The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-14
The City Council

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So for as the ADVANCE is concern
ed, we will not knowingly do injus.
tice to anybody, and in our remarks
last week about the awarding Of the
grading contract and printing con-.
tract by the council, we were guided
solely by the notes and statements
of the City Recorder. We did not
seek behind the records for accusa-
tons of Partially or favoritism, but
simply gave and called attention to
the facts as we found them. So far
as the printing bids are concerned,
we did speak to member about
them, and learned from him that
they were not understood. In that
case it seemed to us that ordinary
fairness required that the bidders
should have been called upon to ex-
plain. We thought our bid was
plain enough, for 1873 cents per
100 words" was very explicit ex-
preston, but we have not taken the
matter to heart seriously.
The explanation of the award of
the street contract to Mr.. Danielson,
because the other bidder would not
agree to finish the work within the
specified time, sets that matter all
right, if the record is made to show
what that explanation is. AS to the
quotation of the law and our re-
marks touching it, we have this ex-
PLANTATION to make. While it is true
that proprietors of property along
graded street may successfully resist
the payment Of assessments, if
contract for grading has been made
illegally, las we are told has been
done in one instance in this city,
the result Of their doing so is to com
pei the payment for such work to be
made from the general funds Of the
city, or that the contractor shall not
be paid for his work. Either of
these alternatives works great injus-
tice. The property owners on the
improved streets are the persons
benefited by the work, and the ex-
pcnse should fall upon them, instead
Of being imposed upon the citizens
generally; and no matter if con-
tract is awarded without strict ad-
herence to the letter of the law, if
the work is properly done, the party
doing it should receive his pay.
The proper plan is, therefore, for
those who feel aggrievcd by con-
tract illegally awarded, to sue out
an injunction and prevent its being
carried out. This saves expense,
beyond the small item of costs, and
works hardship to nobody. 1t may
be legal to refuse to pay an assess
1nent after the work is done and the
property benefited thereby, but it is
certainly unjust, and, to us, it has
abe appearance Of meanness. 1t is
"a manifestation of a disposition to
take advantage of somebody else.
In our opinion the statute ought to
provide against the use of this rem
'edy, in all cases where the complain
ing party has neglected to endeavor
to prevent the contamination of the
act complained of by applying for an
injunction in advance.
The members of the council and
the public generally may rest assur-
ed of one thing: We are not
chronic Pathfinder. On the con-
trary, We always prefer to praise
rather than blame, and having no
political nor personal spites to graf
fly, nor partizan ends to subserve,
we aim to do justice to everybody
and faithfully discharge our duty to
the community.
The congressional house. of
representatives has passed the bill
ordering the coinage of $40, 900