The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1877-12-18
=" The County Printing.

which appeared in the last issue OF the
Kershap Gazette, renders it necessary
that I should have something to cay
upon the subject, to the end that the
public may understand the facts as they
exist.
A few days before the bid Of the
CAMDEN JOURNAL was handed to the
Clerk of tho Board of County Commis-
sioners, notice was served upon me, as
one of the proprietors Of the JOURNAL
that the Board would receive sealed pro-
posals for its advertising patronage, 1t
being understood, rs Capt. Workman,
the Clerk, informed me, that Gfter-Cids
would be entertained. l consulted my
partner, Mr.. Alexander, and We agreed
to put in bid of thirty cents per square
for each insertion; (Which is less than
half the regular price with the privi-
lege of reducing the samo when the
seals wore broken or of fifteen cents per
square, if the sealed bids were TO be
final. In response TO an invitation, MIR.
Frank ?. Beard, proprietor Of the Rer-
sha,c Gazette, and /, as the representa-
tive of the JOURNAL, appeared before
the Commissioners on Thursday, the
9Th instant. When the subject Of the
County Printing was called, !, not Mr..
Beard, as he asserts, enquired if after
lids would be allowed, my object being
to have the question settled, so that il
further competition would net be per-
mitted, l might withdraw our bid Of
thirty cents, and present in lieu thereof
one for fifteen cents per square, as above
stated. Mr.. Beard at once arose, and
urged that, according to the understand
ing with the Board, the sealed bids We're
to be final otherwise, that there would
be no reason for proposals Of that kind.
The Board, however, were of the unani-
nous opinion that such was not the case,
but that otier-Lids were to be admissi-
ble, agreeably to a suggestion made by
Mr.. Beard himself on another occasion,
when the subject was being considered
by them, l grant that to the casual
reader these seem to be matters Of small
concern. But however trihing they
may be, Mr.. Beard saw proper TO at
tempt an act Of dup'icity with me and
the Commissioners aud has since found
it convenient to misstate fact in COLI
nection with the interview on the 9th
instant. And he boasts, believe, that
he never does anything without puT-
pose. In reference to the latter, 1t
would be an act of supercrogation to
attempt an exploration Of the recesses Of
his heart to discover what that purpose
was. 1t is palpable and here it is: Mr..
Beard hopeG. by stating in the last issue
ofhis parer that it was hewl.o raised the
question cf ctto'-Ji1s. to create the im-
preston that our bid Of thirty cents was
intended to he final, while lis Of ntne-
teen cents was not so intended whereas
Just the reverse was the case, our bic
being me which We expected to reduce,
while his was intended, if what he said
before tie Board is accented as tue,
to be fixed. As for the purpose of his
duplicity, content myself By leaving
that to an impartial public" to infer.
Well, being summarily ovcrruled in
regard 10 his own proposition, Mr..
Beard remarks in substance: Suppose,
after the seals are broken, both parties
should mako tho same bid, would both
get tie contract" 20 this Capt. Bur-
dell, Speaking, as l understood, for the
entire Board. replied: "No; the one that
bids first viii get the contract, or, in
other words, if you bid a do!-
lar and ten cents, and Trantham dol
lar, YOU will have to come down to nine.
ty.Gye cents and take tie contract from
him." The envelopes continuing the pro-
posals were then opened, and the bids
announced as follows: Kershaic Ga
-,tfe. nineteen cents, and CAMDEN
JOURNAL thirty cents per square. l
at once reduced our bid to zero, and
proposed to do the Official advertising of
the county free Of charge. MIR. Beard
thereupon announced that he would
also do it for nothing. l remarked that
/ bad the contract, and that. according
TO the opinion expressed by Capt. Bur-
dell, he would have to go.stili lower to
take it from me. Upon this, he said
he would give the sum Of TEN CENTS
(which he terms ga certain sum Of
money" in the last issue Of his paper)
for the contract, which was an implied
acknowledgment that l had it, Mr..
Allen McCaskill, the Chairman Of the
Board. evidently regarding the last bid