1867.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 261

E. S. RUBY.

1,000 copies Journal and Proceedings, $1.75 per page.
1,000 copies Debates. - 2.50 per page.
20 quires of Yeas, and Nays, 75 per quire.

This contract for some unexplained reason, was awarded to
Mr. R. P. Bayly, the next lowest bidder. The cost of print-
ing for that Convention amounted to $16.472.45.

For the session of the General Assembly of 1865, there
were two bidders, Viz;

R, P. Bayly, at $2.60 per page; $2.30 per page and $1.25
per page, and 95 cents per quire for Yea« and Nays.

E. S. Riley, $2.50 per page; $2.00 p«r page, aad $1.30
per page, and $1.25 per quire for yeas and nays.

This contract was awarded to R. P. Bayly, he being the
lowest bidder. The cost of printing during that session was
$56,340.80, an amount far exceeding any previous session of
the Legislature. There is also a bill for binding during this
session of $2,000.

The somber of bids for the extra session of 1866, is not
stated, but the bills show the printing to have been done by
Haverstick & Longnecker, they being the lowest bidder's,
and amount to $20,656.32.

For the present session there were thirteen bidders, Mr.
Henry A. Lucas, being the lowest bidder, the contract was
awarded to him at the following figures, viz :

1,000 copies Acts and Resolutions, 85 cents per page.

500 copies Journal, - - 95 cents per page.

150 copies of bills, - 65 cents per page.

After a most thorough examination and minute calculations
your committee are of the opinion that the old system of
electing a printer, is far preferable and more economi-
cal than the contract system. Under the old system a work
of 300 pages and 5,000 copies would cost $2,002; under the
present system would cost $2,850. A work of 20,000 copies
under the present system would cost nearly double that of the
old system. At the same time your committee deem it due to
state that the same work with but 2,000 copies would cost
less under the present system than under the old.

It is also due to the present contractor to state that he has
so far filled his contract strictly in compliance with the re-
quirements of his bond, notwithstanding the low price at
which he has undertaken the work.

Your committee also find that the work has in all cases
been computed in accordance with the terms of the proposals