San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-03-19


certain members Of the committee ex-
plain themselves. Those who wished
have done so, and it is proposed
to tell all about it in order to let
the people know just how it was done.
This it does not in selfish interest, be-
cause it undoubtedly would have not
received the work had the affair been
fairly handled, as Mr.. Mooney was
| probably the lowest bidder. Bids were
advertised for until Il m. feIruary Y.
At that hour the business manager of
the LIGHT was on hand and put In his
bid and waited to see them opened, as
has heretofore always been the custom.
They were not then opened, nor was
the LIGHT notified when they would be
opened. On the Wednesday following
the bids were given to the committee
and the work was awarded without the
LIGHT being notified of the pending ac-
| ton. Whether other bidders were treat
ed in like manner ia not known. In eX-
aiming the samples to be bid on the
manager Of the LIGHT and Mr. Mooney,
who had both done the city printing in
years past. noticed the absence OF sam
| pies of some very important work. such
as ordinances, pamphlets, tax receipts,
of several kinds of other print
ing, etc, and they put in
bid for that work and were the
only ones that had in complete bids,
and by an oversight of the City
Clerk, whether Intentional or unlnten-
tional, their bids were not considered IN
those articles and the work was awarded
to other parties. The work omitted
among the samples is among the most
important Of the city Job printing. When
the question came up before the COun-
Gil, the Mayor remarked that he should
be trusted to get that work done TO the
best interests of the city. Is that prac-
tlcal way to do the City's business: The
opinion of the City Attorney on the
water-wOrks question was done at The
Times office and paid for by the city at
so a page when the city had con
tract with the LIGHT office at the time to
do the work at 81 per page. II the
Mayor can be trusted TO do part OF the
printing, why cant he be trusted to
have all the city printing done without
going to the form OF letting it out to tho
lowest bidder? Why were not the bids
opened and considered at the time ad-
vertised? These are pertinent questions
that every citizen has a right to ask.
Everything may have been done fair and
square, but it can't be proven. The BIDS
lay from Saturday till Wednesday, aud
the bidders were not present at their
opening. Is this the regular way OF let
ting work to the lowest bidders a
duplicate of the LIGmT'S bids has
been preserved and comparisons
will be made with it and the
price paid for work that was not in
the list, but should have been there. The
people of San Antonio shall know hat
the city printing costs them in the fu-
ture. 1t has been reported to the LIGHT
that Mayor Callaghan, several days be-
fore the bids were handed in, SAID that
he would be foolish to let the Light
haze the printing During Mayor
French's administration the L@ur was
opposed to him in many ways, but it
can be said to his credit that all con-
tracts were let in accordance with bids,
and without prejudice. This is one of
the phases of the city printing business.
in which the Finance Committee have
no defense.
The Dallas Times wants the managers
of the AtchisOn, Topeka and Santa Fe
railroad written to so as 10 let
them know that the road would be al
lowed to come to that city. Kind, in
deed. When once the managers find
that out, the thing is settled. and other
towns in Texas may just as well save
the trouble of making any efforts. Great
is Dallas.
TrIu Mipupapplig Trihuna Coys. .,np