Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-06-03
PJIRLIC ADVERTISING.

The letter OF the attorney general 10
Supervisor Stevenson, published in an
other column, seems to effectually settle
the meaning of the law as to public ad-
vertising in York county. Applying the
opinions of the attorney general to the
facts as they exist in this county, not only
will the publication ofthe itemized report
of the county treasurer at public expense
be illegal; but the action of the county
commissioners in letting the advertising
of this county to the lowest bidder. is a
nullity and the caEi:.ract is void.
- Under the law, as 1t stands now, the
county must pay for advertising at the
rate of $1.OO per hundred words of body
for the first insertion, so cents for subse-
quent insertions and cents per word for
caption. and shall not be allowed to pay
any less. The old law, which also placed
the advertising space of all newspapers,
regardless of commercial value, on the
same basis, was manifestly unjust; and this
new law is no less 50. For a publisher,
or any individual to charge the county
more for given service than he charges
an body else is dishonest; but when the
lawmakers say that the county shall pay
a given amount for a given service and
shall not be allowed to get that service for
less, even though the party who is to rem
der the service may be willing, the situa-
ton, to say the least, is more than passing
strange.
In the meeting of the county board the
other day it was suggested that inasmuch
as the law prescribes that certain amount
shall be paid for advertising, it might be
a very good idea for the board to elect q
printer, and allow him to do all the adver-
tising for the county. The suggestion did
not take, and we hope that no such a
precedent shall he established, for in our
opinion it will be the beginning of a sys-
tenn of newspaper subsidization, the like
of which has never existed in this county.
The object of public advertising is not to
provide pap for any newspaper, but to
disseminate official information among
the people, and such system as that sug-
gested would speedily make of some of
The newspapers servile tools ofpoliticians,
1t the same time wrongfully discrimina-
ing against other newspapers, more mer-
torious, perhaps; but which would not
,toop to such degrading depth.
Previous to the passage of the special
,ct just repealed, public officials placed
heir advertisements in such newspapers
Is they deemed were best calculated to ac-
the results desired. The system
worked admirably. During the exist
,nce of the recent special act, county
Advertising has been let out to single
on the best terms that could
be procured. While this system was far
rom satisfactory either to the public or
o the newspapers, there has never been
my just ground for any charge of unfair
less against any of the officials who have
lad to do with the matter. In each and
every case where there was one, the low
,st bid was the one accepted as was re-
Iuired by the act, and except for the
<icking of the disgruntled, that was all
here was off it.
The new law, though manifestly unjust,
IS suggested above, must be accepted as
t is. The county must pay for advertise
nents at specified rate, no matter where
and the question of cheapness
10 longer figures. Therefore, from now
IN, it is a question only of securing the
,est results, and in our opinion, this
Iuestion should be left entirely to the
Judgment of the official having the adver-
ising done. In fact, the law having
ixed the price to be paid, and as it also
pecifies the kind and amount of adver-
ising to be done, it occurs to us that for
he county board to attempt to select
Medium and prescribe that ADVERTISE
neMts in no other shall be paid for out of
ublic funds would be an unwarranted
nd arbitrary assumption of power, and