Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-09-27
ABOUT TEE pENITBNT1ARY SUPPLIES,

Why is l., many would like to know
that the awards iog penitentiary supplies
are always let to Santa Ee merchants
Last year. it is current talk throughon
the territory, that Staab, the suGcesslI
bidder, lad the highest Lid III the lot
Las Vegas Optic.
The New MEXICAN has taken pains tt
investigate the subject referred to by thu
Optic. There is absolutely nothing in it
as far rs the insinuaton, or if you vii
charge, is concerned that Mr.. Staab is no
the lowest bidder, and has not been o.
that the bids were not awarded honestly
and justly and with the fullest regard fol
the rights OF others. There were no bid
ders outside of Santa Fe. Under the Doodle
administration from 1885 to 1889 no bids
were called for and supplies were pur'
chased in open market at such points and
from such firms as would do the Doodle
officials and Democratic territorial adj
ministration the greatest amount OF good,
regardless of the interests OF the people.
Immediately upon the incoming OF the
Republican administration and in accord
ance with law passed by q three
fourths Republican legislative assembly
over Doodle governors veto, the system
Of advertising for bids for penitentiary
supplies was inaugurated. Supplies under
this method have been purchased for
twelve months, one installment about six
months ago, the second installment I'M
der the recent bids. In both cases Mr..
Staab was by all odds the lowest bidder,
and surely the best bidder. The total sup
plies purchased for the entire twelve
months will average about $4,000, while
under the Doodle administration during
the past four years the costof supplies for
the same number OF convicts ran from $780,
900 to $40 900 per year. Last year there
were no bids, and therefore Staab was moi
the successful bidder, nor had he the
highest bid in the lot, nor furnished he
the largest amount of supplies. The OPP
tic has evidently been misinformed by
some one who has q grievance.
In this connection we have this much
to say, and this is good time to say it
Mr.. A. Staab is good, staunch and hard
working Republican and the most respons.
ible merchant in the territory, and all
things being equal and if there are
any favors to be shown which can
be shown legally and are proper,
they ought to be granted to him.
Under Democratic administ' alton, we
notice, they care but little for law or what
is wrong or right as long as it helps their
party and party friends. During the past
four years many and manya thousand dol.
lars was paid to Democratic merchants for
penitentiary supplies, without regard to
price, and simply because the Democratic
administration thought they ought to have
u share of the money. This sort of busi
ness we have strenuously fought, and will
oppose under any administration, Repuh.
lican or Democratic, but we do not want
any cant or hypocrisy in ours, and are glad
that this opportunity for speaking out has
come our way. We want Republican Off
Gals to understand it, and that plainly and
unequevocaly, that their party friends
must have the benefit of the fact of the
Republican party being i'll power, as
long as the public interests do not
suffer. And these can not suffer, as it is a
well established fact of thirty years stand
ing that things official are much more
honestly, better and beneficially admins
tered by Republicans than by Democrats.
The past four years in this territory show
this. Never during the forty-two years
this territory has been part Of this union
have the people been so robbed and
ground down in the dust, harassed and
impoverished as during the Doodle admin
istration from 1885 to 1889.
Ii any Republican federal or territorial
Official is of the opinion that he can stand
upon his own bottom without due recog.
milton OF his party friends and party obi
cations, let him 60 ahead and try it on.
He may and he may not find out his mis-
lake. We are inclined to think he will.