The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-09
THE CITY PRINTING.
Desperate Effort of the Highest
Bidder for the Contract.
LOWEST BIDS NOT FAVORED
City Council. After . Vain Effort to
Reach . Decision. r ostpones Action
TIL Monday Next.

The consideration of bids for the city
printing as the main business before the
board of aldermen last night 1t called
out an unusually large lobby, which in
Guided many Populists. The bids were
read as follows:
telegraph. "a cents per inch for first in
| sertion and Is each thereafter, Herald, .
and Is; PosT-IsrELLT6ENCER. p and 10;
Cab, 70 and 10. and after fifteen insertions.
10 cents; Press Times. 10 cents for single
insertions and Is cents for others, with 3
cents for repetitions.
The lowest bid is unauestionably that of
the Press Times, and there is some doubt as
to whether the CAL or PosT-ISTELLI-
GKSCER are the lowest, taking into account
the repetitions. For instance, on three
insertions the PosT-ISTELLIGENcER price
would be % cents and 10 cents each, max
ing IS cents; The Call would be 20 cents
and Is cents for second and third, making
10 cents. But ordinances form consider
able part OF the city printing and they are
only inserted once. On these the Press
Times and Call would be undoubtedly
lower than any others. The doubt arises
on the ten insertions and upward.
After the bids were read Alderman
Sweeney moved that the board take bal
lot to show which they considered the
lowest and best bid.
Alderman Daulton said he had figured
out the cost on insertions after the first.
Mr.. Sweeney replied that each man
must use his own judgment. He wanted
an informal ballot first.
Mr.. Carrie said there was one question
figures might not answer. The charter re-
quired that the lowest and best bid should
be accepted not the lowest alone.
The board went into committee of the
whole, with Alderman Daulton in the
chair.
Six informal ballots were then taken.
The first showed the following result:
Telegraph. 3: OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, 2;
Press Times. 2; Herald, l. On the third
batiot the Call received one vote. On the
fourth it stood: telegraph. 4; Posr-ISrEL-
IIGEscER. 3. On the last: Posr-ISTELLI-
GEScER, 3; Telegraph, 8; blanks. ?.
Alderman Miller said he was tired of
this monkey business; he was willing TO
come right out and declare his preference.
A formal ballot was then taken, and re-
suited as follows: Telegraph 4. Posr-iS-
TELLIGENcER ,. Press Times 2.
The roll was then called and the mem
hers declared their preferences as follows:
Telegraph, Cram. Ingram. Jordan, Stocks:
observation-disclosures, Carrie, Sweeney, Mil
Ter. Press Times. Daulton.
Mr.. Sweeney SAID the members must not
be governed by preferences; they must
vote for the best interests of taxpayers.
He, therefore, favored the Posr-lNTELLI.
6EScER.
Mr.. Carrie wanted to know how any man
could consider the Telegraph the lowest
and best bid. He voted for the Posr-IS-
TEbLIsEScEs because il was by far the best
and most generally circulated newspaper.
Even If the Telegraph had the circulation.
which he doubted, the Posr-IsTELLIsEscER
was lower.
Mr.. Daulton said he considered the
Press-Times the lowest bid. The paper has
general circulation and saving would
be effected to the taxpayers by selecting
that paper.
DIR. Sweeney replied that a paper with
an Eastern and state circulation was
better one for the purpose than a merely
local one.
A recess was taken and J. 2. Gleason.
treasurer of the Telegraph, talked to the
members. Some of them agreed TO make
the Telegraph the second paper provided
the Posr-INTELLIGESCER or Press Times
were made the first official paper as the
lowest and best bidder. Mr.. Gleason
cracked his whip aud declared that if he
couldn't have first choice he didn't want
anything.
on reassembling DIR. Sweeney moved TO
make the Posr-lNrEIIIsEscEa the official