Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-22
Printing Of State Auditors Report

On the 9Th or teOruary last. Dy OrCer
Of the Legislature, work was started
upon the job of printing 500 copies Of
the State Auditors Report for the
years 1918 and 1914. On February II the
Attorney General. replying to an in
ouiry submitted by Governor Curtis,
rendered an opinion to the effect that
the legislative action was unauthoriz-
ed, because the work fell under Glass
A (book WORK. and not under Class c
Legislative printing!.
When this opinion came to the at
tenrion of the legislative printer on
February u, work on the job was at
once suspended, and the secretary OF
the Senate. from whom the order was
received, was notified ~ letter Of
that date, as follows:
, referring TO action OF the Senate
OF February & ccncurred il: by the
House on February 5, ordering the
printing of 50p copies Of state Audit
or's Report for the years 1878 ana 18Th
we beg 10 say:
In view OF the opinion of the Attor-
ney General Of February II. which
has Just come 10 our attention, we
would inform you that We have this
day suspended work on said report
awaiting further instructions from the
Legislature"
on February Il we discussed edito-
rally, as a newspaper, the legal as
poets Of the case, differing from the
conclusion reached by the Attorney
General. who had previously conceded
that the LEGISLATURE was the sole con-
stitutional judge Of the quantity, char
acter and time limit Of printing for It's
own use, but adding that:
AS soon as we learned Of Mr.. Pat
targalfs opinion. work was ir1medi-
ately suspended upon the Job in ques-
LEGISLATURE. We have no desire to
make any unnecessary expense for
the State. pending further action by
the Legislature in this matter The
kennebec Journal Company is mere
~ a passenger IN the whole matter"
On February 16 we published COM
munication from the Attorney General,
replying to our editorial OF the 18th,
tOEttitSI Will cur ItJp-iIuef " Se-iie,
whica concluded as follows:
I'VE repeat that We have no desire
10 make any unnecessary expense fer
the State. and should senator Garce-
Ion on Tuesday desire to take action
with the view OF having the order re-
scirded. he viii find the work on the
Job still held in allowance by the leg
islative printers, awaiting legislative
orders, and not one cent of expense
sd n W ai nj
crued at the time we were first in
formed of Mr. Pattangall's opinion"
An entire legislative week has elaps-
ed since then, and Senator Garcelon,
who Introduced the order for the print
ing Of the reports, has taken no action
10 our knowledge Indicated any inten-
ton OF SO doing.
The order, therefore, stands unre-
scindcd, and we must assume that the
Legislature desires its execution.
Believing. therefore, that ample OPP
portunity has been afforded both for
the consideration of the Attorney Cen
erals opinion, and for the rescission OF
the legislative order had such action
been desired. we consider it our duty
under our contract to proceed with the
work.
We reiterate that, SO far as any con-
troversies have arisen in these mat
tiers, between the executive and leg
islative departments, they have been
in no way Of our seeking, and that our
tract for legislative printing to the sat
isfaction of the Legislature and in a
manner acceptable to the Governor
and Council.