The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-24

II ell the new and inexperienced COM
mttees, of the City Council begin business
after the fashion Of tho Joint committee
on printing we are likely to he treated to
more interesting spectGcles OF bad judg-
merit and incomfetency than we looked
for when the Goo-Goo and Democratic
| coalition succeeded in retiring irem of
dee tried, faithful, intelligent and expe-
fenced public servants.
After considerable delays, hesitancy
and discussion, the printing COMMITTEES,
composed OF Councilmen CREssEY, TRAsK,
RYAN, GRAY, and Alderman NICHOLS have
taken the contract for the city printing
from the firm OF Snow & FARNHAM that
have been the city printers for something
like Is years and have given 1t to another
concern. 1t is to be assumed that the
vote on the awarding OF the contract was
not unanimous, but that politics rather
than the interests OF the city prevailed in
making the decision, although the excuse
may be advanced that the award was
given because the figures offered by the
city printers were cut under by the sue
cessful competitor.
In these remarks, we do not make any
reflection on the successful competitor.
1t is to be presumed that he will be able
TO carry out the contract and he had a
perfect right to lid on the printing, TO
make his offer on q basis OF rock-bottom
prices and in any othcrways enter into a
business competition for a profit-paying
job. lie is to be congratulated that his
bid was successfully considered. But the
fact that Is of chief interest to the citizens
OF Providence is that the city has with
| drawn it's patronage from an ole and re-
liable firm of printers with whom 1t has
been doing business for q long term of
years with, we believe, absolute satisfac-
tion. The city printing work has been
performed with absolute faithfuinoss and
a nigh degree OF skill. There have been
no exceptions to tie work'as done. For
years the city printers have carried out
their annual contract with no COM
toner. Tho latter has paid a fair
price for the work done, and as the
quality OF the work has been excep-
tionally high it would not have been sup
posed that the corporation of the city
of Providence would have been disposed
to beat down the price. In these days
where two concerns Of repute have business
relations, one with the other, the transac-
tions from which have ensued for any
time at all so that mutual good faith is
engendered it Is not esteemed good
business Judgment for one party to at
tempt to beat down the other party or I'm
any way deal ether than reputnbly and
fairly. The municipal corporation is a
solid business institution demanding the
best work and willing to pay a fair
price for It. The firm that has lone the
city printing is as honest in its methods
as IT is expert In its work. 1t is a relia bic
house, having the full respect and conf
dence Of other concerns In its line and
OF other business houses. Its dealings
WIN the city corporation nave unques-
;~ionably been honorable as its work has
been satisfactory. In this sense and for
these reasons competition should have
been out OF the question. In private
business 1t would have been.
But there is another, and, in view OF
the cIty's interests, a more vital reason
why the city should have continued it's
advantageous business relations with the
former city printers. We doubt very
much II there is another printing rouse
In the town, although there are several
as large and generally as efficient as IL