Arizona republican., 1901-02-20

A select council committee consisting of President Ives Is an ardent searcher
 for light and truth. If THE there Is anything that BIENNIAL Is not as it should be in REPORTS connection with the
 printing of the biennal reports of territorial officials and in stitutions to the governor and the legis- lature. the committee desires to eX- pose it. We have hitherto preferred to await the result of the investigation, which can naturally have but one end ing Misrepr5 5sentatiuns from fires p1nsibles sources. however have thrown certain fog around the situation which in the interest of the public. ought to be dispelled
 The law directs that territorial of flcias shall make reports to the gov ornor biennially to enable him to lay them before the legislature. It has been the practice for years t1 have these reports printed and ady at the opening If the legislative session to be put into the hands of members for their information regarding tn territorial offices and institutions. Sometimes they have been printed without a guar anty to the printer that they would ever be paid for ,hough We believe there is no instance on record that 1
 
 will be rc.nafter shown. Four years ago a law was passed authorizing the territorial secretary to direct the printing of tn s- reports, but two years ago the legislature .r it's wisdom repealed this law. leaving the manner of printing as j had been hef1re.
 owing to tha difficulty experienced two years ago in getting pay for print ing the reports. printers last fall were not eager t1 undertake the work and trust to the legislature, The territorial officials realizing ;he importance of having their reports in the hands of the legislators lt as early q date as possi- blc decided to have the work done themselves as busin ss proposition, paying for u at commercial rates, which have been found - be much better for the taxpayer than political rates. The live st K sanitary board contracted with the Arizona Publish ing company for the printing of it's re- port at a cost of s2'j. paying for the same as other expenses of the board are paid The super intendent of pub lie instruction contracted with the H. II. McNen comrany for the printing of his report ct a cost of S29O. paying for the printing out of hls expense fund. The board of control contracted with the Arizona Publishing company for the printing of It's report and the reports of the prison ami insane asy- lum at d cost of SEQ for each institu of control expense fund lnI the asylum and prison funds.
 From ar examination ot these re- polts the importance of laying the in- formation they contain before the members of the legislature as early as possible. becomes apparent Otherwise the condition of the various offices and institutions which .hey aTe requi, ed to examine carly in ;hr session.
 The prices paid for the work done is very fair one as all wac are aware of former prices for this work will con ccdc There Is at least one member of this legislature who remembers that legislature was held up once for $9,0OO fer the printing of these reports and did actually pay 5000. Six years ago in a political deal an item of $i.50O for printing the biennial reports was put in the appr prlaton, bill and was reduced to $3.10C. Every two years these reports have cost the taxpayers from 5000 to $i.0JO. This year the total cost is less than haif the lowest sum named above. This we may say is the first time on record that the suspicion of e steal has rot been at tlched to the printing Of the reports. The present legislature will do well tu pass a law requiring some officer to contract for the printing or to order the heads of the various institutions t1 have the printing done, that it may be ready upon the opening If the leglsla-