Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-20
Not a Thinq to Experiment With.

A gentleman of large experience In the
printing business writes the Reporter IN
regard to state printing: our o'Serka-
lions covering a period of 20 years at Al
gusta, is that this correspondent is corrett
in the statement that the work Is wen
and promptly done at the kennebec Jour
nal Office and at fair and reasonable iis-
ures and change is not for the pubic
good People have grown so accustomed
to hearing about the fabulous sums that
some person or another promises to save
the State on the printing every two years,
that the reports of the present session on
that subject. arouse small interest. ann
occasion little comment. 4 understand
that a Portland firm offers to do the work
at figures which seem to show saving OF
some s27o0 year on the suriace-not 500
a year as certain enterprising n Wspaper
correspondents have stated: ms ~ Il
very small margin for which 10 place so
important n work in new ana untfled
hands to the Gripping of the expensive
plant which has been built ny. within =. a
few rods of the Capitol to do this work in
a manner creditahle to the STATE, ana
which has q force OF printers skilled III
handling Ii by years of experience. II Is
folly to claim that "A new firm could nan
die this work as eXpeditiouSiy or rs We'll
ard folly to think of carting Il 10 Fort
land or any other city ca miles away. and
level headed business men. VINO nave
looked into the matter in years past. nave
never failed to recognize these facts;
have had years of experience in the print
ing business and know what | am talking
about Promptness in doing the printing
Is money to the state. Ii tilt lItSiSidt ul'
should wait only two days for tn" print
ers. it would more than use up IN eX-
penses the amount the Portland firm ;
proposal would apparently save. 30 no
believe that there is printing eStinliSH-
ment In Maine that can take up TINS WORE
new and not delay the Legislature a dhztl
DAVIS before the close of a session. 10 o'
sure "A large proportion OF the expenses
accustomed by such delays would be pal'
nv the members of the Legislature per
sonally in enlarged hotel bills. nut ina
is no reason why they should not be tahe1
into account in awarding contracts. Ih"r'
is 10 part of the State work where 1neN
perierce can prove more expensive thai
in the State printing.
Again the present CONTRACT upon "hicf
the State printing is done Is an eNceen
ingly reasonable one. Its prices are con
siderably lower than those which prevail
generally among the job printers OF th'
State TO be sure there are no risks II
collection. but giving all possible ailoW-
ance to this the fact remains That tht
contract upon which printing is done Is ar
exceedingly reasonable one. The prices
remain precisely where they We're put ~
the t;reenback Performers" in lSl9. and
so far as I know. this contract enjoys the
distinction of being about the only thlre
that suffered during the era OF retrehcn
ment'' that has not been restored TO u
former position. In my Judgment tn'
contract is as low as any hrm can u'
work creditable to the State, and get any
very poor policy to experiment WIN l I'M;
matter That was done in M ana wa
an expensivc experience for the state.
is the kind of history that the SOLID mem
hers of a Republican Legislature vii
scarcely hermit to repeat itself.