Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-12-19

Cleveland was tried and argued before Judge
Bishop, and judgment was given in faver Of the
plalntiHs.
The history Of the ease is as follows: 10
Spring Of 1867, the plaintiffs were elected ca, I
Printers, they being the lowest bidders for that
very Interesting aud remuneratye Office A con-
tract was made with them By the Council, by
which the plaintiffs bound themselves TO publish ,
the Council Proceedings free gratis for nothing
the city advertisements at about the cost oil type
setting, and to do the most Of the printing at about
cost, In this contract they agreed TO print blanks
at so much "per quire Of blanks" In printing |
the blanks the plaintins adopted the usage OF the
public printers in Washington, Columbus ami 9th
er places where government printing was let out
by contract, which was to give "a blanks TO the
qnire. The bills were rendered monthly 10 the
Council, which were allowed and paid
la the Spring Of 1858 anew Council was elected.
Among the new members was worn out dema
gogue worn out 10 more senses than one) from
the West Side. This demssogue, at the sugges-
ton Of the publisher Of the plan Dealer $50 ru-
NOR sad) engaged himself in the laudabe work
OF eudeavoring to hatch up some charges against
the City Printers. For this purpose he set him
self to work to ascertain If the printing was done
according to contract After spending several
days investigating the matter, he made the discoy
cry that only "a blanks were given to the quire
instead Of 4s or 96
At the next meeting Of the Council, he made a
statement of the fact, and perpetrated speech
charging plaintiffs with attempting to deiraud the
city, &c, aud delivering homily on the morals or
honesty of tho plaintifs--forgetting that people
living in glass houses, &c"
A Committee was appointed TO investigate the
matter, who reported simply the fact that some Of
the printers measured by "a sheets Of iOoscsp
covered with blanks to the quire, while others
gave "a blanks to the quire. The case was then
referred to the Committee on judiciary. After
reading some thirty letters from printers and pub
ljslers, the most Of them favoring the mode Of
measurement adopted by the plaintiffs, the major
ily, consisting Of NessIs. Rider, Thayer and Musl.
Ter, reported in favor Of allowing the whole claim,
with the exception Of few trihing dCductious.-
The minority, Mr. Coffnbeuy, reported against
paying the elai III unless reduction Of some SlC0
was made
| Tbereupon the Democratic members Of tue
| council, assisted by would-be Mayor (i) Herrick,
| who is a known personal enemy of ono Of the
| plaintiffs, and by Councilman Crawford who is
regular tool Of the Senior of the Herald establish
meut, which establishment was very anxious to aid
in the work Of throwing discredit upon the hon
esy Of business rival, succeeded in defeating the
| payment of the claim.
The correctness Of the claim was so apparent that
Councilman Rider (iemocraD urged upon the
council the justice and propriety Of paying it,
The plaintiffs then offered 10 leave the matter out
to any one of the Judges of our Courts. and abide
| BY his decision. To this Hertiek objected. lie
was in favor Of compelling plaintiffs to sue, so
long no one would have to foot the bill of coss
Ell eept the city
Not wishing to go through tue annoyance Of a
law suit the plaintiffs offered to "split the differ.
enee " and thus settle the matter. This was refu-
aed by Herrick, Crawford & Co.
The Plaintiffs were finally compelled to sue The
city They proved by twenty nine Publishers and
Printers that their mode OF ofmeasurements as cor
rect The city proved to the contrary by some
nine or ten witnesses only.
The result sums up as follows:
Amount Of Judgment against the city e2Ss 10
| Costs, including hiIe Of attorneys in 9th
er cities, travelling expenses city attor'
| ney, &c, ...... ........... S<SOO
Total cost to the city iy.............. $4,000
Amount Plaintiffs offered to settle Ior.... 1900
Amount city lost by going to law ...... $4,000
twill be seen that to crafty the personal spite
of Herrick aud Crawford, tho political spite Of
Councilman Winslow, and the business spite ofthe
Plain Dealer and Herald, the city is made to pay
1890 more than plaintiffs offered to settle for.
This is the eleventh or twelfth suit that has been
decided against the City at this term of Court
No body is 10 blame for this state Of things but
the taxpayers, SO long they elect professional
demagOgue like Charles Wnslow, and such men
as Councilmen MeLane, Weber, Herrick, Thomp-
son and Crawford, some of whom cannot read OIL
write English, to manage the affairs of the City
Many Of the members of the last Council Wsr,
mere voting machines who simply did the bidding
of their fuperiors. 1t is devoutly to be hoped
that Taxpayers will see that good business mor
are elected hereafter, and that the voting machine.
are kept out.
In conclusion We would say to Messrs NinsloW
Herrick, Gray, Crawford, and the senior Of the
Herald establishment, that the next time they
combine for the purpose of injurIng the publishers
Of the LEADER, to remember the adage Of the i'm,
mortal DaVy Crockett, "bO sure you are right, then
60 ahead p
They are respectfully invited to try again. c.
----S-$