Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-30
Auditor {. n. ca1ss Flies
Annual RspaTi.
Cost Of Printing For Past Two
Years Was $50, 49, SO.


auditor OF printing, which was filed
with the Governor and Council
Wednesday. says in part: e
AT the time of closing the accounts
for the 1906 report Of this department
there was i'll the hands of the printers,
unfinished work authorized and COM
| nenced before the close of the year,
| estimated to cost $60G6.42. When
finished this work cost $634369, or
| $2l1.27 more than the estimate.
with the known cost OF the eleven
items above referred to we are enabled
| to give the actual total cost OF printing
authorized in 1906 as $26,953.66.
1.-THE cost OF general printing in 1907
| was $50, 1863; the cost OF legislative
printing in 1907 was $23,3SS.S1; adding
the cost of 1906 printing of $26,953.66
the total for the two years was $780,
1896.
Assuming that the public is inter-
ested and wants to know the facts
about this branch of the public SER
vice, and with this knowledge will be
the better able to direct through it's
representatives how this service shall
be conducted, we state a. few general
facts that will give a more intimate
knowledge of causes and conditions
than can be gathered from the figures
here published. f.&tr
There are three principal causes for
the saving in cost of printing herein
shown. First, the lower rates OBJ.
tained through competitive bids; Sec
Ond, the elimination of constructive
printing" so called; third, supervision
in behalf Of the State. Whether there
has been any material reduction in
the volume of printing, on the whole,
as compared with former years, is a
question hard to determine.
"The legislature of 1906 reduced to
some extent the maximum limit on
the editions of some departments re-
ports, and also extended the limit on
others. Certainly the tendency Is
strongly toward an increase. New
departments are being established and
new duties are being imposed upon the
| older ones.
1.-The printing requirements con-
stitute correct indicator of the ac-
tivities Of all branches Of the State
government. To cut off for time
the supply of printing would mean to
| clog the wheels of government and
paralyze the public business. The
tendency toward unavoidable increase
| in some directions emphasizes the
need of constant restraint and careful
| pruning wherever it may be done
| without detriment to public service. 40
every law by the legislature calls
| for more or less printing. Some laws
set in motion a train of activities
that call for a large amount OF print
ing in variety of ways.
"a striking example of the above
may be cited here. Chapter ia, Re-
solves of 1905, provides means whereby
the State Assessors may employ "a
competent person or persons whose
duty it shall he to assist said board
in verifying and perfecting, as far as
practicable, a proper description of
each parcel or tract of wild land, and
the individual or corporate ownership
thereof, in townships not incorporated,
III order that such lands may be prop
erly described for taxation purposes,
etc. The legislature provided means
for paying the person or persons thus
employed, but did not foresee that a
larger sum would lie required to pay
for the printing cntailed by that
proper description
IN the State Assessors report for
1901 the valuation list made up for
taxation purposes, covers G8 pages.
Then the description of wild lands i'll
unincorporated townships was by
whole townships. In their report Of
1906, IN consequence Of this proper
description OF each parcel" the valua-
ton list made 30S pages. increasing
nearly five fold. This added to the
cost Of printing the report, $979.50.
Ctcm y.
when the legislature of 1907 came
to ass,Ss a state tax this same proper