The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-02-17


Members Voted or the Mstter-A Close
Vote.
COLUMBIA, s. C., Feb. Pin :he
House Of Representatives yesterday
the question of the public printing
claimed considerable attention. Ca-
der the present law 8 Public Printer
is elected. At present Mr.. Charles
Calvo, owner of the Register, fills the
position. It is claimed By many that
the State would save money By let
ting he york out to the lowest bid
der. \ few days ago Mr.. Reynolds
introduced bill abolishing the office
of Public Printer and instead let the
work out to the lowest bidder When
this bill came up yesterday Mr.. Kin
ard moved to strike out the enacting
words of the bill.
Mr.. Reynolds said that for a great
many years South Carolina had been
letting out the public printing under
contract. Until 1898 the work had
been given to the lowest bidder. IN
1877 the matter was considered SO I'M
portant that the act, practically the
same as this bill he presented, was
passed. In 1898 the new act allowing
the general assembly to elect public
printer was passed. This bill was SIM
ply to let this work TO the lowest blo-
der just as they would any other class
of work. The bond protected the
State, and, further, the responsibility
of the bidder had TO be passed upon.
There was no reason in the plan now
in operation; it had Dc precedent IL
this State. The practice in regard to
ali other work was totslly different.
He made clear the point that no high,
er prices could be paid under his bill
than those now paid for the work. L
.theEc could offer chance to get re-
duction OF fronJ0 10 20 per cent,
why not do it. The Sts@ had been
paying a fancy price for pubic print
ing, fippantly appropriating $50, 600
for upwards of 20 years without try
ing to get at the bottom prices, while
doing the State an injury. The print
ing should not cost over SIS, 600. be
had merely retained the present prices
at the maximum figures, and opened
the doors to competition. This was
founded upon right and reason and
custom. In Georgia, State having
greater population and twice as much
taxable property, only $4,000 was
paid. For 20 years q great deal OF
useless printing had been going on.
He quoted good many figures to
show what could be done by compe!l-
ton. He believes that the cost OF the
work could be done forSl5, 900 instead
of 1000. without reducing the vol
ume. The State was not able to pay
this sum if she could get it cheaper.
The cost of materials had gone down
very considerably. He did not argue
that the cost of labor was or should
be cheaper. They were leglslating for
the future and there was no telling
what considerations might come to ap.
ply in the selection of a public printer.
Mr.. Ilderton, as one Of the minority
of the committee, said nothing had
been presented to the committee to
show that the printing could be done
cheaper. The prices paid were almost
admitted to be as reasonable as could
be obtained. This being so, he could
not see any reason whatever why
they should take the power out OF 134
mems hands and put in the hands Of
few men. They were Investigating
boards no#..If any trouble came un-
der this why all Of them would be re
sponsible. They could have a voice
in the selection Of a public printer.
He thought it was unwise to deviate
from the principle laid down IN 1898:
Mr.. Stevenson said under this bill
the prices can't be higher than they
are now.
Mr.. lderton went on to say that the
present public printer had purchased
q plant. Suppose by COMPUTATION
some people should come and try to
run him out of business, his plSnt
would be destroyed. If the combina-
ton said $4,000 must be paid, the
combination had the State and they
would have to pay it.
Mr.. Cushman asked if when the
public printer was elected it was not
known that some parties were willing
to do the work for less.
Mr.. Ilderton said that the commit
tee had heard some talk of that, but
no proof had ever been offered that
lower prices could be obtained. He
wanted to know why the necessity for
this bill at this time2 That was the
question. He did not expect to make
any big fight on this matter. The bill
was before the house. There was no
demand for It. The most defective
part of this bill was the clause delega-
ting the power to elect public print
er to few.
Mr.. Cushman said the matter OF Sc
lecting a State printer was a plain
Business proposition. He could see
no reason why they should require
argument to convince them on this
matter. He said that it had been
stated and many of the papers had
stated that lower prices could have
been obtained. It was a fair and
square deal. We take no risk in pass
ing this Dill.
Mr.. Ilderton said that at present the
printers bills could be scaled by the
general assembly, if it saw fit.
Mr.. E. D. Smith said the principle
involved was just this: What rig ght
had the State to go back upon the
general custom and virtually subsi-
die a public printer and pay prices
manifestly larger. If any company
could reduce it so, was it not due
them that they should have the work.
He hailed with delight any measure
that carried out the principle of equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none. Let this principle be engrafted
in all our laws. The question should
be left open. Touching MIR. Ilderton's
fear of a combine, he said why should
not this same company now subsi-
died do something on the same order.
DR.. Wyche referred to Mr.. Smiths
very remarkable speech. F." He was
u F. IL