Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-01-24
A COMPARISON,

In his efforts to divert the attention of
the public from the Healy case-from the
crime of mutilating public records-Mr.
Motfet, in his last issue, tries to make it
appear that the TRIBUNE is sore because
of the decrease in the amount of county
printing patronage last year and then
goes on to say how much the taxpayers
have saved by his (Motfet) being made
county printer-through Healy. Among
other things Moffet says: "The TRIBUNE
received $2,945.90 from the county for
printing blank books, stationery, ETC., in
1887; $2,3GS.S1 in 1888; and $S32.7O in
1S89-the year Moffet was county printer
and got $257.52 for printing proceedings,
ETC., and $40 for the delinquent tax list.
Then Moffet makes the startling an
nouncement that he got only $40 for
publishing the delinquent tax list, while
the TRIBUNE got 1914 the year before,
"a saving to the taxpayers of one-half,"
etc. There is no need of going into, any
argument On this question. Mofet got the
same rate for printing the proceedings
and tax list that the TRIBUNE always re-
~ceived-the legal rate. The reason Moffet
didn't get TO- and the reason the TR1-
BuNE didn't get more printing the last
year is because the county has needed
less and less printing every year since
1885.
But Motfet saved nothing to the tax
payers on the tax list because the county
does not pay for this printing. Each
parcel of land on which the tax is delln-
quent pays it. Everybody knows this.
The delinquent tax list has been growing
smaller every year. In 1888 the Northern
Pacific lands were sold. That is what
made the tax list SO large in that year.
That there may be no misunderstood
ing as to what the TRIBUNE has received
for official printing, blank books, station
cry, etc., for the county, an examination
of the books will show that the total
amount in 1886 was 81, 536.08; in 1887,
81, 190.68; in 1888, $685. 4; in 1889, $685.
70. These figures are accurate and do
not include the tax lists for the reason
that the county does not pay for publish
ing the tax list.
The TRIBUNE is a business institution,
founded on business principles and en-
deavoring to build up itself, the city, the
county and the state. It has in the past,
and will continue in the future to do
work for the county-if it has any to do
at the rates allowed by law, or for the
same prices that it would charge private
individuals FOR similar work. The amount
of patronage the TRIBUNE has received
from the county has been very small
when compared with the amounts paid
for printing and blank books in other
counties.
Let lis see what the TRIBUNE has been
paying out in this community during the
past five years.
1t gives employment to a large num-
Der of men.
Over ~seventy-fve persons are depend
ent upon it-surely not a small item for
grocers, clothiers and other merchants.
The TRIBUNE paid out in SALARIES
ALONE last year $27,6 99. .
1t has paid out for SALARIES ALONE
since 1885 over $125,OOO.
Where has this money gone?
1t has been spent in Bismarck-paid
out for house rent, to boarding houses
and to merchants, and to the farmers of
the country who are looking for a home
market for their produce.
What has Moffet done?
Given employment to a small boy and
Kicked.