Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-03-02

ing done outside the capital; ana a law
was passed this winter. electing state
printer: and the price was fixed; and as
/ have said before the amount OF print
ing depends upon the Governor and
Council. and the heads Of departments.
Ii We lessen the amount Of work done,
of rouse W. lessen the EXPENSE. BY
careful examination We found, | hap
pened to he member of the commit
tee at that time, that the State of
Maine was having its work. both for
printing and binding, done cheaper
than any state in New England. from
which we We're able 10 obtain mforma-
tion: and practical printers in the state
admitted that the work was done at
reasonable rate.
Mr PLUMMER of PenObscot: /
would like to ask the chairman Of the
committe on finance if any investiga-
ton was made this year in regard TO
the reasona bleness of prices paid un-
der that contract for printing?
Mr.. BURNS of Cumberland: | do not
know that any investigation was made
this winter. do not imagine there
has been any great chahge
in the prices of printing in the
last five years. The investigation OF
the special committee at that time
showed the prices were reasonable, ana
were less than New Hampshire ana
other states in anything where we We're
getting similar work done
Mr.. PLUMMER Of Penobscot: Is the
senator aware that the prices OF ma
terial have decreased since that con-
tract was made?
Mr.. BIrRES of Cumberland: | think
in the last two years, the prices nave
increased very much: and these blllS
are all audited by Mr.. stephen Berry
Of Portland. who is a practical printer
Mr.. PLUMMER of Penobscot: !
womb like to ask the senator if II IS
lis recollection that comparisons were
n,de with any other states than New
Hampshire?
Mr.. BURNS Of Cumberland: yes Slf'
there were comparisons made win Se\ :
rral other states. We had Il pfdc'l' i
printer ON our committee; ana d"i'
know but we had COL. Prescott "l lh'
Governors Council; and very thof-
uugh investigation was mate. ahH N'
found that the price paid ~ ~" Hta'
Of Maine was lower than that 81 any
uthr,. state that we received lht"flna-
tion from.
on page 6. we find s. 2;3;;.22, deficiency
an account Of The Australian ballot
This was caused by two extra election.
du,ina. the past year caused by tlt
resignation of Hon. Thomas Il. Rec
and tbe death of Nelson Dingley. TWO
extra elections We're required.
ON page 6. the last item is $''oo "Y
account of cattle commiSslon ! ms !
4 matter that the county COMMISSION
ers have nothing to do with, except Z
obey the law. If a herd OF cattle Il
supposed to be diseased, II they are
called upon to inspect Il nerd. anu
they find disease exists there, II
compulsory upon them to have the hei'
slaughtered. to appraise the value ah'
the State pays half the expense. =
that that is something that is OUT
the province of our committee.
The last item that have marked /
$4,000 for the investigation of causes
fire. Now. the gentleman from Knox
inasmuch as he has attempted TO nav
that repealed. and he knows with "nt
result. [ don't think it would be WIS
for us to recommend the repeal OF Una
law. OF course, if any of the laws eN
listing today are unwise, it is the prov
ince of any members of the Legislator
to recommend a repeal; but if the con
tracts that the State already has ar
excessive, of course, when those con
tracts expire it should be the duty c
those having them in charge to nav
contracts made that would be adVant
ageous to the state; and, Mr.. Presideh