Evening star., 1901-04-05
AUDITOR SUGGESTS CHANGE
RECOMMENDS DISTRICT PRINTING
BE DONE IN WASHINGTON.
Cites Delays and Losses Under Present
Plans and objects to Inter-
probation of Law.

AS the time is near at hand for the
preparation of the usual advertisements
for proposals from intending bidders, pre-
liminary to the annual letting of contracts
for work and supplies Mr.. J. t. Petty, the
auditor of the District, today invited the
attention of the Commissioners to the item
of printing with a view to suggesting a
change of method in regard thereto, which
will in his opinion, materially conduce to
the interest of every department of the
District government.
For many years. says Mr. Petty, at
has been customary to advertise in New
York. Philadelphia and Baltimore for pro-
posals for printing, and contracts therefor
of every character from the least import
ant office blanks to the delinquent tax lists
have at various times been awarded in 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 en-
barrassment. In addition to the delay
there was also serious loss in one instance,
the entire pamphlet containing the delin-
quent tax list, which cost over 81, 800, being
rendered valueless and the sale void be-
cause of errors which were due to the
fact that the proof being read in dis
tant city was not corrected, as it would
have been had the work been done at home
under the supervision of the trained force
of the collectors office. This difficulty has
reached such proportions that work which
is urgent and important in its character is
often ordered of local printers. but always
at the risk on the one hand, of disallow-
ance in our accounts for the difference be-
tween contract rates and open market
prices, and on the other, of the accuSa-
tion of bad faith by the contractor for Civ
ing to others orders which he considers
should rightfully be placed with him.
Alleged Misapprehension.
"The custom in vogue has apparently
grown out of what seems to me to be a
miSapprehensiOn of section ) of the organic
act of June II, 1873. That provision Is as
follows: That hereafter when any repairs
of streets, avenues, alleys or sewers with
in the District of Columbia are to be made,
or when new paVementS are to be SubSt1-
tuted in 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 $1,000, notice shall be
given in one newspaper in Washington, and
if the total cost shall exceed 5000 then in
one newspaper in each of the cities of
New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore also
for one week for proposals, with full speci-
fications 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 81 600 are
those which have been held to include
printing but l am satisfied that this item
was not in the contemplation of the law.
This sentence must, by any fair rule of
construction. he considered as relating to
work similar in character to that which
had just been enumerated in the opening
words Of the paragraph or section.
May Cause Greater Annoyance.
'To hold otherwise might subject us to
even still greater annoyance than that al
ready experienced, for if printer in New
York can claim the right to the contract
1 know of nothing that would bar one in
Minneapolis or San Francisco. This may
appear to be an extreme illustration, and
vet it is within the range of possibility
under the construction of the law which
has heretofore obtained.
in view of these considerations / am
clearly of opinion that no bid for the print
ing of the District government should be
solicited or accepted, nor contract therefor
let. outside the District of Columbia, and
have the honor to recommend that action
In accordance with this view be taken when
proposals shall be invited for the fiscal
year beginning July l, 1901
The Commissioners will probably refer
the matter to their attorney or to the ac-
counting officers of the Treasury Depart
ment, and if the position taken by Mr..
Petty is sustained it is understood they will
approve his recommendation and have the
printing for the District government done
here