Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-11
Wednesday, December II, 1907.
The Sentinel and the State Printing.

hurry and confusion of the closing
DAVIS Of the session The Journal may
net know it, but it is a fact that the
book which we are critcising did not
leave the hands of BurIelgh {: Flynt
until November and it would seem as
though there was ample time between
the adjournment of the Legislature
and last month for such errors as we
have mentioned to be corrected
Waterville Sentinel
This is about as near the truth as
the Sentinel usually gets. 1t is per-
hrps needless to say that the foregoing
statement is false The book" which
the Sentinel refers to was the bound
copies; Of the daily record Of legisla
tive proceedings, the various issues of
which we're placed upon the desks Of
ers daily during the session. The
printer never had at any time more
than two or three issues in his hands.
Each issue was subject to review by
members of the legislature for whom
they we're printed and every error not
ed by members was promptly correct
Cd. Because Of this daily review by
members Of the legislature this record
has never been placed i'm care of any
were largely Transcribed. set up and
proof read during the night. and while
every care was used to secure accuracy
they made no claim to infallibilty.
They were upon the same basis as
daily newspaper and equally liable
to error. The last issue was made
up nnd printed immediately following
the Adjournment Of the lcgisla turc
\ copy WAS sent to every member of
binding were delivered to the binder
by whom they were held pending the
preparation Of an index at the state
library. The printer had nothing fur
thcr to do with them. The SentinerS
statement that the work did not leave
the hands Of Bureigh & Flynt until
true that an error occurred IN the
haste Of making up the last number.
The fact remains however that the
num"cr y question was in the hands of
members of the legislature for whom
it WIS printed nearly seven months be-
fore tn" issues were bound into book
form. and there was not a day during
that time when the printer would not
checrfully and gladly have rcpub-
lis'e1 TIE issue i'll question had any
member of the legislature called lis at
tenti"n 4" this error These are tho
facts.
We have never cInimcd infillibility:
bit the legislatures and State depart
mCEtS for which we have done work
for many years will. we are confident,
bear testimony To The general care ana
accuracy of our work, and our will
lngneSS at all times 10 make god
rrolEI tly any error for which we We're
responsible and Ia which our attention
was ca'ied From the nature of the
S"ntncfs criticisms we had supposed
that it c,aimed to be nfallble: but we
find that such is not the case II says.
I'VE realize. even with our brief cx-
ptrlcnce. that errors are easy to make
We make them often perhaps oftcnor
than any of our contemporaries or
competitors. but W hen we make them
III state work, We are properly and
politely requested to do the work over
again, at our own expense"
This Is what should be- done The
Journal d'l thc work which the 81 nti-
mel has criticised for The legislature. 1t
was promptly distributed to the mem
b.is "f that body who had il in their
hands for nearly seven months prior to
its binding. during which tho printer
stood ready I" reprint any part of il
containing ANY error for which he was
responsible. It was not necessary for
him I" be politely reHucStcd'' to do 81.
That result would have followed
promptly the mere calling IF his at
tention t. any printers error contained
i'll it.
III" Sentinel might perhaps explain
why il has delayed 81 Ion., i'm ,ioiuc
over again ut its own expense The
agents blanks of the insurance depayt-
ment which the commissioner very
properly refused to accept months ago
and which if the Sentinel has ever done
theri over again have not yet been de-
ilveied 1T the State House. Good service
1" the State would have required the
reprintinS of this job within AZ hours
after the Sentinel was notified of its
rejection. yet months have elansed and
the Insurance Department has vet to
receive this job from the Sentinel, in
reprinted and acceptable form al
though this is one of the forms which
the Department has in constant 80,
Truly he who resides in glass hons.
Sl1oflu he Spnpuhat