The times., 1901-04-06
THE DISTRICT PRINTING.
Auditor Petty Desires 1t Done by
Local Firms.

J. r Petty. the Auditor of the District,
has submitted 10 the Commissioners for
their consideration and approval
number Of suggestions relative TO con-
tracts for job printing and the purchase
Of supplies The Auditor is Of the opin-
ion that the job printing and the pur-
chase OF certain supplies should be con-
tracted for with parties in the District,
as a matter Of convenience to the Com
n1issioners and their subordinates. He
states that the delay caused by sending
TO other cities and the attendant incon-
venience more than offset any small
amounts that are saved by dealing with
outside firms. In his communication TO
the Commissioners Mr.. Petty says:
As the time is near AT hand for the
preparation Of the usual advertisements
for proposals from intending bidders, pre-
liminary 10 the annual letting Of con-
tracts for work and supplies, / deem it
my duty to invite your attention in ad-
vance TO the item Of printing with view
10 suggesting . change of method, in re-
gard thereto, which will in my opinion
materially conduce to the interest Of ev-
cry department Of the District Govern
ment.
For many years it has been customary
10 advertise In New York, Philadelphia,
and Baltimore for proposals for printing,
and contracts therefor Of every character
from the least important Office blank to
the delinquent tax lists have at various
times been awarded I'm each of these cities.
The execution Of orders by contractors
so far removed from the offices making
the acquisitions has. in the nature of the
case. been frequently delayed TO such an
extent as TO cause serious Inconvenience
and embarrassment. In addition to the
delay there was also serious loss IN one
instance the entire pamphlet containing
81 500, being rendered Valueless and the
sale VOID because Of errors which were
due TO the fact that the proof being
read IA a distant city was not corrected,
as IL would have been had the work been
done at home under the supervision Of
the trained force Of the Collector office.
This difficulty has reached such proper
uons that work which is urgent and i'm
pOrtant in its character is often ordered
Of local printers, but always al the risk,
on the one hand, OF a disaliowancc In our
accounts for the differences between con-
tract rates ard open market prices. and
on the other Of the accusation Of bad
faith by the contractor FOR giving 10
others orders which he considers should
Tightfully be placed with him.
The custom IN vogue has apparently
grown out OF what seems TO me TO be 4
misapprehension of section D. OF the
organic act of June u, 1873. That pro-
vision is as follows:
% That hereafter when any repairs OF
streets. avenues, alleys, or sewers within
Ais 10 VI '-hlttiAifio stit 10 bt maui
or when new paVemcnts are TO be substi-
tuted Ia place Of those worn out, new
ones laid. or new streets opened, sewers
built, or any works the total cost OF
which shall exceed the sum OF 81 011. no
tice shall be given IN one newspaper In
Washington, and II the total cost shall
exceed $500. then in one newspaper I'm
each Of the cities Of New York Philadei-
phia. and Baltimore also for one week
Tor proposals, with full specifications as
TO material for the whole or any portion
OF the works proposed to be done
THE words or any works. the total
cost of which shall exceed the sum OF
81 ,000,' are those which have been held to
include printing. bat / am satisfied that
this item was not in the contemplation OF