The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-05-22
THE CITY PRINTING.


moved to ley on the table, offered the
singular reason for his action that he
proposed 70 still further reduce the ex-
penses Of the city. As the offer OF the
PILOT was made public, without action
being taken upon It, an opportunity
was thus presented 10 any paper pub
lished in the city, to underbid the PILOT
without material reduction in the
amount. Believing that competition I'M
der these circumstances was practically
destroyed, the PTLor Withdrew its bid OF
fifty dollars, and offered to do the work for
twenty-five dollars. one half of what was
proposed III the first offer. The Tribune
chose to rely on the discriminating par
tisanship of the board and made no bid
whatever. The result justified its wisdom,
or else indicates collision between the
republican members Of the board and
the republican paper, whereby it was to
receive the full measure Of compensation.
That the publishers Of the Tribune were
advised not to attempt a reduction, we
think we can prove TO the satisfaction of
any unbiased person. We were repeat
edly approached by republicans during
the time intervening the submission of
our proposition TO DO the printing for
$50, and the meeting of Monday might,
TO Withdraw our bid. The manager of the
Tribune, himself, stated that unless our
bid was Withdrawn, he would be COM
peiied to do the work for less There
was determination on the part of both
papers to secure the city printing and the
PILOT would gladly have done it for
nothing, ay-even paid the city for the
privilege Of being authorized to do the
printing; and we presume the Tribune
was equally wrought up" Under these
circumstances is 1t reasonable to suppose
the Tribune would lose the city printing
through default2 Is it not much more
probable that the Tribune had the as
surance Of the republican members of the
board that the usual rates would be paid
and that it would be declared the official
paper? II this is SO. ana circumstances
not only give it the color OF probability,
but the unmistakable features of truth,
the republican members have doubly
sinned against the city. First, by re-
fusing 10 lessen the expenses of the city
when the opportunity not only presented
itself but demanded recognition. Sc
cond, by entering into secret compact
with a paper through which it was re-
Gevod Of the necessity of making it's
rates conformable with those brought
about by competition.
c. VI. White, Peter Johnston A. Il.
Richter, a. Prochaska, D. S. Day, 4.
Hanson and Z. Wernecke, are the men
who voted TO give the city printing at
rates paid in the past, when the PLor
agreed to perform the same work for
$25. Let the citizens of Manitowoc re-
member that this is the manner in which
these gentlemen economiza. Let Ntm
remember that they are t0Tcd to sup
port republican paper, not through
any fault of the paper, however, but on
motion OF their representatives in the
city council. "Whom the gods wish to
destroy, they first make mad" VIII
the people OF Manitowoc say "well done
to these faithful servants? Because
some if not all of these men are stock
holders in the Iridoae, they defy public
opinion, set aside the interests OF the
city and unblushingly subsidze a paper
which Is $ child Of their own creation.
Mr.. White declared the proposition OF
the PILoT fraud. On what grounds
Can Mr.. White point to single instance
in which the RILog has failed to perform
any contract into which it has entered
Notwithstanding that imprudence in
business matters may have caused a
discrepancy between the amount
received and tho amount earned,
by the Pilot it is still financially
responsible for the violation OF any con
tract it may make, Mr.. White in the plen-
titude of his wisdom and with his high
minded conception OF propriety de
clared our action humanity and mean.
We are wiling that our action in this
matter may be contrasted with his. We
shall not shrink from any comparison
which Mr.. White may institute, nor
say aught in depreciation of any attacks
he may choose to make OH us before the
board of which he is a member. If Mr..
White chooses to impugn our motives
before body selected to do the business
of the city, we can without further tres
passing on propriety than he does, retort
through paper which we have no de-
sire to make vehicle for personalities.
But for the present we are willing to be
subject to the guidance of Alderman
White in this matter.
The city officers were elected on the
7th OF April. The requirements of the
charter in relation to the time of choosing
an official paper are identical with those
concerning the election of officers. But
the official paper was declared May IS.
The departure from the custom hitherto
prevailing and the violation of the re-
Quirements of the charter, were at the
instance OF some people ambitious to be
Office holders, and who beiiged that their
chances of election would be greatly en-
HANGED by the establishment OF a paper
which would properly advertise their
varied qualifications. Having set the
charter aside foa partisan purposes, it
did not require any great additional
effrontery 10 sacrifice the Interests of the
city. The PILOT makes 10 claim that its
action was done soieiy in The interests Of
economy. But the fact remains the
same that whatever its motives it pro-
posed 10 save the city from large item
of expense. What right has tic city
board to tax the PnoT Office that it may
contribute to the support of a rival
paper! What justice IS there in drawing
from the means of every property hold
er of the city, that the individual mem
bers Of the board may keep faith with a
fan.f,-r,s31 y..fa.1, thor iuIunal N .c,,,o