Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-01-25
THAT "DISPUTE"
A PRESEN rATION Of THE CASE
BY THE COUNTY PRINTER.

publishing the delinquent tax list
came before the Board of County
Commissioners for allowance, the
TIMES claimrd $135 because it was
"p1ice- and-a-half" matter. The Dis
trict Attorney took issue, standing by
the letter of the contract, which al.
lows only so cents per square of III
lines.
Nc. Terrence, of the Inter Idaho;
Mr.. Clark, foreman Of the "Snide,"
begging the gentleman's pardon) and
Mr.. Angel, foreman of the TIMES,
were called before the Board; and all
agreed that it was extra price. matter
That is to say, that if, as practical
printers, they were to "set" up such
matter, they would expect, aud de-
mand, and receive extra price; and
that, if they were, as employers, to
have such work done, they would pay
extra price.
This unanimity should and probably
would, have secured the allowance of
the bill if the Board had been COM
posed of experienced men. But the
commissioners, unwilling to act con-
trary to the opinion of their legal ad
wiser, offered to submit the matter to
arbitration.
On behalf of this paper it was
agreed to leave it to any practical
printer. The TINES representative
even urged that Andy Graham, of the
Bellevue Herald, be the reft rec, say
ing: "Mr. Graham has grown white
in the business and could neither be
cajoled nor corrupted into making a
wrong decision" Mr.. Bowman, of
the Key stone, was also suggested.
The District Attorney, however,
with strange persistence, insisted that
it be submitted to the foreman of the
Salt Lake Tribune. The TINES man
did no, know that gentleman; but be-
ing informed that he was an old
practical printer, readily consented.
The mode of submitting the ques-
ton, or, rather, what question to sub
nit, then came up. The TINES man
wanted the question to be stated thus:
How, under the contract, should
the delinquent tax list be paid for:
The county printer claims price and a
half, while the District Attorney will
only agree to one price.
This did not suit the District At
torney nor the Board, who acquiesccd
with their adviser. The latter there
upon drew up the following:
Under section one and four Of the
enclosed contract betweed the Board
of County Commissioners and T. E.
Picotte, will you be kind enough to
take the delinquent tax list "a copy
enclosed) and state how much Mr.
Picotte is entitled to, per square, un
der the contract?
This did not meet with the approx
, al OF the county printer, because ther'
was no dispute as-to the meaning o
the LETTER of the contract. Thu
dispute was as to whether it wa
single price matter or price and a hal
matter. The question proposed, Mr.
Picotte said, could only be answered
, in the way desired by the District At
torney. But the Board had spent
whole forenoon looking into the mat
, ter, and had really tried their leve
S best to ascertain the right and wroni
y of the matter. In consideration q
this, the county printer waived a
further objections and consented t
!, the proposition, which has since bee
carried out by the Clerk of the Boar
: writing to the foreman Of the Tribun
substantially as above stated.
t To legal minds, the position of tn
y District Attorney will seem impreg
y nabIe. He simply upholds the valid
- ty of his contract-the LETTER OF it.
a But even lawyers will admit tn
Y automatic truth that "The letter kill
but the SPIRIT WHITES" A judg
never decides a case upon the lette
of the law unless the letter agree
- with the spirit of it. That is, unle:
= his sense of equity agrees with I'll
y letter.
y The question in this case therefor
g is: "What would the intent, tt
spirit, of this contract require?"
The county printer says. "Pric'
and a half" and any union printe
a, that is to say, any printer who is
: oil ;,cnr,naJ IF the ruiaS framed II