Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-19

some DIS uNUcCOu!IIl6 AOi LAC 1ASho
nebec Journal Company to argue the
merits Of the question Of printing.
as opposed to typwriting engrossed
bills and resolves, We believe none
will deny US the right to challenge
made on the floor OF
the House which reflect either upon
The character of the work. or the
business methods. OF the legislative
printers. We quote from the stem
ographic record Of yesterdays
House proceedings:
Statement I
.When the time came for the
converting Of this Legislature, the
Secretary Of States Department,
in whose hands by law the mat.
ter Of enerossins bills rests, be.
gan to cast about to make a con.
tract for the ensrossins Of bills at
this session. This has been done
for several years by the ksnnsbee
Journal, and they have been
printed. The State Department
was unable this year. as they
thought, to make a satisfactory
contract with the ksnnebee
journal, and 50 they looked about
al
er method-of ensrossins these
bills"
Answer
On November -. 1915. a contract
with the kennebec Journal Co. for
all legislative printing was signed
by the Governor and Council In.
Guided in this contract was a divi-
SION explicitly specifying the en-
crossing OF the acts and resolves.
This contract is in force at the pres
ent time. though the State has the
rich, under the contract to omit any
work no, wanted.
Many weeks previous TO the sign
ing Of this contract. when it was
rlmored that the method Of en-
crossing might be changed. the
Kennebec Journal Company. in
personal interview with the Govern
Or. requested hearing. not as an
objector bu; as an informant Of the
Of printing as compared
with typewri,ing. and was assured
that this opportunity would be at
forded.
II was not, however. until some
weeks after the typewriters had
actually been purchased that the
Secretary of State afforded this op-
portunity TO the kennebec Journal
Co, stating that he did SO at the re-
quest Of the Governor.
At this conference. the matter Of
different size page and the use Of
smaller type was taken up. The
kennebec Journal Co. then stated
to the Secretary of State that in its
estimation the adoption of these
changes would practically cut in two
the cost
From that day to this, no further
communication has been received by
US either from the Executive Depart.
ment or the Secretary Of States
ONCE.
Statement 2
"And that represented ffty.ens
pages that had 70 b done over
because the printer made . mis-.
take, and the State had to pay for
extra tims-had to pay double the
fifty.ons pages Of that negotiable
instruments law; and, Of course,
the STATE has to furnish the
stock for doing this printing"
Answer
Since 1880 the writer has had per-
sonal supervision Of the engrossing
and has figured all bills for same.
The uniform rule has been that the
expense occasioned by mistakes Of
the States engrossing department are
borne by the State. while those Of the
printer are made at his own expense.
The burden of proof in this matter is
upon the printer if he seeks TO COL
lect for a second printing. If the
mistake in the Negotiable Instru-
ments bill was made as alleged. the
party making the error paid the bill.
Statement 3
- am told that at least on one
occasion a bill was lost in the
public printing Office hers in this
city, and only after 4 long search
was found down in the inside Of
somebody's desk. down in the
printing Office"
During an experience Of forty years
in the personal handling Of the legis-
lative printing the writer recalls but
one occasion when the copy of a bill
was found at the printing ONCE, and
that was caused by the neglect Of
the proof reader ennniovad hvi ~.
State and under the direct supervi-
sion of the engrossing department.