Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-07-16
The WAY it was Done.

1t was April 10. 1890. when the INDEX
and Cresset put in their bids to do the
county printing-dH of the county print
ing. The bid of the INDEX was much
lower than that of the Cresset, as the
records of the commissioners show. and
yet the two republican commissioners
absolutely refused to award the con-
tract that day, and, disregarding their
Oaths to fairly and impartially admin
lister the affairs of their Offices, they
finally rejected our bid, called for new
ones. and gave the contract to the Cres-
set This last proceeding was had on
April 18th.
And right here we want to point out
to the taxpayers of Barber county one
of the effects of the one days delay in
considering the printing bids: Among
the bills allowed by the county commits
sioners, at their July meeting, last
week, was one to the Cresset for $17l.14.
for stationery furnished the county du-
ring the past quarter. All but $10.64
of this amount was for stationery pur-
porting to have been ordered or printed
April 10th, 1890. the very day that the
INDEX underDid the CresSet on the
county work That very day, April
10th, this writer, knowing that he had
put in the lowest bid, and knowing he
was entitled to the contract, and sup
posing he would get it, asked the Cres-
set foreman if there was any jOb-wOrk
for the county on their hooks, and he
answered that there was not-that ev-
erything had been cleaned up.
Then it is very plain that the Cresset
proprietor either went around the cOun-
ty offices and took the new orders when
he found he was fairly beaten, or the
work was done after he had agreed to
do ALL job-work for Is per cent. of reg
ular rates, and then charged up at reg
ular rates. 1t is also evident, now, that
the two republican reformers ~ Stran-
athan and Cool, delayed considering
the bids for the very purpose of allow
ing Mr.. Axline to get more orders that
he could fill at regular prices, rather
than have him fill them at 25 per cent.
of regular prices.
But who loses by this irregularity ?
The county, of course! 1t loses exactly
Sl20.3S. The work for which the Cres-
set was allowed $l60.50, properly came
under the contract awarded that paper
on April 18th, 1890. They had no work
ON their hooks when the bids were put
in, and yet they present big bill for
work purpOrting to have been done OF
that day. In that contract the Cresset
offered to do the class of work under
discussion for % per cent. of regular
rates. The commissioners last week
allowed the Cresset to put in bill for
full regular rates.
Another thing: Under the contract
the Cresset was to do ALL the printing
of blanks and stationery. Last week
the commissioners allowed bills fol
printed blanks, which the Cresset had
agreed to print tor 25 per cent. of regu-
lar rates, to Hamilton & Co., Hall &
O'Donald, and DOdsworth Il Co., fol-
$l2. This work should have been done
by the CreSset, when it would have cost
the county (under contract) just So, ill.,
stead of $12. OF course So is not much
of saving. but, added to the 500 men,
toned above, 1t would pay the salaries
of the reform commissioners for quite
a while; it would pay for ice fol the
county Offices for two years; 1T would
pay at least tweassistantst to the county
attorney, to aid him in doing the work
he was elected to do, and for which he
draws salary. 1t would pay for every
sheet of stationery needed by the coun-
ty during an entire year, if the Cresset
were to print it and charge for it at q
per cent. of regular rates, as that paper
is under contract to do.
One hundred and Twenty-Five dollars
is quite large sum of money, In these
days of drouths, high taxes and reform
county commissioners.
1t should have been saved to the coun-
ty last week.