Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-10-25
rms

ExPLANAToRY.-We have been re-
strained BY q sense Of delieacy from
making any reference to the late
award Of the County Printing BY the
Commissioners Court. Astheaggriev
ed party, we would naturally be snp-
poesd to entertain uncharitable opin
ions in regard to the ones whom we
fancied had done rs wrong. Hence,
We we're silent. and it was our inten-
ton 10 have remained 80. We have
now no wish TO enter upon this sub
ject. but a. we were called upon Sat
nrday last by many persons who were
in attendance ct the democratic mass
meeting and requested to make pub
lie statement Of the facts in the case.
we do not feel ourselves at liberty to
further consult our own inclinations.
We have endeavored to be az accurate
as possible. and If It can be shown
that we have failed in our endeavors,
we win cheerfulIy make all and sny
amends:
Ia 1873, the Legislature passed the
following act (Chap 29O.)
SECTION l. BE Il enactedby ne General Ar
aesblg " AlafyE0nd That the County Commits
sioners Of 81. Aary's county, shall lsef0rs their
levy term In each year contract with tlie Edi-.
tors aud Proprietors 81 a newspaper publish.
ed IN ssid county, and having the largest eir-
eulation in che same Tor printing aud publish
ing for 81. Mary's cOuBiy, including the an
u9al statement Of the expenses and such other
printing rs Is required 10 be done aud paid
1or by the county, fur the period Of one year
from saId day ct eoHiFaet, hut this not 20 APP
pts to or include publications Of local laws,
provided said contract does nol allow OF ex-
eerd the SUN Of seven hundred dollars.
SectiOn De IL enacted, That il the C0un-
~ Commissioners Of IL. MaFy's county fail 10
eiI.ct said contract for printing at she sum or
iess sum 80 aforesaid, then they are author
lied 10 adopt "ny mode II printing or adveF-
Using for said county, by fAnd-biII or other
wisp, ~ in their indgm' nj may seem best Tor
the good of said county, provided the entire
cosI Of same small not exceed the sum Of seven
hundred dollars.
Under the FIRST section Of this act
as we understood it. and acting under
legal advice. we made out our bid,
Offering to do the county printing in
workmanlike manner and 20 give bond
for its faithful performance for the
sum of 1850, and further agreed that
the said contract should be Indefinitely
renewable at the pleasure Of the Conn
missiOners' Court. We then went be-
fore a Justice of the Peace, swore to
our bona file circulation. attached the
affidavit TO the bid, sealed it and, on
tho 9Th Of May, before the close Of Tie
Lcry term presented it to the Com
inissioners Court. II remained in
the possession of the Court unopened
aud was not opened until we broke
the seal a few days ago. in the pres
ence of witnesses. 10 obtain the facts
Tor this statement. After the bid
left our hands until we re-obtained it.
We know nothing of It's fate, beyond
the fact that the Court refused to open
it although requested by one Of their
members ESQ we are told) to 10 so.
After the Levy was signed, we pre-
sented another bid. offering to do the
County work, under second section of
the law. by hand-bill or otherwise.
for $500 That the contract was
awarded to the Enterprises at $500 is
matter of record end we have moth
ing TO say on the subject. We have
tried to give an unvarnished state
Inent Of the facts as known to US. We
lave nothing TO say in regard to the
justice or injustice Of the transaction;
we assail no mans motives and close
our statement offering anyone the free
use of the BEAcoN's columns TO i'm
l,eat;h IL If they can.