The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-01

.rt is most remarkable that the papers
that have been crying for economy the
most should have entered into concocted
and deliberate plot 10 ROB the CITY OUT OF
some s.. 900 for printing the enarter. Botn
the Times and the News had dds
In thai meant nothing more OF
less than wholesale robbery OF the
city funds The Republican Is now
a full fIedged daily and VIII continue
to fight for the best interests OF the city,
always endeavoring 10 save the people from
paying out exorbitant sums Of money TO
persons, firms or institutions tndt attempt
to rob Il out of its funds
This IA from an editorial In 1.-THE Daily
Republican," new afternoon newspaper
called into daily existence, as It's editorial
states. TO illustrate "a concocted and aeii0-
crate plot 10 rob the city," IN the publica-
ton OF the charter.
the new charter, as is now well known
10 everybody. has by Law 10 be published
for thirty days prior 20 the election at
which Il Ia to be submitted for public
adoption in two daily newspapers OF the
city. The bids for It's publication were
opened by the city clerk on Friday evening.
and the details OF three Of those bids were
given in the Post-Intelligencer of yester-
day. The bid OF the Post-Intelilgencer was
merely a formal one and not competitive.
as under IT'S contract as the city oftic.al
paper, the price of such work is fixed. II
amounted TO $500. reasonable sum for
the work, and yet rid.eulously low as
compared with the enormous amounts ask
ed for the work by the News and Times.
The Times bid amounted to s5,5S3.50. and
that of the News 10 $i.ltl These bids
seemed TO Mayor Phelps so outrageous that
he called a special meeting of the council
TO consider what steps could be taken TO
of4s "a
irnpudent grab. The council had appro-
pr!ated the.very liberal sum OF $3.50 To pay
the whole expenses OF publishing the char
ter but this was insufficient TO meet the
demand of one OF these newspapers. The
proprietors of these newspapers relied, OF
course. on the letter of the law that the
charter must be published in two daily
newspapers of the city, and did not believe
that the council had any recourse but 10
pay either one or the other OF their ex-
brilliant demands. The city council, how
ever. aided by its legal adviser. did find
a way TO guard the peoples money from
being taken In such barefaced manner.
H. r. Cayton, publisher OF the Republi-
can and Chadwick q Ambrose, or the Ar
gus both put In bids for reasonable
amounts TIE former for $500 and the lat
ter for 81 900. The bid of the Argus read as
follows;
"Inasmuch as the bids that have been
presented for printing the city charter
make II apparent that the city may be COM
pelled 10 pay an exorbitant price Tor IFS
publication. we VIII run the Argus as a
daily paper and publish the charter the re-
oulred number of days for $1,000.
The city council awarded contracts to
tire Pust-fntelligencer and the lower bid
der OF these two. and the defenders OF the
city's purse hreathed sigh of relies. Thy
had scarcely adjourned. however, before
information WAS received that the Era1p rs
were seeking an injunction TO restrain the
city council from carrying out It's contract
with the Daily Republican. The case was
argued until late in the evening before
Judge Langley. and in the meantime the
reason for this extraordinary bold action
was startiingly explained in the news col
umns OF both the News and the Tilnes'
These announcements OF Intention, eons'd-
ering the fact that they We're published at
about the same hour. and while the trial
OF the Injunction was still sub iudice. bear
n striking resemblance in sentiment lhey
rav IN effect: or we cannot have the print
ing of the charter OF our own eXorhitant
terms. nobody shall have II. and the reo-
pie shall have no charter. This Is how the
Times shamelesSly says 1t.
s'The proposed new charter is In pref
~ pIckic IL Is practically defeated be-
fore It is published. The city council this
morning, In separate sessions. awarded
tho contract for its publication TO the
the city official newspaper FOR 1896 and TO
the Seattle Republican, weekly. which Is
10 be issued daily during the time in which
the proposed amendments are to be pub
lsShed before election.
THE Seattle News. having the lowest bid
NJ the newspapers outside Of the Post-tutei-
ugeneer has already begun proceedings
"a restrain the city council from carrying
out its contract with the republican. The
nronoSad amendments must be published
tomorrcw the FIRST time IN orier to run tie
full thirty DAYS and have the last issue
snpear before March 5. In view OF me re-
stragning order the work Of the charter
eommissfoa Is knocked higher that Glide
roy's famous kite.
.arhe action OF the News was unexpected.
ana no ntifnation OF IL was given until az
TER the council had completed It's work ana
adjourned az is O'Clock.
The News is holder stiil. having the e.
frontsry TO pretend that the action was
taken TO prevent the city heing put TO the
expense OF printing an objectionable char
.ar This coming Immediately after the
refusal Of the city council 30 pay the News
over e GO more for this printing than the
work was worth was--well. it needed some
such hiTh pima lie Of patriotism 10 plaee
n before the public In proper ltght. Here
q the unhlushing intention Of the News as
stated hv itself under the following mis-
leading headlines;