The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-09-30
EDITOR
SEPTEMBER 80, 1921
THE HOUSE

Nothing out of the ordinary attaches to charges of extravaganza
and delay in the printing of the records of legislative proceedings in
thing and biennially they bob up serenely and fill space in the news
papers of the Islands, especially allegations as to the compiling and
printing of the house journal. This year, more than ever before,
such things were to be expected, since the contract for the printing
of the book was awarded TO a printing house outside of Honolulu. to
the Maui Publishing Company, which mderbid all of the Honolulu
concerns that were in the field for the work. The Honolulu houses
were not especially pleased to see the job pass outside their circle
it was not expected they would be. So it was the more natural that
they should print assertions that reflected against Edward Wood
ward, the clerk of the house, and the ability of the Maui Publishing
Company to fulfill the contract it had assumed.
An article printed in the Honolulu StarBuletn more than in
simulated that Woodward was "stretching'' the work, that there
Territory, and that Hawaii was the loser because the successful bid
der was not a Honolulu printing house. There was similar comment
in the New Freedom, and the Star-Bulletin's side of the story was
printed in part by other Island newspapers.
Maui News, on behalf of the Maui Publishing Company, remained
silent under such fire, awaiting the time when the house journal work
was completed, when it purposed setting the record of the matter
straight, giving the public the true facts. That action is not now
necessary, for House Clerk Edward Woodward has obviated the
necessity by presenting to Representative A. NJ. Cristy, chairman of
the house committee on accounts, a clear and concise statement of all
the details connected with the preparations and printing Of the house
journal, which is reproduced in this issue. 1t is pertinent to remark
that though the Star-Bulletin printed charges, it has not seen fit to
print the reply.
Far from the truth was the charge that the printing of the book
was dragging out beyond former years. The fact, as Woodward
shows, is that Maui Publishing Company completed its work in 80
days less time than was required for the printing by a Honolulu shop
of the 1919 house journal. Maui Publishing Company did its work
in four months as against five months work two years ago in Ho-
nolulu.
AS to the cost of printing, it is more than it was two years ago,
but Maui Publishing Company has done the work for 1878 less than
any Honolulu house was willing to do it. So far as the contract COM
ing to Maui is concerned, then, the Territory has saved a months
time and 1875 in cash.
Woodward shows that charges relating to excessive clerk hire
for compilation, proofreading, ETC., ire unfounded and unwarranted
and explains why it was that the work was started later than pre-
viousy, not until after the session had been ended some time, instead
of starting while the session was in progress. What was spent in
clerk hire after the session saved in clerk hire duino the session
A further cause for delay was that when bids were first called for
and only Honolulu concerns made offers, figures were so high that
all tenders were thrown out and readverising was necessary the
lowest bid being a third higher than Maui Publishing Company did
the work for.
And so the facts simply simmer down to show that the Maui
Publishing Company did the work f~sthe Territory for less money
than any Honolulu printer Woufd undertake it and fulfilled its c0n-
tract in shorter time tkan' Capital City firms have done after past
sessions. -
woodward shows in his statement that the Territory has saved
more than $4,000 on the house jourpaf in spite of the fact that it a-
pears more costly than in former years.