The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-07-03
Florida State
Printing system.

For several years there has been
considerable discussion over the man.
ner in which the state printing has
been awarded, and the board of state
institutions, which awards the con-
tract, has been the subject of much
adverse criticism.
The chief objection seems to have
been to the amount required to be de-
posted with the bids, and there is
no custom but that this amount has
been excessive. Two years ago it was
charged that one Of the bids received
by the board was at a lower total fig
ure than the bid which received the
award but that the lowest bidder did
not accompany his bid with the certi-
fled check and therefore not having
complied with the advertised rules of
the board his bid was rejected.
If the board of state institutions
advertised for bids for the state print
ing and stated in that advertisement
that no bid would be considered that
was not accompanied by a certified
check for twelve thousand dollars
then they were justified in rejecting
any bid, no matter how low it was in
comparison with other bids. The mis-
take the board made was in that it
did not comply with the published
rules of the board, making this
amount too large. 1-ere is no neces-
sity for man to deposit this amount
in order to guarantee that the work
can and win be done in a manner
that is satisfactory to the board, but
simply that the parties making the
bid are reliable and in the event they
are awarded the contract that they
can prepare a proper bond. While it
is perhaps necessary for the board to
require some kind of guarantee, yet
DIT is not right to the small printer to
make him put up so large an amount.
The last legislature contained sew
eral members of the fourth estate and
these men got together and had passed
a bill regulating this matter, but the
governor thought the bill unjust and
vetoed it. One of the members of this
legislature, and very much interested
In the matter. has the following to
say concerning this. veto message OF
the governor in the. last issue Of the
Palatka News:
Gov. Broward has vetoed the state
printinR bill, This measure was a
plain business law that in operation
would permit the states printing to
go to the lowest responsible bidder.
whose bid would be accompanied by
n certified check for 81 ,00e and who,
an case of award, would be required
10 give bond for faithful perform
ance, 1t was opposed by the present
state printer and the forces of the
administration, but the bill was so
iust and business-like in its construc-
ton that IL compelled the support OF
fair minded administration senators.
and representatives in sufficient mum,
her to insure its passage by a small
majority. Gov. Broward gives as his
reason for his veto that the bill did
not provide for the work being done
in the state, but in this the governor
IS mistaken. The original bill did not
contain this safeguard, but this was
supplied ny an amendment offered by
Mr. McWilliams of St. Johns, which
nassed both houses. 1t was Just,
business like law and in Withholding
his approval Gov Broward has simply
surrendered to the Establishments OF
the present state printer who borrow
ed the executive ear long enough TO
scure a continuance of his graft.
According to Editor Russell, If the
governor vetoed the bill on account
of the failure to insert clause pro-
viding for the work to be done in the
state he did so under misapprehen-
sion. If the bill did not provide for
this the governor was right in Veto
ing it, because unquestionably the
work ought to be done in the state.
The Journal does net believe that the
state printer borrowed the ear OF the
executive long enough TO secure
continuance of his graft" or that this
was the governors reason for having
vetoed the bill The bill, however,
has been vetoed and the legislature
does not meet again for two years,
but in the meantime new contract
IS to be awarded this summer and II
the board OF state institutions wants
to do the right thing about these bids
they should lower the amount of the
certified check required to be deposit |
ed with the bids and let in the small
or asible printers.