Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-02-17
A Voice.


the manner in which over-charges
have been made for city printing
Now let us see how near he is to
being correct. Not one word has
ever been written by any one but
ourself in regard to this matter OF
printing, until week before last, as
we were about starting for Rogers
City, and would not return in time
to have the matter in readiness for
the compositor, we called on Mr..
Burnham, gave him our ideas in re-
gard to the "letter" of Mr.. Smith.
which we were informed was being
put in shape for the Pioaeer. aud
requested him to write au article in
reply, which he did, and OH our re-
turn, we changed and heightened
that article, even after it had been
partly put in type. So this is
doubtless where he gets his great
bug-hear about ga young lawyer"
1t is not through my malG ce or
prejudice that we have shown to
the public the over-charges in the
city printing. But when the bids
were made, they were per folio, ant
that we should have charged by the
folio, for tn, work can be easily
proven by the investigation of ev-
cry bill we have presented to the
Council for folio work. For in
stance, in March last, the editor Of
the Pioneer charged twenty-five
folios for Ordinance No. %, while
we charged seventeen fo,ios for
publishing the same ordinance, and
the latter number is correct. And
when it became apparent to us that
the city was paying too much for
printing, under the contract, it was
no more than justice to the people
for us to call attention to the fact.
This We did, but the editor of the
Pioneer. did not seem inclined to
respond, and left the people to be-
lieve that he was unable to deny
the charge, which was true. Had
he made an explanation when the
matter was first spoken of by US,
he might possibly have been ex-
cused, and better feeling would
have existed, but his silence, to-
gether with the over-charges, has
worked to his disadvantage.
Now ace have been a printer for
nearly score of years, and never
in that time lave we seen any kind
of printing counted by the ten
lines, and then charged by the folio,
until We find it has been done in
the Office of the Alpena County
Pioneer.
The editor of the Pioneer says
that he "awaited the return of the
chairman of that committee" Was
not that chairman in town when we
made the first accusation, on the
9Th of January We think he was.
Then why was not an explanation
made at that time. The bill had
oeen taken back by the Committee
IN Ways and Means, and the editor
knew it before the chairman left
own. The truth is, he knew that
We were right, and there was no
way of effectually lodging it.
The statement that it was evil
lently understood when the con-
.ract was made that ten lines was
/ folio, is simply untrue. The City
Attorney explained to members of
he Council that folio was zone
hundred Words" and the contract
was made accordingly. And then
he says that the law as shown by
rs last week, is merely q "rule Civ
IN for counting legals, or proceed
ngs in law" 1t is Id,c, and covers
III matters which are printed by
he "folio" for compensation, and no
ane man would attempt to deny it,
,r work around the fact.
Now, again he refers to fine type. .
lad he even set the proceedings in
hat, he would not have been justi-
led in counting ten lines for a folio, :
s the average run of reading will ,
AXE more space for the necessary l
lumber of words. Nor can he find {
in the shape of proof that :
ustifles him in making charge of =
! folio for every ten lines of matter. q
Now when the editor of the Pic +
'ecr accused us of misleading the
,ouncil or even saying word to :
he members in regard to the man