Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-10
The State PRINTING,

the truth in certain respects that we
| cannot permit it to go unchallenged.
The statement is made that the legis-
lative inquiry into the State printing
was the result Of Democratic criti-
cism. This statement is absolutely
false. There was contest for the
office Of State Printer between two Re-
| publican publishers. In the course
of that contest certain criticisms were
made by Republican opponents re-
/ gardinS the State Printer which gave
| the public some erroneous impressions
| AS a result he asked Senator Hescltor
to introduce an order for legis-
lative inquiry, which was DONE Tho
| Democratic party had absolutely moth
| ing to do with the matter. AS a
result of its inquiry the commit
tee unanimously found that both
the State Printer and the audi
tor had faithfully observed all the re-
uuircrncnts of the law. Printing bills,
it declared, payable out Of the general
appropriation that should have been
submitted to the auditor have been SO
submitted, properly audited by him,
and paid out of the treasury at statue
rates" This report was signed ny
Mr.. Barrett Potter and Mr.. Harold W.
| ccwail. to whose 'honest efforts, the
Sentinel asserts, the inquiry was pre-
vented from degenerating into laie'
in common with all the other members
Of the committee. including the Dei'''
cratic member The Sentinefs Insult
70 the members of the committee
outside of Mr.. Potter and MI
| Sewall is entirely gratultouS gnu
uncaIled for. The efforts OF MT.
Potter and Mr.. Sewall to ascertain
ana make known the facts regarding
The printing were certainly hoheSt anu
praisewcrthy: but no more so than the
| efforts; of their associates who were as
| ,Io,r and ,nricht body of men as
| ever served on a legislative COM
mittcc.
Tho Sentinel declares that the pro-
uriutors of the Kcnnebec Journal
strcnuously objected to the change in
the law" This is an absolute and
unmitisated falsehood. At no time,
in no place. and to no man did any
one of the proprietors of the Kennebec
Journal ever object to change in the
statute law which fixed the prices to
be paid for printing and provided for
the biennial election Of a State Printer
by the Legislature. 2: the contrary
members of the printing committee
and other legislative members who
consulted with us regarding the mat
ter. will bear testimony that not only
did the proprietors of the Journal NOT
object "strcnuously'' or otherwise, to
the repeal of the statute law govern
ing tire State printing, but that, on the
contrary they stated to all who spoke
to them about the matter their entire
willingness that the existing statute
should be repealed and the whole mat
ter put upon a competitive basis. SO
much for the facts.
The Sentinel further alleges that it
was entitled by its contract to print
the Australian ballots. AS matter
Of fact this printing was not included
| in the bids called for, for the reason
that, under the statute law, it was
left in the hands Of the Secretary of
State Inasmuch as these proofs have
of that office, and ballots packed by
them for shipment to the various Vot-
ing precincts, and inaSmuch as the time
| for doing this work under the law is too
snort at best, it is~not surprising per-
haps that the Secretary of State saw
fit to give this work to the Kennebcc
Journal for good business and not for
family reasons, as the Sentinel as
serts. AS is well known, if these bal
lots were TO pc destroyed III pToCtSo VI
printing it would be practically i'm
possible to reproduce them in season
for an election When the Journal
block was constructed a large fire.
proof vault was built expressly for the
| storing of the ballots until they were
| packed and put into the hands OF tne
express company for distribution
| Whoever does this work should, foi
the safety of the state. be provided
| with such facilities for safeguarding
| it.
| The Sentinel declares that the Jour
nal should not have been awarded thu
legislative printing. inasmuch as it,
bid was a conditional one. The Jour
nal simply stated to the Governor an'
| Council that unless it had work Il
maintain it's book or it's JOB depart
meuts. it did not care to be consiu
ercd as bidding for the Legislative
printing inasmuch as it considered