best of bookbinders. gets
the same pay that he did in San Fran
cisco. Whenever an ernploye loses any
time it is deducted from his wages.
State Printer Johnston testified in re-
laticn to the printing of the issue of
grammars; said that he understood it
to be his duty to keep a supply
OF grammars on hand for the State
superintendent. The State Board told
him not to print any more in 1895. but
the supply ran out and he had to print
printed till the next May He printed
10000 in order that the expense might
conform to the price set Had it
been smaller edition the cost would
lave been greater. He had about :, 500
left, he thought, and was still selling
some of them from time to time. When
he printed the edition he did not expect
the new one to be ready as soon as it
was, as it was hurried up He did not
think that the board had the right to
order him not to print any more or
that the board had any right to order
the use Of the old grammar until the
new one had been printed for a year.
The number of graminars on hand.
however, has nothing to do with the
deficiency in the appropriation, as they
are printed from the revolving rund.
In regard to the coal ne had been
charged with buying after the lower bid
was accepted, he had made a private
contract with a dealer for Brymbo coal
and as he was out Of coal he had to
buy some, as the dealer who had made
the lowest bid could not get that kind
OF coal in time for him. In speaking
to Governor Budd, he asked him wheth-
er, if he had made a private contract
with a man, he would not feel bound in
honor TO carry it out. The Governor
said he would, in his private business,
The speaker thought he was in honor
bound to carry out his contracts in
public position as we'll as in private
life.
Mr. Adney asked a number Of ques-
tons about the amount of stock on
hand and used in the printing office
during the last fiscal year, and Mr.
Johnston explained how he arrived at
an estimate Of the running expenses of
the office.
In answer to a question why he ask
ed for an appropriation of $4,000 Mr.
Johnston said that he based his esti-
mate on the amount Of printing done
by the Legislature at the last session
and the amount Of printing done al
ready this session and likely to be done
yet. a large item OF printing was for
letter heads ordered by the Clerks Of
both houses. AS his bills are all au-
ditcd by the Board Of Examiners. only
50 much Of the appropriation asked for
would be used as was necessary, and
what was unused would remain in
the treasury. The reason the nachin-
cry in the bindery was moved down
stairs was that an architect who looked
at the building gave it as his opinion
that unless il was moved. it was liable
to break through the floor.
Mr.. Adney stated that he had procur-
ed figures from the Controllers office
showing that there was no deficiency
at the time the bill was introduced and
that three days after that time there
was over $1,000 Of the former appro-
priat0n left.
Melick asked what suggestion Mr..
Johnston could make as to a more
! economical running Of the office. and
! the latter answered that he would need
time to think before answering that
question. a law was passed at the last
Legislature giving him discretion 10
cut down reports, but the Board of Ex-
aminers decided that that power vested
in them.
4 NO. %