Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-17

''~AAS l. "ouib iihC " tApIdlIl DIS UIleIlV
as the matter will permit the motion
winch l am about to make with re-
gard to this bill In the first place, I
hesitate. as everybody does, to oppose
the unanimous report of a committee
and in unanimously reporting this bill
to the House from the committee on
legal affairs the impression would ne
cessarlly be prevalent that the bill
was worthy of a passage. l shall move
to indefinitely postpone the bill, and
in order that that motion may have
some weight with some of the members
of the House at least, l will briefly eX-
plain the situation.
In 1905 an investigation of the state
printing occurred here which resulted
in the passage of a law creating the
office of auditor of State printing.
There was then no such office in this
state as State auditor, and the audit
ing of all bills of the State was done
by the Governor and Council by COM
mlttecs, excepting that of the printing
matter. without any particular statute
authorizing it but as matter of con-
Vcnicnce to the Governor and Council,
with the assistance of a practical man
when they needed that assistance. The
Office of auditor of State printing was
created. | say in 1908. The Legislature
then deemed it necessary to have the
printing bills audited through some
regular channel. In 1907 the Legisla
ture created the office Of State auditor,
and since that time the anomalous
condition has existed of having all the
bills of every department audited
through Auditor Hatch'S Office, but the
printing bills, the one department for
which an auditing system had been
arranged before Auditor H2tch's Office
was created, had to go through the
separate department also That matter
seemed to some CT US who knew some
thing OF the State printing business
unnecessary, and L introduced a bill
early in the session. not with any per-
sonal purpose in it for l have nothing
but the kindlicst feelings towards Mr..
Carver. and I am not engaged in the
printing business or connected in any
way with q newspaper nor have | been
for nearly three mOnthS-I introduced
n bill to abolish the office of auditor of
State printing simply because by the
institution of the State auditing sys-
tenn the state had outgrown the need
of a special state auditor of printing.
That bill the committee on legal at
fairs looked on with favor and report
ed sought to pass" and that bill has
passed; the office of auditor of state
printing has been abolished. but the
committee also has reported ought
to pass" on House Document No. 346,
a copy of which l have in my hands.
which creates the Office of Superlntend-
cnt OF public printing, by Section :.
The bill if one read the whole of it and
did not read the rest of the statute
would appear to fill Il much needed
want for it regulates competitive bids
among printers and all that
sort of thing. and So much of the bill
as relates to anything excepting the
creation of this office and the defining
of the dutie.; of the office. is law now,
that is to say. the system of compet-
tive bids is established by law. The
arrangement for the number OF copies;
when each department may order is
left with the Governor and Council.
and everything in regard to the state
printing business is still covered by the
existing statutes excepting the part of
this bill which occurs after Section I,
Wherein it is stated as follows: TO
carry out the provisions OF this act.
the Governor by and with the advice
and consent Of the Council shall ap-
point a Superintendent of public print
ing. to serve during their pleasure; II"
shall be :tn experienced practical prlilt
or. He Shall have an office at the scat
Of government properly provided WIN
necessary furniture, equipment ana
stationery. and such clerical assistance
as tho Governor and Council may deem
ncccsSarv He shall receive an annual
salary Of $500
Now the effect of this bin il passed
would be to create "a new bureau, q
bureau in which would be involved
some expense and which could Ser'c
no purpose excepting t" check the
printing that was done by tn" different
state printers for the State. | haN" nu
uu. ton, knowing something about fhH
business because for two years ! was
connected with the Sentinel Publishing
60 which did printing for the stat"
and did business for the different de
,artmcntS and with the auditor ri
state printing, Mr.. tarver-l have II"
question but that in Auditor Hatch :
office. under the instruction wi the Coy :
trnor and Council or 4 printer employ
ed I,v the Governor ANA touncii, when
bids are to he made at Il total cXp"ns"
Tor both your clerical assistance and
your practical printer the sum OF four
or five thousand collars Il year would
cover every useful purpose that TINS
bin covers Now. know that the !m-
preston was made upon the members
Of the committee on legal affairs VINO
took this matter up undoubtedly WIN
care. and reported what in their best
Judgment seemed to be ri2ht-an inn
preston was made upon them by the
present auditor of State printing thai
thousands of dollars had been saved
t. tho state by his personal work, and
therefore to abolish his office. which
they did do, and not give him another
which they are attempting to do, would
cause :. very large loss to the STATE
That was ret quite the true position
If any money has been saved to the
state of late years in its printing bust
ness it has been because of the new
system of bids. and not by the per
>oual work of the auditor or any Other
man. | question Il little about whether