St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-19
The City Printing Contract
Creates a Lively and Pro-
tracted Debate.
An Iron-Clad Ordinance the
Result of Their Joint
Efforts.
Electric Lights in the Streets
Will Not Be Abol-
iShed.
Mayor Smiths Gunpowder
Veto Approved by the En-
tire Council.

Aldermen of the common council were
considerably exercised last evening on
tie question of city printing. A reso-
luton was passed at the last meeting of
the council that proposals be advertised
for the city printing during the ensuing
year. This was vetoed by Mayor
Smith, and two hours of last nights
meeting were devoted to the framing
and passage of another motion bearing
upon this subject. Two resolutions we've
submitted, one by Aid. Yoerg and the
other by Aid. Cullen, and in the discus
sion of them some lively episodes were
witnessed by the citizens present
Aid. Cullen's resolution was that
specimens OF all advertising should be
furnished newspapers, and that they
should I've asked to submit prices for
contracting for the city printing. 1t
provided that for legal notices there
should he no spreading out or display OF
headlines.
Aid. Yoerg's resolution provided that
lithoeraphing and book printing should
be contracted for at the same time. and
| left out all reference to specimen work
being furnished. 1t debarred any news
paper from contracting for the printing
which had not been published Tor two
years.
AID. Cullen urged the adoption of his
resolution. ut will save to this city at
| least Sl5,O00,'' said he, provided the
| volume of business is as great In lSo9 as
| it was in 1888. My resolution places
every bidder on an equal footing. 1t IS
fair and Just to all. 1t also enables any
one unacquainted with printing to tell
at once
WHO Is THE LOWEST BIDDER.
1t might be that some bidder would
offer TO do the printing at 40 cents per
! inch and set the type solid; while an
other bidder might offer to do 1t FOR 80
cents and set the type loosely. The
lowest bidder would in the end be the
| highest. The council cannot be de
ceived if they adopt my resolution, and
| claim it is fair and equitable all
around"
Aid. Yoerg thought it was optional
for the various boards tG decide upon
the style which their printing should
be done, and ridiculed the cry of print
ing loose or close.
Aid. Cullen-It is to our interests and
the interests of the city to get this work
done as cheaply as possible. The great
cry hitherto has been against eXtrava-
gance for printing. Now we want
reform, cheaper printing, and by the
adoption of my motion we Will get 1t.
Aid. SanbOrn-The object OF the
council ought to be and is, to get the
city printing done al the lowest price.
| There is an idea that the alder
men, in the discharge of their duties,
are working in their own interests
for some particular paper or man.
| There are a number of newspapers in
! this city that would be glad to get the
public printing. 1t is of some advantage
! to have the printing and be recognized
| as the official organ of the city. 1t in
| creases their circulation and does them
! good i'm various ways. We want to get
some rate fixed at which we can
| DETERMINE THE LOWEST PRICE
| have thought that the public printing
| has been too expensive. 1t may not nave
| been the fault of the official paper OF
| the city, but the officials OF the city and
| of the various boards. Mr.. SanbOrn
| urged that there was no necessity for
| displaying legal notices, and for that
reason he Supported Mr.. Cullen's
notion Aid. Yoerg's resolution was
| too indefinite and uncertain. 1t was
very difficult to determine upon what
! price should be made for their printing.
/ IL am advised" continued Mr. Sanborn,
''that the prices now paid are not excess
| siye but reasonable prices, the probable
ity is; as low as work ought to be done.
| The difficulty has been as to the blank
/ space or display heads to be used in
| printing OF notices. This difficulty will
| be overcome oy the adoption OF Aid.
! Cullen's resolution
A vote was then taken upon Aid.
! Cullen's motion, which was lost, the
! vote being equally divided.
/ thnn mnVRH amend
| Aid. Yoerg'S resolution by the fusion
| into it of the main portion of Aid. Gull
lens proposition. Thence ensued q
| long discussion, in which several of the
aldermen became hopelessly mixed as
| to what were amendments and what
| were original motions.
| Aid. Hamm moved TO strike out the
words in the resolution that the printing
should be let TO any newspaper which
has been published not less that two
| years.
| President Bickel-Will you accept the
| amendment"
Aid. Yoerg-No, sir; l will not ac-
cept it.
The amendment was voted down, G to
10. and Aid. Harm urged that words
should be inserted in the motion, pro-
yiding that the contract should be let to
the lowest bidder. This was strenuous
" opposed by Aid. Sanborn, and after q
| vigorous dispute, defeated.
The resolution, as ultimately adopted,
was rs follows:
Resolved, That the city clerk be instructed
20 advertise On For proposals for supply
| ing all the departments and Offices OF The city
| OF ST. Paul with ali the printing, Autograph
ing books and stationery required for the
use OF said departments and Offices. ca
Also separate proposals for publishing in a
nTra !,
ceedines OF the common council, and
of the various boards and departments
of the city government, and OF all the no.
| tees and advertisements, Of whatever nature,
required by law to be published in the
| official paper of the CITY. The city clerk is
hereby further directed 10 furnish the bidder
sample copy of the PRINCIPAL forms of
legal notices. stating the number of times
each notice is required to be published by
law for the information Of the bidder. No bid
will be entertained by the common council
or committee unless accompanied by tripli-
cate copies of advertisements whose forms
are furnished by the committee from type
set up 10y the bidder in the exact form in
which he proposes to execute his contract,
| with price noted af the foot of each adver-
| tisement for the total number of insertions
of the advertisement as required by
law computed at the offered price per
Inch. The said copies accompanying the
lid accepted shall be attached TO the con-
| tract ana form part OF the same, ana no
| bills under such contract shall be allowed to
be paid if the advertisement shall be dis
played or spread out TO any greater lensth
than is eSampled in the specimens attached
60 said contract, nor in case said al
| refreshments shall be crowded into
less space than shown by such
| samples. The common council, however,
reserves the right 10 direct the form of adj
vertiSements. ana the space they shall oe-
| eupy, which. in such case, shall be paid tor
] nrn rafa 70 those fixed in the contract. said