The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-19
PUBLIC PRINTING.
The Amusing Jugglery Practiced
in Letting 1t.
Supervisor Binghsm 10 Be Protected by the
City While Enforcing His China
town Ordinance.

The disposition of the public printing is
putting the Board of Supervisors to great
deal OF extra trouble, as usual.
On Monday night, after the bids were
opened and it was seen that they were all
. alike, a resolution declaring the paper that
now does the public printing the lowest
bidder and awarding it the CONTRACT was
hurriedly rushed through and met with no
opposition except from supervisor Eiiert'
WIN. before the vote wa, announcer,
,chansed his vote TO the majority anu
I've notice that on next Monday night he
!Thnld move TO reconsider. This. according
To the rnles of the board, stopped the reso-
: linton until after the reconsideration was
disposed Of.
Yesterday it was suddenly discovered, by
whom no one knows, thai there was a fatal
defect in The resolution. 1t simply set forth
that the paper in question had agreed to
publish. free of charge, all advertisements
recurring one, three and five insertions,
stated that it was the lowest bidder, and
then declared it the official paper for the en-
suing two years.
AN OVERSIGHT.
No exceptions or conditions were con-
tanned in the resolution, and the eonse-
. 0ucnce would have been, had it passed
finally, that the paper accepting the con-
tract would have been barred by law from
charging anything On any KIND Oh puDhc
prinsing whatever.
One of thr proprietors of the City Hall
circular has been very active Tor moDth or
two past in his efforts to seizure tue pubic
printing. He has always been familiar
object at tie meetings OF the board and Its
committees, SO much SO. in fact, that he is
NV joculariy dubbed the thirteenth men,
Der OF the board. But as the time for hear
ing the bids approached he seemed to grow
nervous, and wore an anxious look on his
face. His many acquaintance chafed hun
10y saying. that since a Republican board had
been eectrd he and his paper would be
thrown into the soup"
oh, you be hanged" he always replied
with assumed confidence; the present
board has the letting of that work for the
next two years, and l own them body and
soul, every one of them. I'll get the public
printing, don't you be alarmed"
SAM RAISEY TAKES a HAND.
That the thirteenth members confidence
was assumed was more than ever apparent
on Monday. He was flying around the
apartments of the board like a headleSS
rooster. To strengthen his qnaking con-
iidepce and tighten the pull on the MEM
beers of the board he had taken Sam Rainey
up TO the hall with him.
During the afternoon the Street Committee
was in session 10 finish up uncompeted
business. The thirteenth member Shanl-
b! ed into the meeting, whispered in Chair
man Bingham's ear and then retired. a
moment later Bingham followed him. where
in the waiting-Toom lie was butt0nholed by
Raney, taken into the private telephone
room and given his instructions.
bingham had not been long in his chair
till the aldeTmanic figure of the thirteenth
member came numbering in again. This
time he whispered in Barry's ear and retired.
Barry followed, was collared by RaIney and
hustled into the private room, where the
mysterious pull vas getting III its mighty
work.
A third time, fourth time, a fifth time
the Same bit of def jugglery was repeated,
until all in the committee had been seen, 3"
and then the skirmish was taken up on the
outskirts. Every one OF the solid nine"
was given his instructions by Rainey before
tie meeting of the board called that night.
THEY oBEYED THE BOSS"
The resolution went through all right, as
every one knew 1t would, IN spite of the fact
that the rejected BIDS were the same as the
one accepted. Had not Supervisor Ebert
interpBsed his notice of reconsideration
there would have been no more disturbance
probably.
But the possibility of the squabble over
tire contract dragging into the next year, as
it did two years ago. and then having to be
settled by a Republican board filled the
thirteenth member with indeScrlhable fear.
a ~
before the break OF dawn yesterday he was
foundering around the streets in search Of
Sam Ralney Something must be done to
defeat Elefts little obstruction scheme.
1t was done. The order was given TO call
aSpeCiii meeting of the board, Squrlch Ell
Iert's motion 10 reconsider aud pass the reSo-
luton to print.
During tie hurry and furry over the
matter some one discovered the above
mentioned defect IN the resolution. 1t was
called &c the attention of the thirteenth
member. He was already excited nearly to
the pitch of apoplexy, and this discovery
added to his wrath.
a LITTLE JOKER.
To show their good faith, and that the
{ u!ty resolution was an oversight, the
Chairman OF the Printing Committee at once
had. the following little joker Inserted:
In consideration. OF the performance OF the
above work the parties shall have the right TO
charge and collect their usual rates from the
parties interested or affected for all resolutions
ana orders cOuferring special privileges, opening
and closing ST. eets, publishing official notices,
changing Established grades or granting fran
chtses, and all resolutions and notices of street
work.
II will be in place to explain at this point
e exactly where the Joker" lies. Bids were
called for on advertisements to be published
once, three times and five times. On all
these tie bids read no charge Now as
matter OF fact, there is comparatively little
insertions. The great bulk of public print
ing is the street advertising, and by the act
OF the last Legislature the street law, or
Nroomau act, was amended so that this
character OF work requires two and six in
'SertOnS-On which, according to the newly
inserted Joker in the resolution award
lug the contract, the publishers may charge
their usual rates. Here is where the steal
comes il. Very often the publications in
street work cost more at usual rates" than
the street work itself.
T.. CARRY OUT THE JOB.
When the matter was called up last night
Supervisor Wheian, who seemed to be
struggling With an attack of s.rabismus, de-
manded Of Becker twho introduced the sub
ltct i'll the form of motion to reconSider)
that he explain his reasons for such mo-
ton.
Becker was completely floored. He
coufdn't answer the question if his life had
depended on it. and after blubbering out a
few unin.elligible sounds he sat down.
Barry came to his rescue. Ali during his
career as Supervisor Barry has had, and
deservedly, the reputation of being the
most cool and collected member of the
board. His wits are always at command,
and this was no exception. He explained to
q. Wheian that slight defect had been dis
covered in the other resolution. and the re-
consideration was to remedy it.
Wright was opposed to any haste in this
matter. He did not see any special reason
for rushing it through 1T once.
The motion was called, however, and all
present except Wright and Whelan voted
= tor it. Boyd. Pescia and Ebert were absent.
As the matter now stands, the resolution
awarding the city printing contract to the
evening paper that now holds it has been
passed TO prilt, and will be finally passed
next Monday night, unless some unforeseen
obstacle Is thrown In its way meanwhile.
A FEW INCIDENTALs.
There were one or two other matters on
hand that the board took occasion to dispose
of, 20 as not TO make the special object Of the
meeting stand out in such conspicuous re-
lief. One was tine following resolution:
Resolved, That the City and County Attorney
be aud lie Is hereby required TO defend all suits
brought against Henry Bingham, arising ont OF
his action as Supervisor In Introducing anu sup
porting an order passed by this board providing
for the removal OF the Chinese from certain linn
ITS to a certain other designated portion of The
cify, or by Of his action In endeayoring to
have The provisions OF the said order enforced.
A deal of discussion followed. Wright
couldn't see any point TO the resolution.
Whelan resisted it with all the force he
could muster. He said he had great deal
OF respect for Mr.. Bingham, the author of