Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-30

tho Printed reuorts of the transactions of
the Maine Pathological Society nave put
RECENTLY been issued from the Office Oh the
State Printer of Maine
uuiries has informed a correspondent IN
Maine as follows under date OF sept. .
1J05.-
Yours received. In regard to our
transaction and its publication, the
only point Is this-the lateness or
it's issue. 1t is made up almost en-
'tirely OF practical, suggestive fruit
matters. IL IT Is worm ahytnihs ~
should be printed 50 as to be avail
able before the cultural season is
past. The same applies to the issue
Of Gilman'S report.
The State Printers, as matter or
convenience to themselves. have
nut off the work TO suit their con-
venience, and that is the real point
for criticism We are disposed to
urge its earlier publication.
r s. The lateness is not peculiar
to this year.
The meetings Of which these '"Trans-
| ac,ions' are the report occurred eight
nr nine months ago The delay is wholly
without justification by me state IN point
of public service toward the fruit grow
| ers of Maine. If these Ira i,sa t..i
| in season. promptly on the opening OF tn"
| cultural season. When the last word
shall be Of advantage to the ffu!t grow
prs of Maine or else, II there De no value
| In them the printing Of the reports IS 4
public waste and should be discontinued.
THE eagerness OF the demand Tor these
reports, however. and the chailns over
| the delay indicate that the fruit growers
| of Maine do apprcciat" ana desire them
| and that they desire them III proper and
reasonable time. The better part OF =:
years delay-or at least Il delay OF
months beyond the proper time as Secre-
| tary Knowlton indicates, is neither good
business, nor justifiable expenditure OF
| public funds.-Lewiston Journal
| The inference from the above article
| is that the Public Printer for his own
convenience" held the report of the
| Secretary Of the Maine Pathological
Society the better part of year
or at least months beyond "a proper
| and reasonable time" This was I'M
doubtedly the impression that was in
| tended to be conveyed TO the people of
| Maine by the article above quoted. If
such had been the fact it would GER
| tainly seem to have been the duty of
| Mr.. KnOwlton to have made some pro-
| test to the Public Printer, and yet the
| first intimation that this official has
ever received that Mr.. knowlton was
not entirely satisfied with the manner
| in which his reports We're handled.
came W MIN III lIt loltSolliS lctlcl
reproduced in a Lewiston Journal edi-
| torial. Under the circumstances it is
only proper that the people of Maine
should be given the facts relative to
this report, in order that they may
| know precisely where to place the re
sponsibility for any delay in its publ
| cation.
The Public Printer of Maine has a
lot HI 81, tIa
copy for the various portions of this re-
port was received by him, together
with the dates upon which revised
proofs We're sent to the officials having
charge of the work, and the dates upon
which these proofs We're returned by
them to the Public Printer. These
facts, and all the data bearing upon
them are, fortunately, at hand for the
full and complete information of the
public. The Pathological report is pub
lshed as the third and last section of
the general Agricultural Report. 1t 4
mas been the custom to print at the
same time five hundred extra copies
which are bound up for separate dis
tributon. The copy for the first part
of the Agricultural Report was placed
in the hands of the Public Printer on
the 18th day of last May. with the state
ment that the Commissioner desired
the report to be out in season for dis
tribution at the fall fairs. The copy for
the Pathological portion of the report
was placed in the Printers hands, June
10th. At this time the work on the
general volume was under full way.
and revised form proofs or signatures.
We're being given the Agricultural De-
partment as rapidly as they could be
handled there with the pressure of
other work. The Pathological portion
of the work was taken up in it's order
and the first revised form proof was
sent Mr.. knowlton. July 5. There
We're eleven signatures in the report,
and the final proof was sent Mr.
knOwlton, July 18th. 1t was received
back from him the 81 day of August
These proofs of the eleven signatures,
from the time they We're mailed to Mr.
Knowlton until they We're received
back from him. We're out of the hands
Of the Public Printer-counting the
time each one was held-an aggregate
of S9 days, or a little over eight days
to each signature. Allowing two DAYS
for transit which we think our readers
Will cOncede to be n liberal time in
view of the present conditions of train
service. and the fact still remains that
these proofs. which had been put into
type in seven days, We're held by Mr..
Notwithstanding the delays on each
separate proof-a total of ca days! 1t
might naturally have been supposed
| that Mr.. KnOWlton in order to make his
| report worth something to the fruit
| growers of Maine" would at least have
been disposed to have hustled a little
| on his last proof; but such was not the
fact. AS we have stated. this proof
was sent to Mr. KnOwlton the 18th day
| of July and was received back from
him. Aug. "a period Of three weeks
| that the Public Printer held this form
in type patiently awaiting Mr. Knowl-
| tons pleasure for a chance to put it
| upon the press. Inasmuch as he
waited this long time without criticism
or complaint, it will strike the fair
| minded citizens Of Mama no n tc;ao ~,