The record-union., 1897-04-03

as embraced therein in case of necessi-
ty; but these contingent allowances are
as a rule small. For some State offices
no contingent fund is provided at all;
for some State institutions postage ex-
pressage. telegraphing and contingent
There is no uniformity in the matter.
as the law reads.
But there is another objection to the
view Of the Governor that is a most
important one. and should have grave
consideration, namely, the State Print
ing Office cannot be economically run
on fugitive orders from the several de-
partments and officials as they may
from time to time wish printing done
out of their department funds. The
State Printer, or Superintendent of
State Printing. as is his proper title,
cannot with any sort Of economy go
out and buy just the amount of stock
for this, that and the other job as it
is ordered. He must buy in quanti-
for, as by law is required. Nor do we
think it possible for him to ascertain
the exact cost of each and every job
done and avoid all possibility of hav-
ing a margin the wrong way. What
he would do, therefore, if he did as
the Governor suggests, would be to
make his bills high enough to meet
every possible contingency.
Then, again, we doubt very much if
the State Printer can receive any mon
ey from any State officer for doing any
work ordered. There is certainly no
obligation upon him to go into debt
on his own account for stock, and he
cannot do so on account of the State
for the stock, fuel and labor necessary
to turn out the work any State depart
partment may order. We do not be-
lieve there is any warrant in law for
the Superintendent Of State Printing
opening up accounts for work done
with any department of State, collect
ing the money and paying off the cost,
even if done through the machinery
of the office of the State Controller
and State Treasurer However looked
upon, therefore, we cannot see light
through the maze Of trouble in which
the action of the Executive has in
volved this whole business.
We are quite agreed with the Gov
ernor that the method of State printing
is extravagant, and that it costs far
more than it should. But we are
agreed also with the committee of the
late Legislature when it reported that
it is due not to the fact of there being
a State Printing Office, but to the fact
that there is no sufficient check upon
the orders sent in by officials and de-
partments Every department and Off
cial ought to he charged with the cost
of printing done for it, and that cost
be taken from the sum allowed for
conduct of the office or department.
That is to say, the Legislature should
supply each office and department with
made, and refuse to any department
any printing deficiency. Were that the
rule the cost of State printing would
fall off by an enormous percentage.
There is another phase of this sub
ject worthy of attention, namely, the
suggestion Of the Governor that the
several officers and departments have
necessary printing done. pay for 1t out
of the funds provided for the support
of the department or office, and apply
to the Board of Examiners for def
cheney grants, is to say that the sew
eral officers and departments are to
run in debt, for a deficiency allowance
is simply consent to buy on credit.
In every case that which is procured
with the risk of a deficiency appropri-
alton being denied by a Legislature is
charged for accordingly, and the State
is almost invariably 'pinched" at a
lively rate for the risk. 1t has be-
come a common saying. for instance,
that a claim against the State, which
must be discharged on deficiency
allowance, is made heavy enough to
pay the cost of pushing the claim
through the Legislature, to insure its
safe passage through all the shoals
and quicksands of numbered calendars,
of bad bills are buried at every session.
Concerning the whole matter, there
fore. the Record Union" is by the logic
of the law and the reason of the situ-
alton confirmed in its original posi-
ton, and is convinced that the reme-
dies suggested by the Governor are
not applicable Some other way out
must be found. This is emphasized by
the great improbability that the State
officers and departments will wish to
come up to the next Legislature with
the burden of deficiency claims against
their credit, and thus furnish to their
political and personal foes clubs with
which to beat out their brains.
What some of our English cousins do
not know about this country and its
geography and history would fill some
volumes. In a recent official examina-
ton in London the question was asked
If New England was a part of Massa-
chusetts-as New England was in its
early history presumably. No one pres
ent appeared to know. whereupon the
early history, presumably. No one pres