Daily Republican., 1879-03-11
The City Printlng .

The Gazette is letting some light in
upon the loose manner in which the
contract system is carried out in regard
to the City Council printing, aud in
stances two jobs lately done to sustain
its position. The first job was the
printing of some floating imprinted Or
dinances and Legislative enactments
which was awarded to Glatts h Eokel
for $3.50. The book when completed
contained l62 pages with numerous
marginal side notes which made the
composition very difficult and tedious.
The price per page for this job was 81
cents which is very low for such work,
but it is to be presumed that the con-
tractors were satisfied with the price or
they would not have taken the job. 1t is
evident that the calculation was close
as $3.50 was just enough, and 800
even would have been 100 much. The
other Job referred to by the Gazette, is
the printing Of Col. Mclntire's annual
report as Chief Engineer Of the Water
De partment, " hioh was also 4warded to
the same printing firm, but this time
without any proposals being asked for
from other printers. This report makes
pamphlet Of 62 pages and bill for
til. work of s73. IA is now before the wa
ter committee. This per page would
amount to $l.15, fat matter and with
out any marginal notes. 1t will be seen
that the difference per page between the
two Jobs is 81 cents, but IL the contrac.
tors made anything on the ordinance
ob at 81 cents, they could have made
more on the water report at 80 cents,
which would show that TIE real differ
.nce between the two jobs would have
been IS cents.
It l.. said that the printing Of the re-
port of the surveying department is al
so in the hands Of the same printing
firm, without any proposals having
been asked from other printers. We
are making no complaint against the
su ;cessful printing firm, for they have
Alright to take all the jobs. they can
ge; and at whatever prices they can
70 hut We merely allude to it to show
how loosely the City Council contract
system is carried out, and it is said the'
this same disregard Of tn. contract or
dinance which provides that all job
estimated at $50 aud over shall be Civ
IN out bv contract to the lowest bidder
is dsregarded in other departments o
the city government. 1t must be said
however, in justice to the printing
committee that, il We are rightly in
formed, they are but carrying ont
pr.cedc mt in allowing the Chief Engi
neer of the Water Department and th'
Chief Engineer Of the Surveying De
partmrnt, to get their own report
printed, however and wherever the.
saw proper without being bound b.
the printing contract ordinance, an
. tn. City Council has always footed tn
bill. The great disparity between tn
prices for the two Jobs referred to show
: the wisdom Of the contract systei
which ought to apply to subordina'
officers as well as to the committees I
: Council. No douht that if proposal
: had been asked for printing the waite
report and the surveying report, til
= same firm would have taken tn
Jobs at so cents page and stl
Q have made more money than they di
8 on the ordinance contract at 81 cents
: page. In these times Of economy an
u reform, these are little things to
n looked after, and We think the r.
marks Of the "Gazette' are not witho,
reason.