The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-21
HIGHEST BID GETS IT.
The Reform Administrations
Idea of Economy.
CONTRACT FOR CITY PRINTING.
Telegraph and "Press-Times' Get
1t Although the ssPost-Intellf
gencer's' Bid Was the Lowest.

The members of the board of aldermen were
all presen: at the meeting last night, with the
exception OF Brewer. The principal question
considered was the city printing contract The
resolution letting the contract to the Telegraph
and Press Times was read the third time and
finally passed.
Attorney ID. 0. Finch appeared for the Posi-
INrELLTGESCgR and was granted the floor. He
said that by the terms of the charter the Teie-
graph must be one OF the papers selected, as 1t
was the only Democratic paper. Therefore, the
Only question was as 10 whether the bid of the
PosTIsTELLGEscER or Press Times was the best.
He argued that, aside from the fact that the
Observation-Disclosures bid was the lowest per
inch, being p I-ioeo cents as against 25 13 cents
bid by the Press Times. it was the best bid for
The additional reason that the body of the Posi-
INTELLIGEScERs nonpsreil type was smaller
than that OF the Press Tins, the lace OF both
being the same, and measured less than that OF
the latter paper even though the columns were
bali an EN- narrower. He showed that, fgur-
Ing On the basis OF the amount of advertising
done the past year, the PosT-INTELLIGENCER's
bid would save the city between 500 and 500.
He showed by an ordinance set in the Press
Times type and the same ordinance in the Posi-
iNTELLIGEScER type, positive evidence that the
advertisement vas one inch shorter IN the Posi-
lSTEILIGES GER than in the Press Times. Con-
tinuing, Mr.. Finch said:
II grant that the council has the legal right to
use discretionary power in this matter, but /
want to know where they get the moral right to
give to one paper 1900 or $500 more for doing the
work than the other offered to do it for, espe-
cialiy when the one TO which it is proposed to
let the contract does not reach over one-half the
people IN this city that are reached by the
other. l would be glad ii you could avoid CIV
ing the contract to either, as they are not of my
political faith. but since one of the two Repuo-
iican papers must be selected, / ask that this
council, in the spirit of retrenchment and re-
form in which it was elected, select the bid that
Is the lowest. All we ask Is that a thorough ill.,
vestigation be made. as l feel sure the commit
tee did not understand all the facts"
Erastus Brainerd, editor of the Press Times,
explained that the nonpareil type used on that
paper was not purchased from the firm whose
Catalogue Mr.. Finch used in illustration, and
he claimed the difference in the measurement
OF the type in the two papers was not as great as
Mr.. Finch stated it was. He did not deny
that the PosT-INTELLIGENCER's bid really was
the lowest and would save the city q large
amount of money.
DIR. Jordan moved to recommit to the COM
mittee, but the motion was lost. The vote on
the final passage OF the resolution stood, Cram,
Ingram. Miller. Wolfe. Sweeney and Daul-
ton in the affirmative and Carrie in the
negative. DR.. Jordan asked to be excused,
on the ground that he was not IA
miliar with the resolution. The board
refused to excuse him, and when his name was
called again he persisted in refraining from vot-
ing. President Sweeney announced his vote in
the affirmative, aud as he made no objection it
was so recorded.
Daulton then moved for q reconsideration,
and the motion was carried. He then wanted it
referred to a committee of the whole, but his
motion was lost On motion of Mr.. Ingram it
was voted to refer to q consisting of
Cram, Carrie. Daui:on and Jordan, and a recess
was taken TO give the committee time to con-
slider it
In the committee meeting Cram and Jordan
wanted to recommend the adoption OF the res
%olution, bu. Carrie and Daulton refused to sign
the report. Neither did they want to make an
adverse report 1t was finally decided as q CON-
promise to let Chairman Cram report favorapiy
for the committee. When the board was called
to order and the resolution put upon its final
passage again all voted for it except Carrie and
The bill relating to the licensing of street
cars was amended so as TO make the license 81
per month on each passenger car and dummy.
The biii rs amended was passed. 1t provides a
license of S25 q year on each freight car in addi-
ton to the license on passenger cars.
The petition of J. NJ. Taylor for return OF city
taxes alleged to be enormously excessive was
The following bills were passed:
Providing for extending the water mains on
and Bismarck streets; granting per
TO the proprietor OF the old skating rink
to transfer his license; relating to the licensing
OF hacks. express wagons AMI drays: joiut reso-
luton for ii joint session Friday evening to con-
si1er the application of the Rainier Power &
company Tor an extension of its iran
ehise.
The Following matters were referred:
Recommendation of Superintendent Wilson.
OF the city water works. that water rates be re-
petition OF Chief Hunt, OF the fire de-
that Columbia street be planked
from sixth to seventh streets.
Atfauru.i until pars T,,ar5a- a,an;~,