Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-03-19
Judicial Ticket.
More about the Printing Steal.

The subsidized organ ofthis city does
not claim the city printing on any
other ground than that the democratic
organ of democratic city is entitled
to the printing at any price. 1t also
claims that in Republican cities the
Republican papers receive the printing
on The same terms. This is not true;
but supposing it IS. that is no reason at
al why the taxpayers of WATERFOWL
should be made to contribute $500 a
year to the support of Mr.. Jones or
Mr.. Brooks business. AS we'll might
any other man ask contributions to
his business out of the city funds aud the
council could grant the request with
a. much justice as it disposed of its
printing last year ln equity to
taxpayers the council has no right to
dispose of its printing at full legal
rates when parties stand ready to do
it at much less figures, and we trust
that our next common council will
recognize this fact. And to give the
printing contract to any other ti.an the
lowest bidder is 10 direct violation of
law. To prove this We publish the
section from the city charter which re-
la'es to letting of the city printing.
The law is perfectly plain on the SUBJ
iecs and admits of but one construc
ton. Below We give the section re-
ferred to:
Section g. The Common Council shall
ANNUALLY provide that all printing
authorized and required by them to be
done for their use or for the city shall
be let by con ract to the LOWEST re-
sponsible bidder tor the term of one year !;
provided, no bid therefor shall be con-
sidered. unless the same sha be lower
than the rates of legal advertising as fixed
oAA 40
made the common council is herebv en-
powered to provide for such printing in
such manner as they may think proper
All ordinances and other p oceedings re-
CURED by this act or by the by laws or
ordinances of the common council to be
published in the newspaper selected un-
der the provisions of this section.
But the impecunious organ claimed
last spring that the Board of
Street Commissioners had no authori-
~ to advertise for bids for printing or
to do anything about the matter at all
that as the law reads the Common
Council, and it alone, shall advertise
and let the contract for printing.
This was sheer nonsense and every one
knew it, but it gave the Board an ex-
euse to throw some of the peoples
money into the Golfers of the democra-
TIC organ here. But this excuse can
not be used by this or the next Board
any longer, as will be seen by the fol-
lowing sec'ion which was enacted by
the Legisla ure IF 1879:
Sec The Board of Street Commits
sioners of said city Watertownl and the
chairman of said board shall have con
current power with the mayor and COM
mon council of said city in the appoint
ment ofinspectors and clerks Of election,
and SHALL HAVE ALL OTHER
POWERS CONFERRED BY LAW
UPON SAID MAYOR AND COM
MON COUNCIL, except the power OF
lcvying taxes, which they shall not have
In any case whatever.
We wish particularly to call the at
tention of those interested to the above
The section clearly aud distinctly says
that the Board of Street Commits
sioners "shall have all other powers
conferred upon said Mayor and Com
mon Council, except the power Of
levying taxes" Now this covers the
city printing as we'll as other matters
zad gives the Board full power te
carry out the provisions of the section
ressriDg to city printing as completely
II the Common Couacil and Ma o,
are authorized to do it.
We trust that the present Board
will see its duty. and advertise for PR
posals for doing the city printing the
coming year in time to have the bids
had before the new council, which viii
be elected the first week in April II
neglect to do this on the part of the
present Board will be clear violation
sflaw, as well as gross injustice te
the taxpayers of this community.
PLAINLY put, the Democratic
proposition to the Government is
Permit us to debauch all the nation.