Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-04
IL This Business?

At the Democratic meeting in
1Rochand on Monday. Hon. W. R.
lPattangall, attorney general Of Maine
land manager Of the Democratic cam
}paign, gave high praise to the "busi-
ness administration Of Governor
Curtis. He said things at the State
House had been systematized 80 that
1.-THE people might know where they
were at" He said Governor Curtis
had been successful in conducting his
(private business and that he had been
iequally successful in managing the
iaffairs Of the State. He characterize
the governor az "a shrewd business
man."
Every day the Democratic press
and Democratic speakers break out
lin new places with the business" ad-
ADMINISTRATION Of Governor Curtis. The
Governor himself admits it. in public
and private. In fact he modestly
states for publication that his is about
./-the only business administration the
Estate ever had. He doesn't even wink
Tat the newspaper men when he says
lit; he seems to almost hope that some
lof them will notice It.
. And all this may be true-from the
1Governors standpoint. from Mr.. Pat
tangalrs standpoint, from the Demo-
cratic standpoint; but we herewith
,submith exhibit z as evidence that old
General Business does not agree that
the administration methods are al
ways business like. Here are few
solemn facts:
On June Is the Governor and
Council advertised for sealed pro-
prosals for doing Glass A Of the State
printing. which comprises the book
ana pamphlet printing. for a term be-
ginning July /, 1916. and ending June
so. 1918.
, AS an earnest Of the good faith o.
the bidders a certified check for $500
was required to be furnished by each
bidder.
The bids were opened June 81.
There were three bidders. the Kenne-
bee Journal, the Lewiston Journal
and the waterville Sentinel The bid
lof the Lewiston Journal was the high
est and that Of the Kennebec Journal
1.-THE lowest The bids Of the Kenne-
bee Journal and the Waterville Senti-
mel were very close but figures on the
lprevious two years work show that
that Of the Kennebec Journal is sew
eral thousand dollars lower than the
Sentinel on the two years. work.
II the promise Of the Governor and
Council meant anything it meant that
the bidders could depend on the con-
tract being awarded or rejected within
q reasonable time. In fact state
,ment was made in the invitation for
proposals that the award would be
made for a term beginning July l..
1915.
Three meetings Of the Governor and
Council have been held since the bids
were opened. yet no decision or word
has been sent the bidders in regard to
the matter. 1t looks as though the
Governor and Council did not care to
award the contract to the Kennebec
Journal. and did not have the courage
to award it to the Waterville Sentinel
until after election. After the results
Of the election are known and tho
present administration turned down
as undoubtedly they will be. the Gov
.ernor and Council can then award the
contract to the Waterville Sentinel
without fear Of Condemnation from
the voters for their "business' admin
istration.
Meanwhile three certified checks for
$500 each are In the State Treasurer's
lomce ana each bidder is minus that