The record-union., 1897-02-10

AIcIil anu VI pilc s-ldtC AAiN
ing Office, which it was my duty to en-
deavor to reduce or prevent. The law
explicitly requires the Superintendent
Of State Printing to purchase only pa
per by contract, leaving large number
of articles and supplies to be purchased
by him as he may see fit. A compa1l-
son of the prices he was paying for
such articles and supplies with the
prices paid by other departments of the
State, which purchased under contract,
and also with his different prices to
different dealers, showed that he was
paying in many instances a consider
ably higher price than was paid by the
persons purchasing by contract. Feb
rUary 26, 1895, the State Board of Ex-
aminers unanimously authorized me to
appoint a printing expert under Sec
ton go of the Political Code. the
Attorney General, Secretary of State
and the Governor being present, and
in the July following, learning that the
force Of the Printing Office had been
largely increased, | appointed Fred A.
SeVery as such expert. The salary of
this office was but 500 per month, its
duties then doubtful, and Mr. Severy
resigned as expert and accepted a po
sitiOn under Mr.. Johnston. The in
crease continued until the pay roll for
the last two weeks of October amount
ed to about $4,000, as against less than
$1,000 for the highest pay roll of the
June preceding. Immediately after the
city election of 1885 it decreased rap
idly, the number Of employees being re-
duced from 195 on the last pay roll in
tba f,acr+ oil i,o
December After this date the roll in
creased gradually until just prior to the
end Of the forty y-Seventh fiscal year.
In July, 1896, the State Board of
Examiners, on the usual affidavit, al
lowed a pay roll covering July 1st to
July 18th, and learning later that dur
ing the portion Of that time the State
Printing Office had been closed, and
that the employees had performed no
service, at the meeting Of the board
held July %, 1896, Mr. MarkIey and
the Governor being present, we con-
sidered the matter, and following the
resolution Of February 26, 1895, c. NJ.
Harrison was elected as printing ex-
pert. Attached to the claim which the
Superintendent of State Printing pre-
sented for the dates from July 1st to
July 18th, was q statement that the
Items constituting the claims incurred
in the manner and on the dates as
above shown, and that the services
herein mentioned herein were actually
rendered" This statement was signed
and sworn to.
At the next meeting of the board the
Superintendent of State Printing, on
invitation, appeared before the board
and admitted the closing Of the State
Printing Office for about twelve days
during the time between July 1st and
18th, and gave as his reason for the
presentation of a claim for services
which had not been rendered, that an
equal amount Of service had been per-
formed by persons on the roll during
the legislative session of 1895. in work
ing overtime-for which they had not
been paid. The pay rolls Of 1890 being
produced showed that some of the per
sons whose names appeared upon this
roll had already been paid for overtir me
in lS9J and that one Of them was not
on the pay roll during the said Iegisla-
tive session. In explanation of this
latter circumstance the Superintendent
said in effect that persons would have
To work it out in overtime during the
coming Legislature" At the same
meeting, but at later hour. Mr. John
ston offered a further explanation.
saying that the claim was put in TO
cover the time Of a vacation. which It
was his practice to allow his regular
employees, although all of the persons
whose names appeared upon the OBJ
Jected TO roll We're employed by the
day.
Before the selection of Mr.. Harrison
as printing expert. the Attorney-Gen-
eral had given his written opinion TO
the Controller in Severy's case that
such appointment was legal. Imme-
diately upon his appointment the ques-
ton was raised as to his powers and
duties, and | communicated with the
Attorney-General, saying among other
things, the following:
4 am unwilling in the future to
pass on the claims Of the State Printer
until they have been referred to some
person for a thorough investigation as
to their correctness. or evidence. be
taken independent of the ordinary affi-
davit. our Secretary, n. being a
printer, cannot examine these matters
properly. I was for this reason that
/ wrote asking your views as to the
experts duties. but have received no
answer thereto. IT, in your Judgment
his duties have been abolished. I will
accept the situation: but. unless we
have the right 10 appoint an expert.
both should urge the next LEGISLATURE
| 10 provide for one"
on August 191h at a meeting of the
State Board Of Examiners. Mr.. Harri-
son appeared before it and requested
! permission 10 examine the payroll of
| the State Printing Office; the perrnis-
| sion was denied and he made no fur
ther effort 10 perform the duties of
Printing Expert.
Since tnat time the members of the
Bca3 of Examiners. other than nv
self. have approved the claims or pay
rolls Of tEe Superintendent OF State
Pii1-ing Not having technical
| know Ige Of the details of such an
| institution, and being convinced that
| unnece ssary extravagance existed in
| the mana cement of certain de-
partments Of the office. have
| been unwilling to assume the re-
| sponsibil.ty Of sanctoning the same.
The Attorney General and the Sec
| retary Of St1te have always been will
! ing 70 joia III a personal examination
Of the State Printing Office and TO this
! arrangement Mr.. Johnston has read
| lily agreed As no member of the board.
nor the Secretary. possesses any special
| or technical knowledge sufficient to
| give other than a superficial or imper-
| feet examination of this Office / have
deferred action until the meeting of
your honorable body, hoping for a
! charge In the laws regulating the
| States printing.