Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-27
Letter from Former Auditor of Print
Boston, Mass, Aug, %, 1912.

| Boston, Mass, Aug. 90, 1912.
.ditors kennebec Journal:
Gentlemen.-f have been following
with interest the present controversy
over state printing matters In your
issue OF Aug. y, 1872 1 notice a reported
interview with Wallace s. Iadd in which
occurs the following question and an
Reporter:-''You understand the Senti-
| mel has been accustomed to receive ad-
va van Tor T., stock on other occasions, do
Mr.. Ladd:-"The Sentinel has been
doing that way ever since il started do
ing state printing; they get proof of
| ask for an advance ON the stock"
My chief interest in this matter is that
the people Of Maine shall have the sx
| act truth presented, as they are about
| to decide issues of faf-reaching Import
ance to their own welfare.
from Jan, 1906, to July, 1911, places me
in position to speak with authority on
the point raised in the interview above
referred to.
During this five and one-half years the
Sentinel Publishing Co did not ask for
and did not receive advances of the
State printing. Neither did any other
firm or individual.
on a few occasions, acting for the
state, ] purchased stock for certain Jobs
and had It shipped to the printer, recefv-
ing. the invoice from the paper dealer
and passing the same for settlement in
This option of purchasing stock for
any given job line of work was se-
cured to the State in the contracts. 1t
was exercised only in case of certain Jobs
requiring stock different from the gem
eral run of printing, as in those cases 1
could not only. save money on the pnr-
Just right and that the stock would not
waste in storage or be diverted to other
uses in the printing office.
I BY no stretch of Imagination can this
advance nf IN,
the printer on stock account, as the
State owned the stock all through the
was protected by contract in Its hands
ling and use.
The only other point I can think Of
I.add's ii-advised statement is in the
prompt settlement of the bills of the
Sentinel Publishing Co
/ am sure no JfaXoritism was shown
Democrat. or Republican,, Individual or
firm. during my connection with State
printing affairs, either in awarding con-
tracts. interpreting of contracts or pay
ment of bills
From the beginning of the competitive
system in 1905, under Republican admin
istratlons, state printing contracts We're
continuously held by one or another of
the Democratic concerns that were in
the field bidding for the work. low
enough in price to win. and because of
location and responsibility considered
able to do the work in satisfactory
manner.
Inc Stnlinei Publishing TO. was ac-
corded unusual courtesies and considera-
tion by Republican officials at the State
House in that for a time its bills were
examined and approved Immediately ON
presentation
These unusual courtesies were extended
because we recognized unusual financial
circumstances with the contractor and it
was in the interests of the state that the
work be continued at the low contract
prices
We call these courtesies unusual but
they were not personal or political; they
would have been as freely accorded to
any one under like circumstances.
If the Sentinel Co. realized ON those
approved bills at once il was through
banking arrangements and not by use OF
State funds.
Let me say further that While the Sem
tinel Co. presented bills weekly or semi
weekly during the progress of heavy
Jobs. the bills were in proper form and
accompanied by evidence that the work
covered by the bin was completed.
Very truly yours.
T.. n, CARVER.