STATE PRINTING
Your particular attention is invited to the remarks contained is the report of the Auditor of State, on the subject of the Stile's printing has, during the last few ears, increased very much in quantity, yet there has been no corresponding increase in the appropriation to pay for it. The law is also defective in no defining with precision what matter shall be printed since the law of March 13, 1875, was enacted, specifying the reports which shall be printed a considerable number of new offices have been created, the incumbents of which are required by law to make annual reports. It has been the practice to print these reports under a very vague and doubtful authority containing in the act creating the Bureau of Public Printing. The Legislature should clearly express its will with respect to what reports shall be printed.
It is believed that some of these reports should be published but once in two years, in season to be printed and laid on the desks of members at the meetings of the Legislature in regular session. Other reports, allowed to be printed annually might properly be limited in length and restricted in topics, at least in the years following the regular session. In this way a very considerable and prudent saving of expense might be effected.
The Legislature should require a paper of better quality to be used in printing most of the reports than the law now requires. The paper used is by no means equal to paper generally used in other States of like wealth and advancement.
Notwithstanding the Legislature at its last session failed to make an appropriation for the Public Printer, the present contractor, Mr. W. B. Burford, has printed the reports of public officers, the acts of the Legislature and the House and Senate Journals, with the expectation that you would at the present session make a proper appropriation to pay him for such printing at the rates specified in the State's contract with him. The work has been done promptly and to the satisfaction of the officer required by law to inspect it. I recommend that the appropriation be made as soon as practicable.
