The San Francisco call., 1897-02-03

CALL reporter revealed the fact that on
July 81, 1896. Governor Budd declined to
pass upon any further bills for the State
Printing Office. He so notified the Attor-
ney-General in writing. His reasons were
stated at the time, but were not transmit
ted TO the people through the medium OF
the press, because the relations between
State Printer Johnston and the Governor,
so say the friends of the Governor, had
always been of the most friendly char
acter Attaches of the Governors office
say that he has been grossly misrepre-
sented in the press as to the quantity of
printing done by his order. 1t was stated
In one OF the newspapers (not The CALL,
which does not misrepresent facts) that
the Governor had large quantity OF East
ern reports bound at the State bindery at
an expense of $4,000 to the State.
The grain of truth in this mountain of
misrepresentation is that the Governor
had the reports of all public institutions
In the State of California from the be-
ginning OF its history as a State bou nd
at cost of $500 all told, and this valuable
library OF reference is now in the Cover
nor's office for the use of the Governor
and his successors and the legislators Of
this and future sessions. The Governor
will gladly purchase the set for $500 cash
and will consider that he has made a
winning at the bargain counter.
1t is said by the Governors friends, for
he himself will not talk on the subject,
that his attention was first directed
toward the affairs of the State Printing
Office when Mr.. Johnston, on July 20, swore
10 claim for wages of people employed in
his office for WORK done between July 1,
1896. and July Is, 1896. sixteen days. The
affidavit is in the following form:
STATE OF CALIFoRNIAl au
COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO. co.
A. j. Johnston, being duly sworn, deposes
and says that he is the superintendent of
State Printing of the State of California ant
that the items constituting the claims herein
were incurred in the manner and on the dates
as above shown, and that the services herein
mentioned were actually rendered and the
money is 10 be paid as herein mentioned, for
the benefit of the State.
In accordance with the foregoing affi-
davit the bill was allowed by the Board of
Examiners on July 20. A short time after
this affair it came to the Governor 9
knowledge that the printing office between
the dates mentioned had been shut down
for two Sundays the 4th of July, the 9th
of July and week of vacation, so that it
was evident that the State Printer had
sworn to o claim for sixteen days work
when in fact the office had been closed for
ten days of that time.
The Governor inquired of Mr.. Johnston
why be had sworn to such claim. Mr..
Johnston said that it was time that the
office had been closed, but that the bill
was really put in for overtime, ETC., in
1885, the year before. He afterward made
another statement to the effect that his
employees were entitled to two weeks va
cation each year on full pay.
Governor Budd thereup0n appointed an
expert TO go into the matter, but he was
not allowed to look at the books of the
Printer, on the ground that he had no au-
thority in the matter. The expert went
before the Board of Examiners and asked
to be allowed to examine the payroll, but
he was refused.
The Governors friends contend, for he
himself will not talk, that the expenses of
the State Printing Office have increased
much faster in proportion to the popuia-
ton than they should. The legislative
printing alone for four years ending June,
1895, during Johnston's administration
cost $l20 600 in round numbers, while for
any four years prior thereto the cost has
not exceeded $81, 600.
Another objection to Johnstons ac-
counts is that he does not furnish item
lied bills. Ali that the Board of Examin-
ers have to go on is after this models
Name, John Smith; occupation, foreman;
m q ta atol
The same way in the bindery and in the
school-textbook department.
1t is expected that the Governor will
turn himself loose in his message on the
matter. On the other hand, the friends
of the State Printer allege that Jim Budd
is simply doing Democratic politics.