The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-01
PRINTING GOES TO
LOWEST BIDDER
The Vexing Question Settled
Yesterday.
QkQk!EC IOCE TIE W0Qk
BARNES 10 GET THE WORK
DECISION OF THE JOINT COM
MITTEE ON PRINTING.
ARGUMENTS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
Edwards and Breught,n, {. NJ. Uzzell and
Barnes Make Statements Before the
Committee. Bidders Lose on
Specified Work.

The joint committee on printing yes
terday afternoon by a vote of four to
three decided to award the public
printing TO the Capital Printing Com
pany They felt bound under the law
to do this.
The joint committee on printing met
yesterday to consider the question OF
giving out the contract for the pubhc
printing. Mr.. Hoey stated the OBJECT
of the meeting was for the purpose OF
giving the Capital Printing Company an
opportunity TO demonstrate their AFFINITY
and responsibility to do the work II
the contract was awarded TO them.
They have made the lowest bid
\ communication was read from
Messrs. Edwards and Broughton, of this
city. claiming that there We're gross in
accuracies in the calculations of the
Capital Printing Company, with refer
cnce to the work which was to be done
and the inferior quality of their work.
Mr. J. y. Holding, representing
Messrs Edwards and Broughton, APP
Feared before the committee and called
attention to the figures of Barnes Bros.
Capital Printing Company printed in
morning paper, stating that he desired
TO call attention to the remarkable state
ments contained therein. He claimed
they were full of errors and grossly mis-
represented the facts. He claimed that
they had made a mistake of $12,931.41
in three items of printing alone. He
said their statements were ridiculous and
erroneous throughout.
In giving out this work to the lowest
bidder, responsibility must be consider
ed-the ability to calculate correctly
must be considered.
They may tell you that they are re-
sponsible, but you cannot collect one
dollar out of their bond for delay or
damage
lie also spoke of the quality of the
work, which must also be considered.
Mr.. Fields, attorney for the Capital
Printing Company, said that the bill re-
quired that all the bills for printing had
to be#made out by ems and tokens, and
that the work specified was only a small
part of the work to be done, and they
had calculated for all.
Relative to the charge Of error in cal
cuations. he stated that the calculations
were made TO give the committee some
idea of the work, and as far as he knew
they were correct. There might be some
difference, but it would only be the differ
ence in the amount saved to the State.
The calculations were estimates. based
on the work done by the Stewards
Mr.. Hoey: Can the cost be made
more under these contracts TO the low
est bidders!
Mr.. Holding: ''Yes. these lowest bid
ders have always cost the State more
they make it on the job prIating."
Mr.. Battle, attorney for Barnes:
THAT would indicate that they would
cheat
Mr. Holding: Il don't say anything
about that but / know that it has been
costing the State more under these low
bidders"
Mr.. Fields: Il understand that the
Legislature will have a practical printer
TO audit the accounts"
Mr.. Hoey: with two practical print
ers Stewart got into the State $4,000"
Mr.. Hoey Ito Mr.. Fields) DO you
employ Union printers?'
s.Yes''
what do you pay them:'
.'.33 1-3 cents per thousand ems for
plain composition
Then how can you do the work for
20 cents"
For same reasons others can do it
for 30 cents"
Mr. Barnes made statement relative
to work since he had it-December, '9l.
He said the work had been let out to
him by the Governors Council on a
graduated scale, and the prices had
averaged 23ai cents per thousand ems
that he had made money at those
figures, and that he could make money
on the bid he now made.
Senator Jerome: Would you take the