New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-26
PRINTERS BILLS DENOUNCED.
CHARGES MADE AND ANSWERED IN THE
STATE SENATE.
THE PRINTING COMMITTED ASKED TO FIND QUE
II EXTRA COPIES OF LEGISLATIVE BILLS

CANNOT RE GOT FOR LESS MONEY.
Albany JAN ga long discussion occurred IN
the Senate to-day the proposition 70 authorize
the printing OF five hundred extra copies or all bs
introduced in the Legislature Charges OF iraud
and inslnuations of dishonesty were freely made
and the State Printer defended by seVeral
Senator's with equal force.
Senator Grady first asked for information from
Senator Higgins chairman OF the Finance COM
mittee when the bill was reached for passage
Senator Higgins said II was true that while the
$40 bills now furnished cost only 81 % the five hun
dred extra would cost over 49, but the State had
entered into a contract with the printer and could
not violate it,
To this Senator Grady replied that. In spite OF the
contract the State had the right to protect i'Seit
against wholesale robbery. II would be better 10
do without the extra copies than TO be party 10
any such fraudulent contract. 1t could not De
otherwise than robbery when II was proposed to
add a $4,000 annex to an $1,000 contract.
Senator Krum reiterated the protest OF senator
Grady that It would be better 20 do without the
.xtra bills ~ they could not be obtained except at
this exorbitant rate. AS an instance OF the amount
of extra work sometimes required. he calico ht'eh
ton to one Of his bills in which tho word as
had been inserted by the printer This Dill woulo
have TO be amended and reprinted. and the printer
would be paid at tho rate charged for extra oi.is
This reprinting Of bills annually cost many thou-
sands OF dollars. estimated as high as SAoooo ana
some check should be placed upon IT,
Senator Cantor called attention 10 tie laCe N'a'
last year the Controller had refused TO pay certain
bills Of the State Printer on GROUNDS wmcn he
I thought savored OF fraud and dishonesty anu ne
asked that the bill should be laid aside unti some
investigation OF the subject could pc maoe. o..
senator Raines defended the printer al great
length He had entered into competition with an
the printers Of the State in bidding for the work
and after the most careful scrutiny ana throusn
comparison his bid had been declared the IoWest
and the contract awarded TO him no hao isit,,
fl,llv carried out the provisions OF that contraGl
and the charges made against him were absolutely
unjust and without foundation; ,., o.,
Senator Wrav offered resolution proVlolhg lCr
an Investigation of the whole subject by the Com.
mjttee on Printing, which should inquire II tns
extra copies could not be procured al cheaper
cost than the contract price. 49,, ,. .-,a
senator Maby said this resolution coulo seI!o
no purpose as the State was under contIac. VIII
me nresont printer and could not vio.ae that cor
tract He also defended the printer agaihsr "ha'
he declared 10 be baseless charges $1,000, X,,.
Senator Eon r. Brown SAID tho oris ,hn ,ota
oould onl, be printed great loss, ano the totai
ou1,,rt maid for tho original and extra copies
would only bring the amount up to fair market
value. ., o.1rroA % +bs
The whole matter was finally referred 10 .ns
Printing Committee. with the suggestion thai tneE
confer with the State Printer 10 ascertain IL tio
extra copies could not be secured AT re"'o"A'''