Year: 1878

from printing the laws, Sc, was not
sufficient to print them both. gave
them to him "ntre. He made his
estimate, and when called for them,
he informed me that the journal oE
the House would not be printed, as
it would overrun the balance of the
appropriation, but that the Council
journal would, as it was much
smaller.


AS soon as the laws were c0mplet-
ed the public printer began printing
the journal Of the Council under
that arrangement, until it was almost
completed, when, while reading
proof of the proceedings Of the last
day, it was discovered that the Coun-
Gil Journal could be printed at the
expense Of the Territory under a
resolution introduced by Mr.. Han
ford of King county, on the 9th day
of December, (see c. j. page 2lS)
and he was then told to go on with
the House Journal, thereby changing
the course Of the expense of print
ing the c. j. from the channel in
which it was started, charging it up.
on the Territory, and falling back
upon short appropriation to print
the House Journal.


Another reason given by the pub
lie printer why the H. J. was not
printed, was "that he did not want to
take up the Journals until after his
accounts for printing the laws, &c.
had been approved, and he knew
just how much Of the appropriation
there would be left applicable
thereto" His account for printing
Laws, &c., was rendered to the de
partment at Washington, May 25th,
1873, and II letter in reply was re-
ceived about the Sth or 9th of July
following, under date of June 25tb,
rs, approving said account, after
which it was decided, upon ascertain.
ing the amount of balance, to print
the House Journal.


Thereafter the public printer in.
formed me that the Journal Of the
House would be printed, and asked
for copy, which | at once furnished,
and have since furnished on demand
all and more than he could set up,
and he has to-day matter before him
not in type.


In this statement, Mr.. Bagley,
public printer, will bear me out.
That l am in nowise to blame for
the H. j., not being printed, he will
also certify with the filing of the
Journal he had nothing to do.) And
this charge of Mr.. Owings, that |
am responsible for its not being
printed when he knew that he had
determined not to have the House
Journal printed, for want of funds,
and also knew at the time he
wrote that letter, that it was in the
hands of the public printer, and had
been since early in July last-I de.
nounce IS false, and brand him
with it willful and malicious manu-
facture. | desire Mr.. editor, in self
defence that those persons who are
complaining bitterly in regard to
the matter - sdould know the facts
in the case, and | have the authority
OF the public printer to state them
as well.


Again he says, "Mr. O'Brien is and
will be an officer OF the House until
after the next general election, and
as such is only responsible to that
body and the obligations of his oath
of Office"


AS to my term Of office, 7 am chief
clerk until my successor is elected
and qualified. AS to my RESPONSE
bility | cheerful y rest that with the
legislative body that elected me,
and who, knowing the weight of duty
under which | labored, will, I doubt
not, certify that | failed not in any
particular in the discharge of that
duty faithfully to the best of my abil.
ity and to their satisfaction, as is ev-
idenced by a Resolution of the House
thanking particularly the Chief Clerk
and his assistant.


My oath of Office called upon me
to support the Constitution of the
United States. the laws Of Washing.
ton Territory, and faithfully dis
charge the duties OF the office to
which was elected" And in Meth.
er have l failed to my knowledge or to
the best of my ability.


The Journal Of the House, of
which am Chief Clerk, belongs in
my possession until it is ready to
turn over to the person authorized
to receive it, after completion. Here.
tofore it has been customary for the