Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1892-11-04
THE GRATEFUL GAZETTE.
ne Support of w. Thomas
Smith.
ustory Of a Deal Made While
Mr.. smith was a Member of the
Board of Supervisors.

A reference 10 tue records OF the
hogrd Of supervisors during the years
IsSg and 1890 shows the animus OF the
Gazetts's ardent support OF w. Thomas
smith, out of whose massive brain was
evolved the prediction scheme OF tax
inc National banks.
Mr.. Smith now aspires to the terri
torisl council though at the time now
under consideration he was only a
NIqin and humble supervisor whose
rhief ambition seemed to be to "get in
his work.
II NAV be mentioned in passing that
Mr. Smith was also a stakeholder in
The Gazette. In view OF certain entries
ionnd on the records this little circum-
stance is really significant.
The board during the year 1889 con-
sisted beside w. Thomas Smith OF G.
r Hskes aud Chss. Standard. Along
in December Of that year the board adj
vertsed for bids for county printing.
The previous year the contract had
been let to Curt w. Miller, OF the
Tempe News, at fair and reasonable
rate.
On December 20 the board opened
the bids. There were three bidders,
Mr. Miller, the Gazette and the Herald.
Mr.. Miller's bid was about the same as
had been that OF the previous year and
wa, as follows: Proceedings OF the
board, one insertion, Is cents per inch
the delinquent tax list for time pre-
scribed by law, SO cents per inch; all
- oIyart;aanapta To- t;,,a $40
scribed by law, 81 per inch.
This was reasonable bid and in
as much as Mr.. Miller hid had the con-
tract the preceding year and had per-
formed his work satisfactorily, there
was no reason why he should nos again
be made the official printer, unless
there was lower and better bidder.
The Herald bid is not given in this
article, but it was higher than Mr..
Miller's and lower than the Gazette's.
Now cast your eye on the Gazette's
bids and compare it with Miller's:
Proceedings OF the board, SO cents one
insertion; delinquent tax list. 90 cents
first insertion, 40 cents subsequent in
sertions; all other advertising by the
board 50 cents first insertion, 35 cents
subsequent insertions.
It's difficult to ascertain the per cent
Of excess OF the Gazette's bid over that
Of Miller's on account Of the absence OF
information concerning the amount OF
advertising under the last two items,
but 1t was certain that il would cost the
county not less than 400 per cent more
than Il calculated according to Miller's
figures,
With an utter disregard for an APP
pesrsnce OF honesty and the pocket
books OF taxpayers, w. Thomas Smith
caused the contract to be awarded TO
the Gazette. The next day the minutes
show that a communication was re-
ceived fron Mr.. Miller relative to the
action OF the board. The nature OF the
10 not officially known,
but it may be presumed that it was sur
charged with caloric. On motion it was
decided To call up the communication
and act upon it on January 8.
The record OF proceedings OF that
date, however, show that IL was not
called up, but that an order was passed
by the board that the Gazette at once |
I'll out bond for $4,000 for the faithful |
performance OF the contract.
W. Thomas Smiths generosity to the |
Gazette and, incidentally, to himself as
that year cost the taxpay-
srs Of the county not less than four |
times the amount OF the bill for print
ing the preceding year.
The next year the same board again
advertised for bids. The action of the |
board the preceding year had been de-
nnounced as an outrage, and could, there
lore, not be safely repeated without |
modification. The Gazette, though fore
ordained by Mr.. Smith to receive the
contract, must necessarily make q pre-
tense at least OF competition.
The bids we're as follows: For print.
ing the minutes Of the board, one in
sertlon, the Gazette l6 cents per inch
Tx REPUBLICAN free; the Herald 6 !
cents; the Tempe News 10 cents; the
Buckeye Blade 10 cents. For all adj
vertisemente by the board. the Gazette
u cents per inch; The REPUBLICAN, 20
cents; the Herald IL cents, fret inser-
lion, l2la subsequent insertions; the |
Tempe News % cents; the Buckeye
Blade 80 cents. Here il will be seen
mat the Gszette's bid though apparent
y not the highest was by no means the
lowest but this circumstance cut no
Inquire with w. Thomas Smith whose
most poignant regret presumably was
mat 1t had been impossible to make as
extensive steal as had been perpe-
rated the year before.
Gratitude is an admirable quality OF
men and newspapers and w. Thomas
smith has earned the most cordial sup
port OF the Gazette. The taxpayers OF
.he county while they admire these ex-
'Ihanggs Of courtesy and marks Of friend
MP between the Gazette and w.
lnIomas Smith, candidate for the coun-
u and prediction tsxer OF National
banks, do not feel that they are able to
put up for the aforesaid courtesies and
marks Of friendship. w. Thomas
smith as an humble supervisor has
'9lown himself TO be too much of an
'GepI IN jobbery to be consigned to the
'lder field presented by seat in the
am In IA vor of statehood NJ Demo-