Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-10-16
COUNTY PRINTING,

EDITOR INTELLIeENCER:-In the communica-
ton of MIR. Geo. Wilson published In the Regis-
ter OF l4th inst there appears the following:
Two reputable newspaper men in the county
have told NE that they would do the printing
for from one thousand to three thousand dollar
u year CHI aper Than the Intelligencer. {.
Would 1t suit the taxpayers batter TO apply
from one to three thousand dollars a year to-
ward building up Il pile OF cancelled county
bonds instead OF building up u ring paper?"
The county court is intended and ought t % he
the guardian of the pubic interests of the coun-
ty, and II the above statement Is true, the mem-
beIs of the court who manage and control the
business OF the county are alone responsible for
it, and they should receive the censure and con-
demnation OF the people The author of the
communication may not have so intended, yet
1t must be regarded as a reflection upon the
county court, aud without intending or desiring
To engage in any personal or political contro-
versy, ! wi h to answer it and correct the enron.
eous impressions II Is well calculated to create.
Now l do not deny that the two newspaper men
made the statement To Mr.. Wilson that they
would do the public printing for from one to
three thousand dollars less Than the Intelligcn-
Ger, but | do deny In the most emphatic man
ner that there Is any foundation Tor such a state
ment. Now Tor the facts:
Upon an examination OF the records | find tina I
the amount paid by the county to all the print
ing establishments In the county for the year
commenc ng October l,lSS5. and ending Septrm-
Der 81, 1856. is 1887. There is II large portion OF
the printing and stationery, such as record
books, that are not made here, and some of the
blanks for the different offices that can be OBJ.
tanned IN st. Louis on better terms than here.
and are bUughs there. But the S337 is the full
amount paid by the county To ali newspaper
firms IN the time 6 yen. Now let me ask. how
could any one do the printing IRON one to three
thousand dollars less. II Mr.. Wilson knows nj
any one VINO Can, he ID respectfully invited 10
bring him to the county court and it will not
only contract with him for the printing but will
give Mr.. Wilson, the other members consent
ing, ten per cent. upon the amount saved. The
Aadnr ,rtll an. th.f IL u.p1t lao.
table and unwise contract TO the person making
IT, II he agreed to save the county the SIN ilIer
sum OF 81 900, he would be required to nav INTO
the treasury 1858 Tor Iht last twelve tuouths.
Aud II he promises TO make the saving AZ OOO.
he would have TO turn in the me- little sum al
81. G63. II wouid be an excellent contract for
the county, but 1t would be aw iul upon the con-
tractor. | will risk the prediction tn 1t such u
newspaper man cannot be found in or out OF the
county.
The greater portion of the $685. 10 for blanks
for the Offices of the assessor and Collector
They make their own orders for their supp'iea
and they are furnished and paid for as thew di-
rect. Not more than $3.50 OF the amount ls psI,i
for The direct orders OF the county court or i,r
supplies Tor the county clerks office.
The amount given above as paid for printing
for the year ending Sept. 80. 1856, is obtained
from the records OF the Office of the county
CLERK. The records are public and are open 10
any one and all are inv ted to examine for the,u-
selves.
desiI e to state that | write this ONLY tn re.
move Incorrect Impressions from the mind oT
any who may believe the statement and nIsre
the members of the county court and the cierk
Mr.. Steele, who the article Is intended to eae ~
rightiully before the people cOncPrning the puh-
lie printing. RORT. HALE.