Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-02-24

MR.. EDITOR For the first, and
l hope the last, time l am induced
to solicit the use of your columns
in order TO make few brief state
ments in reference 10 some matters
now before the public.
mount my Pegasus and spur on,
not that / would, or do, aspire to
literary fame, nor, do l seek the
medium of the press for the pur-
pose of vindicating my own acts as
a servant of the public, but that
the facts in regard to the city print
ing, ETC., may be placed before the
public in their true light; facts
which have been tempered with,
and 10y certain process of fabri-
cation, patent to some, made to APP
pear as mere fiction, while fiction,
under a similar process, is made to
assume the semblance Of fact.
The editor of the Pioneer, in or
der to vindicate his course, en-
deavors to mystify the minds of his
readers, and misfead them, by pub
fishing mass of improbabilities,
with an admixture of eXaggerations,
regarding an understanding, which,
l am prepared to prove, as will be
seen in another column, never en-
listed between the present Council
and himself, as to the mode of
counting or measuring the printing
he contracted to do for the city, ex-
cept as provided in said contract.
AS regards his bills, three in
number) l would state that l called
at the ARGUS office and submitted
his first one to the editor of that
paper, who looked it over and in
formed Inc that there was an over
charge for job work, and that he
could not spare the time to examine
the balance. I stated this to the
maker of the bill, who said to me
that "if the Council found any er-
rors in his bills, he had no objec-
lions to their cutting them down."
His second bill was handed to the
editor of the ARGUS in the Council
room, and he stated to me that he
could not say whether it was COR
'cct OF not. The third and last bill,
Tito. not being conversant with |
he printing business, and inasmuch
is the editors affidavit was attached |
o each bill, supposed them to be
and recommended the pay
nent of the last two az charged.
\ day or two after the last bill had
,een allowed / was shown q "piece
# paper with some pencil marks
hereon," which induced me at the
neeting of the Council on the 9Th
It,, to move q reconsideration of
he action taken, and its reference
'ack to the committee, at the same
ime giving the Council my reasons
herefor. Subsequently l was call
d upon by the editor who asked
ne the cause of the action. l in
ormed him, whereupon he, for the
irst time, explained his manner OF
measuring the printing he did. l
old him then that 1 would visit his
'flice if / could get time, and look
'ver bis file. however did not do
O, as left town on the 9th and
vas away until the 9th. The mat
er was then pending, and there
vas two or three meetings of the
,ouncil held during my absence.
n the meantime the editor of the
ARGUS made his statement. show
ng that instead Of 800 folios as
barged in the bill, there was but
70 printed. The editor of the
Pioneer relying upon his presumed
and standing upon his
ignity, deigned no reply farther
han invite another measurement" :
'hich was responded to, another
cunt made, and 14G folios the re-
nlt. Still the gentleman felt so
ertain that the Council would see
i'm all right that he neglected to
vail himself of all opportunities to
ppear before, and make on explain {
ion to them. /
On the Monday after my return |
10 Mayor, Alderman Kimball and
,ysclf counted the work in several
sues, and upon counting every d,