The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-03

cry OF the soiihi''sse ~ P'"S
the City Council, which comprises
Alderman and Councilmen
Grossly. GRAY, RYAN and TRAsK, in
abandoning the printing establishment
that had done the city work for twelve
or fifteen years, and furnishes today,
By reason OF the years of experience and
development OF plant, the best equipped
outnt in town for the city printing jobs,
we learn that a lower bid did not alone
dictate the choice of the committee.
The WAYS OF Geo Gooism are beyond
reckoning. The unutterable processes
that control the action Of a political brain,
like that of Alderman NICHOLS, for in
stance, are beyond discovery by the most
searching OF cathode rays. When we took
it for graptci that the reason the print
ing committee had ceased to be a GUS
toner OF the old and tried printing house
which had performed its work 80 fairly
and SO well as TO have placed 1t almost
ego competition with any intelligent
committee, was because, ~forsooth,
another printer han sent in a lower bid,
we took too much for granted. We were
only beginning TO know what Goo Geo
ISM was like and accordingly were misled
in our conclusions. We confess that we
were fooled.
But we are learning more and mora
about the ineGable processes OF Goo Goo
ism every day and we have received a lit
tie more light on the printing contract
business. IT appears that the firm that
get the contract was not the lowest bid
der. IL would appear that the W
hours that the Goo Goo committee gave
to "considering'' the bids were unreces-
sarily wasted, for nothing but partizan-
ship controlled the proceedings and deals,
rather than the city's money or the city's
interests, wero responsible for the
decisions reached. We have heard talk of
money influence, but we do not believe
that any such influence was necessary
with the Goo-Goos, although, according
to the sentiment expressed publicly dur
ing the campaign by that ex-prince of Goo
Coos, Councilman RATHBoNE GARDNER,
the ray of the average Councilman is far
less than what his services are worth and
he cannot be blamed II he makes a little
sometbing:.sen the side A city print
ing contract is strictly business. To get
it is evidently worth q commission and IL
we understand Goo-Goo principles Alright
nobody could be blamed who accepted a
commission for any influence in securing
a printing contract.
But we are content to believe that plain,
every day partizan politics were a suti.
cient influence to secure to the fortunate
printing house that city contract. The
printing house IL, we believe, capable OF
carrying out the contract. But the point
Of public interest is that the contract did
not GO to the lowest bidder. Another
and equally reliable firm was a bidder
and offered to furnish bonds to do the
city printing satisfactorily. Figured ap-
proximateiy the city printing for the
coming year would have cost less by
something over a thousand dollars had
this lowest bid been accepted.
1t Is charitable TO the COMMITTEES on
printing to believe that 1t failed to ex-
anime any OF the bids but the one that
was accepted.
Any other conclusion can but en-
barrass public Judgment on its action to
deciie whether it's controlling members
were corrupted or were simply fools.
HEAR, HEAR, CHIEF BAKER!
The other day Chief OF Police Baker an