The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-02-23
FREEMAN TAKES
EXCEPTIONS To
STATEMENTS

L. l. Freeman. the state printer. APP
peared before the house judiciary COM
mittee today and took exceptions TO some
OF the Statements concerning him made
al recent hearing before the committee.
Mr., Freeman said he had heard OF what
had been said through the public press
and because of the wide publicity given
to statements derogatory TO his establish
ment he wished 10 refute them. He said
the validity OF his contract with the stat
had been questioned and that he had a
copy OF the contract with him and would
leave 1t with the committee that the mem-
bers might Judge as 10 its effectiveness.
This matter" said Mr.. Freeman" is
one OF great public Importance 10 me. 1
have heard IL was said was not able to
do the state printing promptly and prop
erly because OF a strike I'm my shop.
Practically all ] know OF this Is what
read In the newspapers. All tie strike
have had is five hands went out. Three
new men were at once hired and the old
men took such an interest IN the shop
that they worked harder and got out more
printing in the month OF January than has
ever been done in any other month.
Il have been I'm business 40 years and
more than 5S hours a week. l have always
given them two hours off every Saturday.
! gave the nine hour day six months
ahead Of the time required I'm the agree
meit between the National Typothetae
and the international Typographical
union and have never had any trouble.
For two years l have paid the Providence
scale OF prices, which Is s2a week higher
than that Of the Pawtucket union.
ha.r
have never asked a man II he belonged
to the union and have never disseminated
! between union and non-union printers In
any way / believe ! should be allowed
TO conduct my own business"
Mr. Freeman said he had been visited
at his house by a committee from the
American Federation OF Labor and that
the members had told him there was no
fault with his establishment. except az
regards the eight-hour. day. They had
| admitted 10 him. he said. that he had the
falrest shop in Rhode Island.
lie said he had no objection TO eight
hours. but there was contract with the
pressmen which runs out I'm 1907. and at
the end OF that time he thought both
pressmen and printers would get an
eight-hour day.
In regard 10 the statement that Is per
cent. too much had been charged FOR some
printing Mr.. Freeman stated that with
one exception all bills had been approved
by the state auditef-The exception was
when he had charged extra for furnish
| ing stationery for that official and ap-
proval had been withheld on the ground
that the bill was 81 too high. II do not
/ care whether that bill is ever paid or
/ not said Mr. Freeman. II do not pro-
| pose TO let any one make capital out OF
| that matter which is self evidently
! picked up for another purpose.
Robert Grieve was present at the time
! and Mr.. Freeman said he was familiar
with all the printing Offices, he would
! leave II TO him IL any OF the others were
! I'm a condition 10 do the work In a salts
] factory manner Mr.. Grieve answered In
the negative
Mr.. Freeman asked II any one knew
| OF n time when the state printing had
| not been properly and well done. 10 which
Judge Harris chairman OF the committee.
replied that so far as the committee was
concerned the services of the state printer
had been eninently satisfactory. For the
general assembly itself Judge Harris said
he could not speak