Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1922-07-13
MISS. PRINTING
Law UPHELD
BY ROBERTSON
Work Done Outside the State Cannot
Be Paid For.

Jackson, Miss, July 2.-In reply
to an inquiry for an interpretation
of the public printing law, requiring
printing to be done by concerns in
side the state of Mississippi, Attor-
ney General Robertson has rendered.
an opinion that will startle some of
the Mississippi printers VINO are send
ing work outside of the state on
dummy contracts, and some outside
printers who have contracts with the
state.
Under the law, the purpose was ev-
identity to prevent letting contracts
for printing to persons or firms out
side of the state. Yet many state
concerns have bid in contracts for
work which they cannot do and have
been sending this work to outside con-
Germs. For example, there is lot of
lithographing work contracted for un-
der the state contracts and there is
not lithographing plant in the state.
Besides this, the printing of the Mis-
sissippi reports of the supreme court
is contracted for by an outside firm.
And there is considerable work by
various departments, colleges, etc.,
that is sent outside of the state.
Under the constitution of the state,
section 107, contracts for printing
stationery, ETC., for the departments
of the government" shall be contract
ed for as may be prescribed by law.
The law provides that all such sta
tionery and printing shall be furnish
ed and done by firms located in Mis-
sissippi.
The opinion not only affects state
contracts, but also affects contracts
for county printing, which are in
cluded in the law.
Under the opinion Of the attorney
general no money can be legally paid
out of the treasury for printing Of
any kind that is done outside of the
state, by any office, institution, col
lege or department of state govern
ment. The opinion is in a letter adj
dressed to J. r. Oliphant of the Issue
Publishing Company, and is as fol-
lows:
"Mr. ]. R. Oliphant, Manager, The
Issue Publishing Company, Jackson,
Mississippi:
"My Dear Sir-I have your request
of the 30th ultimo for an opinion,
which is as follows:
:" In the payment of bills for pub
lie printing out of public funds, will
you please give us your opinion as to
what departments of state and coun-
ty governments, and state institutions
are governed by Chapter 1876, Laws of
1862
Chapter 1876, Laws of 1916, is
what is commonly known as the home
printing bill statute, which defines a
responsible bidder with in the mean.
ing of section lot of the constitution,
as one who has printing plant IN
this state, or one who is bona fide
resident of this state, actually en-
gagged in the printing business. This
statute provides further, that no con
tract shall be sub-let to any person
who is not responsible bidder, as
above set forth.
"This chapter 1876 only amends a
part of chapter 205, laws of 1912.
Chapter 2O5, laws of 1912, section /,
amended section 284 of the code OF
1906, and provides that the state
board of public contracts is created
to carry out the provisions of section
LOT of the constitution.
'The next question in which we
would be interested is section 107 of
he constitution, which reads as fol-
ows:
"Section 1O7-All stationery, print
ng, paper and fuel used by the Leg
stature and other departments of the
government shall be furnished and
shall be performed under con-
ract to be given to the lowest bid
Ter, below such maximum and under
uch regulations as may be prescribed |
" law etc.
"Your precise inquiry resolves itself
nto the determination of what the
phrase departments of government
ound in section LOT of the constitu-
ion include.
"I am of the opinion that the de-
,artments of government as used in
his section of the constitution would
include all offices, departments, insti-
utions, colleges and, in fact, all Of
ices or institutions supported by the
tate.
"This construction Of the section is
,orne out, in my judgment, by section
,765, code of 1906 lsection 6458, Hem
ngway's Code), defining department
eports.' This section is as follows:
1.-THE department reports consist OF
he governors message and reports
# all officers and institutions re-
luired by law to be made for the in !
ormation Of the Legislature, etc.
"The fact that this definition is !