The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-12-01
FIXING THE BLAME.

quebliOn VI ONdLC pllhNHlb Hao bCSi &c
ceiving the attention of the State press
for some time past. The Tallahassee
True Democrat has made and substan-
tiated Some serious charges against the
establishment turning out the State
printing Beyond doubt some shabby
work, that is disgrace TO the State,
has been turned out by this establish
ment as the following resolutions adopt
ed by the jacksonville Bar Association
will signify; and after copying the
resolutions, it remarks: "This is the
sentiment, not only Of the Jacksonville
Bar Association, but the people of this
State as expressed in the State press.
Such a condition is deplorable, and the
State printer should be forced TO fulfill
his contract
The Barlow Courier-lnfOrmant says;
1.-THE jacksonville Bar Association has
passed a series Of resolutions severely
arraigning the State printer for unnec-
essary delay in getting out official re-
ports and the slipshod manner in which
the work is done The Tallahassee
True Democrat has been after the pub
lie printer with sharp stick for some
time, and il half the things the bar as
ISOLATION complains of are true, he de-
serves all the hard ticks that the Dem
ocrat has given him. But If the evils
that exist in this department are to be
corrected we must strike higher up.
The Board OF State Institutions, which
is supposed to control the public printer
and his work, is quite as much to blame
~ the printer himself for the unneces-
sary delay and poor work complained
oil"
Some time ago a contemporary took
The True Democrat TO task for remark
ing that money could not be drawn from
the State Treasury unlawfully by any
citizen or official without collision on
the part Of those whose duty it is 10
guard the State - funds The foregoing
expressions from other brethren of the
State press indicate quite clearly the
correctness of our position.
Judge Liddon could never have re-
ceived FIVE hundred-do fee for
prosecuting Walter Taylor without an
order Of some kind from Governor Jen-
nings and the approval thereof by the
Comptroller. Were not both Of these
officials, who were presumed to know
the law, guilty Of collision in the I'M
lawful payment Of that fee?
When the State printer rendered a
bill for printing for the Adjutant-Gen-
cral for the sum Of so, marking it
Especial" in order TO cover up the fraud,
the contract price Of the work being
one doiiur, how could it have been paid
10 him, but for the collision Of the
Comptroller in allowing the claim and
issuing the warrant?
The Informant remarks that
the Board Of State Institutions is quite
as much to blame IA the printer himself
for unnecessary delay and poor work. "
We go much farther than this, and af-
firm, without the fear Of contradiction,
AIdN fN'lI bOllhl paul Oul VI VIC DlblC
treasury for such work as the State
printer has been doing has been paid
unlawfully; and that such payments
could not have been made without col
fusion on the part of those who are
charged with the solemn and sacred
duty of protecting the public revenues
Of the State from the raids Of the State
printer, and Of all others who seek to
acquire the peoples money unlawfully,
or without due equivalent
In q recent issue we remarked that
the meetings, and the records of the
same, OF 4Ac executive boards of the
State government are public property
as much so as the open sessions Of the
Legislature or the courts Our system
of government knows no such thing "a
tar chamber" proceedings. Absolute
and unrestricted publicity Is one Of the
chief bulwarks If honest government.
Things done i'm corncror behind losed
doors arouse suspicion. The people
have an inahcnahlc right to kuolC inst
haze the business Of government is car
ricd ON 10y their chosen servants. The
reasons for the adoption of govern
mental policies may he obscure or I'M
explained, but the cHcloi acts Of the