The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-01-21
The Public Printing.

offered periodically under such rules and
regulations as they (the police iuries) may
establish" special provision being made
that the State BOARD and police juries
shall always have reserved to them the
right to reject any and all bids" See
Act of 1881, and Act 40 of 1877.
These acts provide that in no case
shall the price paid exceed certain max
imum figure; and, so long as contracts
awarded come within this limit, the pub
lie interest is protected and none have
just cause for complaint. 1t is true that
the law leaves room for political favor
itism, and it was doubtless made with
this very end in view. This is in perfect
accord with that Americanism, Equal
rights to all, special favors where justice
demands" and that other practical politi-
cal motto, ''to the victors belong the
spoils." This rule is pursued in State
and National affairs, and. as it is consid-
cred absurd for Republican to be favor
ed by Democratic administration, or a
Democrat by Republican. SO it is con-
sidered right and proper to follow suit in
district, county and parish affairs.
Where it can be done within the law
those of the political household are given
preference. Just fancy a newspaper of
opposing political faith to the adm his
tration being the State organ!
We are led to these remarks by the
criticisms that have lately been made
against the police jury of Grant parish
for awarding the public printing to the
CHRONICLE for $780, when the New Era
had made the remarkable proposition to
take the job for s74. Our bid was, to do
all the work required at one-half legal
rates, or for the specified sum of $3.50
per annum. The police jury, after care
fully considering the matter for several
hours, passed the following resolution:
Offered by H. v. Mccain, and adopted by a
vote of five to one. the president not voting.
Resolved, That the public printing of Grant
parish is hereby awarded TO the Colfax Chronicle
for the sum of $3.50 per annum, for the reason
proposition to do all the eve work Of the parish,
which proposition is reasonable in price and
within the requirements of the law. and for the
further reason that it is an Old well established
and reliable newspaper, whereas the New Era is
less than ten days old. and we do not regard it
as an established and reliable paper, such as
could or would meet all the requirements of a
public printer, and perform the work in neat
prompt and satisfactory manner.
This action accorded with that rule of
political justice that gave the printing Of
the State to the Baton Rouge Advocate,
although two or three reputable and we'll
established newspapers offered to do the
work at one half, or even one third of the
rates allowed by law. The legislative
committee having the letting of the State
printing, we believe, was composed main
ly of Union men, and they justly held
that the law was not for the purpose OF
expressing honest and legitimate labor.
and it was no part of their duty to beat
down prices to starvation figures, simply
because parties with Interior objects and
opposed to the administration saw fit to
cut under at prices well known to be
ruinous to the ordinary craftsman.
One of the most marked exercises OF
discrepancy in this line that has fallen
under our observation was that of the
police jury or Vermillion parish, in July
last, when they gave their printing to the
Abbyville Meridional, at the fixed rate OF
$3.50 per annum, whereas the Vermillon
Star had proposed to pay them one dollar
per annnum for the privilege of doing
the work! They undoubtedly thought
this was a case in which to apply the
late maxim, especial favors where justice
demands"
We merely cite these instances in order
: to show that our police jury have moi
acted without precedent. And now, II
order to show our readers that the award
is not only entirely within the require
ments of law, that it is by no means 6
soft" snap, but that the CHRONICLE fair
ly earns every dollar of the money, VIZ
will designate as near as we can the large
amount of ertra and unusual work in
cluded in our contract:
1. The printing of the proceedings of the po
lice jury, including all reports, notices, adver
tisements and other publications that they ma,
order, or the law requires parish to pay for.
2. Proclamations and notices of president o.
police jury, sheriff, returning officer. judge Oh
assessor.
3. The printing of all blank awards. contracts
} bonds. ETC., used by president of police jury.
A. The printing of all blanks used by the clerl
of the police jury in commissioning and notify
ing clerks of election road apportioners. review
ers and overseers of their appointment.
| 5, All blanks needed by overseers to summon
hands to work the roads.
8. All blanks used by the grand jury.
Z. All blanks used by the clerk of the court il
criminal matters.
s. All blanks used by the sheriff in crimina
matters.
9. Blank licenses of all the various denomina
tions needed by the parish.
, ! TO- All blanks needed by board Of reviewers.
The printing alone of the blanks above
some Is or 20 different kinds. is wortl