The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-05-19
CHASING UP THE
STATE PRINTER.


cOmmitte on public printing, on Wed
nesday made q report concerning the
alleged mutilation by the State Printer
of an official report Of the commission
for the revision of the statutes, in which
the following words were erased and
did not appear in the COPY Of said re-
port as printed in the Journal:
The commissioners also respectfully
submit the Divisions 2 and 8 Of this
work were fully prepared and submit
ted to the printer on the first day Of
October last, all the other part Of the
work has been in his hands since the
18th Of January last. The contract
with the printer called for the work to
be finished within twenty COZ days af-
ter the submission of each part. The
delay in having this work printed Is,
therefore, not the fault Of the commits
sion, but from causes beyond their con-
troll" and also the following words:
Especially the LIST, 4th al d 5th divisions.
These were caused by the delay in
submitting the proof Of the work by the
printer in time for the present meet
ing of the Legislature"
The cOmmitte on public printing states
that the Stat printer personally inter
viewed each OF the members Of the COM
mission whose report was thus mutila-
ted, and believing from what they said
in response to his request that the
words Objectionable to him be omitted,
that he had the authority to change the
report by emitting the same, did 30; but
his claim of authority therefor was
only Tin part borne out by the com
snissioners," who stated that their
consent to the omission only extended
IL -. v.a,.oNv,ol a,,fho,-ifxy 70 al tho
change, reserving their opinion as to
their right to do so after the report
had been submitted to and ordered
printed by the Senate.
The conclusion Of the committee was
that your committee in view Of all
the facts in the case does not recon-
mend undue condemnation of the State
printer, and express the belief from
statements made by him that there will
not again be q recurrence OF such alter
atoms in the official documents of the
Senate.
In effect, this was a verdict of mot
guilty; but you mustn't do it again"
SUPREME COURT PRINTING.
Senate concurrent resolution No. Is,
introduced by Hon: w. Hunt Harris,
came up as q special order on Wednes-
The resolution Is as follows:
Whereas it appears from the report
of the AttOrney-General that volume
forty-five, which comprises the decisions
of the Supreme Court for the January
term. 1903, has been in the hands Of the
State printer since April, 1904; that the
'copyh for volume fOrty-six, which
COMPRISES the decisions of the Supreme
Court for the June term, 1903, has been
in the hands Of the State printer since
November, 1904; that the copy aforesaid
was delivered to the contractors
promptly upon its receipt by the AttOr-
ney-General;
And whereas it appears by said re-
port that copy for volumes fOrty-seven
and forty-eight, comprising the decis-
ions of the Supreme Court for the year
1904, is in the Office of the Attorney
General and that the contractor has re-
fused to receive the same;
And whereas it is the duty OF the
BOARD of State Institutions to protect
the State of Florida by forcing the
contractor for State printing to carry
y ont the terms of his contract;
And whereas the State of Florida has
been damaged by the failure and re-
fnsal of the contractor to carry out the
terms of his contract;
Therefore, be it resolved by the Sen
ate, the House Of Representatives con-
That the Board Of State Institutions
ho and they are hereby ordered TO take
ITO their possession the copy for vol
, m,r forty-five, forty-siX, forty-seven
unS forty-eight Of the reports of the
Smnreme Court, aforesaid; that they
tate steps for the immediate publica-
t;nn of said Supreme Court Reports as
:; 5,V mmroyided by law, that they cancel the
nSisting contract tor publication Of Su-
nayne Court Reports; that any dam
Pos sustained by the State by reason
tbe failure of the contractor to COM
o., 18th the terms Of this contract be
RA,cted from any sum or sums here
StNr found TO be due him from the
Go of Florida, on account Of anv
S.Ssr printing done; that in awarding
on contract for the publication Of the
e n;d volunes Of the Supreme Court Re-
say no contract shall be awarded,
S.lsss n time limit Is prescribed and a
! "a and sufficient bond Is taken to in
&c. the compliance Of the contractor
s.t;.h the terms Of his contract.
II nresenting the resolution, Senator
uar,lS did not spare the State printer,
ne aIIs0ed. on Information and belief,
t Iu he had, after making q ridiculously
liz hid of so cents a page for work
ll'Ik;.h he well knew could not be done
", snv reputable printer for less than