The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-05-22
MANKATo FREE Press,
FRIDAY, MAY p, 1891.
THE OFFICIAL PRINTING.

In order TO avert any possible legal
question that might hereafter arise
TO inyalidate assessments, the council
last night passed resolution amend
ing the previously adopted resolution
which declared the MANKATO FREE
PRESS the official city paper, by in
certing the word DAILY" after Man
kabo." While presenting this, City
Attorney Young stated that he felt
sure that the action already taken
was sufficient TO make the Daily the
legal official paper, but TO make ii a
certainty he advised that the amend
ing resolution be passed. He secuted
the question which has been raised as
TO the legality Of making the change
at this time, quoting the charter to
show that it is plain that the official
paper can be selected at the present
time.
The ReriaC goes TO considerable
pains in attempting 10 demonstrate
that it was the WEEKLY FREE PRESS
which was hosen the official paper, and
insinua1es that the council used the
argument in favor Of the time saved
by using the DAILY as merely a pre-
text to give the printing TO the high
est bidder. Doubtless it would be
charitable to allow this absurdity 10
sink into its destined obscurity in 81
lence, as the aldermen have already
repudiated il. yet the statement that
the contract was awarded TO the high
est bidder has been so frequently re-
iUerated that we wish TO say word
in regard to the councils action. In
the first place, the difference in bids
viii probably amount TO but $50 or $50
IN a year. The fact that the first
publication Of a notice in the ReUletC
cannot be obtained until eight days
after a council meeting, has during
the part two years cost the city many
times that amount. During these
Two years no less than fourteen special
and fourteen adjourned council meet
ings were held, in more than half the
instances caused by the delay in pub
fishing notices in the Regielu. When
haste was necessary, as it often is, the
council was forced TO make up the
weeks delay by holding a special
meeting, when an expense Of SIC ii
saldermen's salaries was incurred each
time. Nor was this all the city SUI
feTed. When new applications are re-
ceiTed for liquor licenses, the city
loses SO each week that the license is
withheld. So for each week that the
council gains by the use Of the FREE
PRESS over the RerieU the city saves
SO on each license, and they are
many. We dare venture that
the city will save five TO ten
times the difference in the bids. 1t
should be borne in mind that in Civ
ing the FREE PRESS the official print |
ing, the cOuncilmen voted TO deprive
themselves Of the pay that accom-
panies good many special meetings.
This administration was elected TO
reform the city government, and the
aldermen would incur deserved cen /
sure on the part Of the tax payers did
they refuse TO make the saving indi-
Gated above; while the progressive
spirit Of the age revolts AT the thought
of a city like MankaDO having an Of
fetal organ whose first issue after a
council meeting is eight DAYS distant, !
while daily paper is at hand.
The DAILY FREE PRESS is now the |
official city paper, the croakers TO
the contrary Notwithstanding, and ii |
Is doing the city printing at prices |
twenty per cent. lower than the slow
coach ReUielU has done it for during |
the past Two years. The DAILY is
read by practically every taxpayer in /
MankatO. while the WEEKLY FREE
PRESS has a city circulation equal 10 /
that Of the RsUielU. Since the price /
was reduced TO SI.00a year the list has /
steadily grown to large proportions, /
and the addition Of the Register sub
Scribers has added largely TO it. The /
enyiOus sings Of the ReUielC do il no
credit in the eyes Of the tax payers /
and citizens generally.