Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-01-30
AGAINST COMPETITION.
The Proprietor of the Commercial"Kicks' Because He Is Not allowed to Rob the County by Ex-
 tOrtIOnate Bills,

Our afternoon contemporary is nothing if not a kicker, and, as is pretty generally known, his "kicks' are always on the wrong side and against what is, by a majority of the people, considered for the best interest of the community. One of the latest things to put our poor old friend on his "uppers" is the fact that the GRAPHIC, by doing work at a more reasonable price, se- cured the contract for printing 5000 pamphlets advertising the re- sources of Jefferson county, from County Commissioner Jno. M. Lucey. In yesterdays issue of his paper, the Commercial, appeared the follow ing lament and whine:
 Our officials of the Jefferson County Exposition are not doing exactly just by the newspaper offices of the city. We suppose the fault lies with the County Judge. A few days ago pamphlet was asked to be bid upon, and the three newspapers offices of the town requested to make bids. We learn the difference was comparatively small, and the lowest bidder got the job. Now this may be all right in private business affairs, though we doubtit, but we can't conceive Just where the justice comes in to the newspa per offices as to the County Exposi- tion. All three of the papers of this town have done immense work in writing up, in advocating and other
 wise aiding, not only the establish ing of this exposition, but they have all been equally loud in their efforts to praise it and have itI maintained. We feel sure that no newspaper office in this place would charge the county an unre sonable sum for any work done, and more especially would they all be iberal and fair in their charges for print ing for the exposition, and this being uestionably true, it does seem that the printing for this establish ment, at least, should be pretty equally divided. The Eagle should have it's share; the GRAPHIC should be also so used, and likewise the Commercial should be treated in like manner. for taking it all round, we dare say when the total amount paid the offices aforesaid is footed up, the saving by the bidding pro- cess would be little if anything.
 He says: "We suppose the fault lies with the County Judge The GRAPHIC has only this to say, hut if it was the fault of the County Judge, it shows that he is Q man of business, and one who is attending to the duties of his office in a man ner that will be appreciated by the taxpayers of Jefferson county. He is not seeking the good will of the editors and publishers of the papers by allowing them to rob the county treasury by means of eXtortionate bills for work done for the county; but, on the other hand, he is doing as other business men would do under similar circums tances. He instructed the County Commits sioner to submit the work to all the printing office of the city and to lei it to the one whose bid was the lowest. This was done The GRApHIC's bid was the lowest, so wt are informed by Judge Bocage. Just how much we do not know, as he die not inform us and we cared nothing about it. The editor of the Commer cial knows full well that the custom of securing bids on all work where S25 or more is involved is followed { by our merchants and business men T Yet, because the work referred t
 was for the county, and would hav
 to be paid for by the tax payers, h
 says the County Judge should hay given it out without first findin. how much it would cost, and alloy
 the newspapers to charge just wha
 they wished. We opine that tn