The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-02-05

for saving him his dollar. That Will
buy I,im three bottles.
In regard to the letting Of tie
printing this year, sometime before
tie old board met to wind mp tie
business for last year, the attorney
general had given an opinion ia
response TO inquiries from Harper
county, that the retiring board had no
authority to make a contract for the
county printing for the ensuing year,
which would bind the board after its
reorganization ut the statutory meet
ing in January. Having been
Informed that such an opinion had
been given. and knowing that foF the
last three years it had been let by the
retiring board, tile county attorney
submitted the question in writing to
the general and received from
him written opinion stating that the
old board of county commissioners
could not make a valid contract for the
county printing, which would bind the
new board, as they would there by take
the exclusive control of the county
printing out Of the hands of the board
Of county commissioners as constituted
after its reorganization, contrary to
the statute which gives the board
absolute control of the plbIic printing
for the county. The opinion also
stated that lit would be neither good
taste nor good law for the retiring
board of county commissioners to
hamper OF attempt to control the
affairs Of the county in any manner for
. year or any part thereof after their
retiI ement from Once and that any
contract which attempts to do so
would be against public policy and
should be declared void by the courts, -
This opinion was shown TO the mem
bers of the old board the day they met
and after the matter was discussed
each member was asked what action
he intended to take. BIr. BrcheT
intimated that notwithstanding the
opinion of the Encouragement he
was in favor Of the old board awarding
the contract. Mr.Oiiphant did not com
NIT himself, but promised the editor of
this paper to let him know if he con-
cluded to vote ia favor of the old board
letting the contract. so that the
Graphic Publishing Co, might put in
a bid if they concluded to DO so. Not
with standing this agreement, the next
morning Oliphant voted with Burcher
to award the printing to ". S. Hebron,
without having given any notice that |
he intended doing so.
This action was taken over the
and protest of Mr.. Roen-
baugh, who was one Of the hold-over
members, and was in fragrant defiance
of the att-rney-g general, who is the |
highest law officer Of the state, and /
whose opinion is required to be fol- /
lowed by all officers until set aside by
the courts, and was an indsfensibIe !
to the incoming member. /!
OF the 1O6 counties in the state we
have heard of only three where the old 4
board undertook to award the county 1
printing and in each case the new
board promptly set aside their action. /
Under the circumstances, the ma /
jority of the board, after its re-organi- /
cation, would have been destitute of |
if they had permitted such /
illegal and disrespectful action to |
stand. They therefore very. properly /
at their first meeting asserted their
right to exercise the authority con-
ferTed upon them by law by recOnsid-
eFing and resembling the illegal action
oil .
done, they gave Hebron, who was
present, an opportunity to put in a
bid, but he declined to do 80, ana the
then accepted the prCpO-
sition of the Graphic Publishing Com
pany to DO the county printing for
nothing, except the delinquent tax
and notices Of tax deeds, for which
they were to receive 80 per cent OF the
legal rates, or 10 per cent less than the
price at which Hebron had offered to
10 the work.
Hebron has a good deal of silly
5waddle in the article referred to
about Boss French and ownership OF
the board" which is hardly worthy of
notice Messrs. ROenbaugh and An
1IeWs knew that OliphRnt and Bur
cher had undertaken to hamper the
action OF the board in an unwarFaBt-
able manner, and required no dicta-
lion from any source to prompt them
10 assert their rights. His statement
that We intended to have the work
awarded at full legal rates, if it had
not been for mis- bid, is the bsseless
of his diseased brain. We
never expected to receive any more
than he received last year, and were
very willing to do the work at 10 per
cent less,
Hebe also whines about the appoint
Rent OF MIR. Andrews as a purchasing
agent. He was green enough to sup
pose we would overlook that point,
and when that little resolution passed
MS jaw dropped two inches. 1t is a