The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-14

THE PRINTING STEAL.

THE CITY PRTSTTz6.
pr@xs-


THE CRY PsrsTIss.
Press-Timss.
The provisions of the city charter re-
speeding the letting of the contract for the
eiiy printing are plain and unmis.akable.
No provision is left for the exercise of dis
erection on the part OF the board of alder
men.
The charter in express terms provides
that ''the board shall by revolution aa-
nonaos The names Of all parties whose pro-
yosals kare been offered and the terms Of their
proposals. respectively. and desigante az city
ofKcial Reuspaper' that nesEspaper whose
manager or otraeTs hare offered the I0trea and
best proposals."
Last evening the board Of aldermen had
sn opportunity 10 show their respect Tor
the organic law OF the city and the pecu-
niary interests of the taxpayers.
Five bids were presented for doing the
city printing for the ensuing year. OF
these the bid of the Preas- Tfmes was the
lowest. that of the telegraph the highest.
averaging more than ~ per cent higher
than the bio Of the Press Times.
The board Of aldermen. by q secret bal
lo,, determined upon the selection of the
Telegraph. the highest bidder. a. the city
official newspaper.
The difference between the cost to the
city of doing the work under the two bids
will amount 10 upwards of 5000 annu-
ally. taken in defiance Of the charter from
the taxpayers of the city 10 be placed in
the pockets Of the political friends of the
members of the board Of aldermen.
What comment can be made on these
facts. save the obvious one that 1t is pre-
- -. a a III L. 4
policy which governed The late admins
tration Of she treasurer's Office, with the
possible exception that no opportunity is
afforded the city 20 reeoup any portion OF
this sum 80 diverted" from the treasury.
from the purses Of unfortunate bondsmene
There is here wilful. pslpable and
opcn defiance Of the organic law Of the
city. done under the darkness of a secret
ballot. and Tor the sole purpose OF iooting
the city treasury Of thousands of dollars
Of the taxpayers money for tho declared
sad actual purpose Of placing that money.
50 uulAsfplly diverted, :" into the pockets
Of political friends.
Unfortunately, in the defective condi-
ton of the statutes. this is simply moral.
not \ statutory, crime. There we're no
fears o. ths penitentisry 20 appeal 60 the
board of aldermen, and no such risks TO
take as those assumed by their late coad-
intor in the city administration. when he
pursued ideniically the same policy, for
the enrichment OF others OF hss political
assoc iates.
This defective condition of the criminal
statutes was probably known 10 the
/ members Of the hoasd % aldermen; in
,f,ak
advice before proceeding to the footing of
] the tressuFy--as il IS understood Others
/ higher in ih.ir psefess.aa have done under
/ similar circumstance,
of public odyum they had no fear; not
/ because such cd.um Will not he bestowed
1 upon them. but because the moral calloas-
ness whieh would peEnit them to perps,u-
/ ate such an otIenss against the taxpayers
( wia render thsm sSesGly ohiivions ID pub
/ lie Contempt and opprohrium or sny de-
/ gree II punishment which does not par.
| take Of a physical nature.
/ THE CITY FEisTfSs-THK Txixas,rs AGAIN
sALAoSs ~ IT'S owx iSFsxY.
Evsainx CAL
| The TeiegFapA claims that night again
| sTiumpAs because law Is tgamplei under
foot and the city printing gwen 10 il.
We suppose II will now Re In order 10
| taSs time - whip the bo&rd Of aldermen
| into giving the second printing 10 The
I Evszsss NsreA Sach a course Ia due
I tine wil inset .ts osa reward. SGcA evil
/ denos q the banda character. for want u
/ respect fcs the commands Of tie
/ ls~, cannot fail - meet the
/ last condemnation Of 81 Outraged reople.
T IL 8 small consideration whether ths
/ Efrss 3sssss O. tao Euraisg CeI SHALL he
/ AWARDED sho e4'y printing. which she az
I sRssi4es tAeFa 10. aeG corr pared with =
( grss:er enc. thar a. usea shoald obey and
/ respect the lar. especially ihoSe charged
wtth its a3zain3styatson.
Is mot sGch eoa3aet 50 this 81 -. r..s
/ Of tae paolle bodies th4s creates deglon.
/ In haman saaYe called saarcAlstx. y 30
i E1Ssssske 20 correct sucA sy3ss In q sura