REPORT. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, To the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: In compliance with law the undersigned has the honor to submit the following as his annual report for the year 1850: Contracts for the distribution of the Laws and Journals of the last session of the Legislature were made with the following named persons, and at the rates herein mentioned, to-wit: ... $30 00 36 00 21 00 38 00 9.00 14 75 24 74 60 00 70 00 54 00 40 00 In the 1st Judicial Circuit, by Wm. Kerns, at.. .... 48 95 18.00 The contracts so made have been faithfully performed, and the undersigned takes this occasion to say that at the time of making the agreements it was not known that the eighth volume of Blackford's Reports would be ready for distribution; consequently no mention of them was made in the publication for proposals to distribute the Laws and Journals. They were however distributed by the persons above named, and also one additional box carried to the new county of Stark. Claims were presented by the several contractors to the Auditor, Treasurer and Secretary of State for additional pay for such service; but doubting our power to make any allowance without authority of law for that purpose we refused to make such additional compensation, and of course the matter is referred to the consideration of the Legislature. The laws of the land form a part of every contract, and how far the distributers were bound to know what was to be carried is a matter wholly submitted to your judgment, and especially in regard to the additional box of Laws and Journals conveyed to Stark county. It is proper here to state that the Hon. Isaac Blackford has delivered to the State 494 copies of the eighth volume of reports as follows, to-wit: Four copies for each of ninety-one counties,.. One copy for each of thirty-one States,. One copy for each of four Territories,. For State Library,.. For Secretary of State, (in State Library,) For Indiana Law Library,.. For District Court of the United States,- Total,.. 364 31 4 1 10 All of which has been furnished the State within the last year in compliance with joint resolutions of this State, entitled "Joint Resolution respecting Blackford's Reports," first approved Feb. 1, 1836, and the second approved Feb. 4, 1837. The eighth volume is gotten up in the creditable style with the others of the same series by the same able reporter. In the language of the editor of the Monthly Law Magazine, published in New York, "In everything calculated to enhance their value they are complete. The printing and binding is in the best taste, and may serve to indicate the dis crimination, elegance, and usefulness of the contents." 227 Contracts have been made to furnish the ensuing session of the Legislature with stationery as follows, viz: 242 reams of printing paper at 10 cents per pound, equal to about $2 30 per ream. reams of printing paper at $2 50 per ream, (the latter a superior article to the first.) Also, 10 reams of No. 11 ruled cap at $2 00 per ream, and 10 reams of envelope paper at $3 50 per ream, all of which was purchased of the Hon. P. M. Kent. Also, Messrs. Ross & Ray have agreed to deliver 26 reams of ruled letter No. 15, at $2.20 per ream, 10 reams of letter (English blue laid,) No. 9, at $2 60 per ream, 4 reams letter (English blue laid) at $4 00 per ream, and 10 reams plain letter at $2 20 per ream. The larger portion of the paper so contracted for has already been received and is found on examination fully equal, and much of it superior to the samples exhibited at the time of making the contracts. In fact the paper is good enough for all ordinary purposes, and at very low rates. It is hoped the quality of the paper is such as to preclude the necessity of sending the door keepers of either branch of the General Assembly to the various book stores of this city to procure stationery, without regard to prices, at the suggestion of the clerks or individual members of either House. This practice heretofore in some instances adopted is of doubtful expediency, and subjects the State to imposition. In case of a deficiency in quantity the State in her contracts has provided for a further supply. A contract has been made with Mr. James Blake for 150 cords of dry wood at $150 per cord, 75 cords of which was to be delivered on the first day of October last and 75 by the first of December thence next following. Respectfully submitted, CHARLES H. TEST, |