The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-29
AN UsTiMELY CONTROVERSY.

Judgment expressly accorded 1t by the
printing law, unanimously selected the
proprietors Of the DEMOCRAT to DO the
State printing, has provoked from the
Ptcay,tne virulent, ill-timed ana IN
temperate attack upon the Board, the
State Administration the Legislature,
the Democratic party and the DEMO
oRAT newspaper. We confess we were
not prepared for this outburst Oh GRIEF
and temper, and 1t leads US to fear That
the public printing was a greater neces-
sity to the finances OF our venerable
contemporary than we had supposed.
It Is true that for several years
past the Picayune has been re-
garded as an anomaly in Journalism.
People ell over the State have won
dered how, with Its puerile and vapid
utterances; Its feeble temper and gar
rulous non. communication, that paper
has managed to sustain itself and make
money. We fear, from the impotent
fury it displayed yesterday OF its failure
to capture the printing, that 1t ID not 30
much On anomaly as had been sup
posed, and that its own necessities.
rather than it's devotion to reform.
evolved Its incorporate and indiscrimi-
nate attack.
The Picayune says, the Board In It's
inscrutably mysterious wisdom declined
to inform itself of the fact that the pro-
prietors Of other journals were willing
to bid for the printing at less rates than
those prescribed in the printing bill,
under which 1t was given to Messrs. O.
w. Dupre q Go. Here IL where we think
the Pieav,tne Ia mistaken. The Legis-
lature never intended that the printing
should be awarded to the lowest bidder.
The policy or impolicy Of awarding this
important work to the lowest bidder
was fully discussed by the press
and by the Legislature when the
bill was under consideration.
The lowest bidder system was finally,
wisely abandoned by the Legislature.
A vast majority OF both houses deter
mined that the safest system to insure
the State against being swindled In, and
extravagant expenditures for, the
printing was, after consultation with
experts, to tD the prices for all classes
Of printing at figures which would al
low the printer fair profit, and then
leave to board constituted OF the
highest and most responsible Offices OF
the State and representation from the
Senate and the House, the selec-
ton Of honorable, conscientious, and
responsible parties to perform the work.
The board has been organized for some
time. The claims Of the proprietors Of
the different papers in the city were
doubtless discussed by its members,
and it seems that their unanimous
opinion was, that, under the law, 1t
was right and proper that the proprie-
tors OF the New Orleans DEMOCRAT
should be awarded the contract. And
the Legislature and the people at large
will cordially indorse this action of the
Printing Board, Notwithstanding the
fury and indignation Of the PicavAne.
The Board acted under the law pre-
scribing their duty, and they selected
the DEMOCRAT. We presume they did
80 because they believed that the
DEMOCRAT could be relied upon ;
and because they and the people
know where to find 1t In any issue that
may arise between them and the Radi-
cal thieves who have cursed the State.
We do not see how the Board could
have conscientiously given this contract
to the Picav,,,e under any circum-
stances. We cannot understand the pre-
sumption Of the Picavuae In expecting
1t. For years the only political senti-
ment which that paper has represented
has been that which gave Kellogg toll
erance and recognition. For number
OF years past Ii has never, until whipped
in by the DEMOCRAT In the last canvass,
stood In decided antagonism to the Rad
ical party, and III has, not infrequently,
been very nearly in harmony with the
Usurpation. In the country parishes OF
the State, and almost universally here,
It's integrity and fealty are doubted, and
1t Is regarded as unsafe and venal In Its
politics. The general opinion in New
Orleans to-day Is, that, IL by some ex-
traordinary chance Packard should be
forced upon this State, twenty-four
hours after the Nichols government
was overthrown the Picdy,tne would
recognize and treat Packard as Cover
nor OF the State-in other words every
body nearly believes that the Picayune
constantly holds itself in readiness
to flop to the winning side.
Perhaps no great newspaper has ever
been conducted upon so demoralizing
theory as this now furious journal
which is bowling like maniac over its
failure to get a little State patronage. Its
columns have been open to the advocacy
of any scheme, or enterprise, or ring
which would pay for their use. How