New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-20
New-York Tribune,


Is as follows.
New-York Tribune,
New-York. Aug. ID, 1896.
T. F. Rodenbough. Esq. Chief Bureau OF Elec-
tons. No 300 Mulberry-st, New-York
Dear Sir: Your communication of August is
at hand asking The Tribune to furnish its terms
for publishing lists cf nominations 1.-TWO inser-
tons. october 20 and 20.
If could be assured that we would receive
our pay after the service satisfactorily per-
formed, without further trouble we would en-
gage to do this work, but only on the same basis
on which charge others for a similar service
that is 80 cents agate line go cents, or about
81 so per 1000 ems plain measurement
But we must again. since you persist In disre-
garding the rules of the courts on the subject call
your attention to the fact that the language of the
section Of the statute to which you refer in your
letter shows concusivey that your Boards meth
cd Of publishing election advertising in news
papers making the lowest bids therefor IS Illegal
and an evasion Of the purposes OF the statute You
are not limited now. as previous TO the amend
ment of 1896, to newspapers having the largest
circulatiOn' But you are still commanded TO
select those which, according to the best infor-
nation the Board can obtain. have Large cir
culation within such county and city More
over in making the additional publications men
toned in the statute. "the Clerk or Board shall
keep in view the object of giving information as
far as possible to the voters Of all political par
ties"
II is perfectly plain that this duty imposed by
the Legislature upon your Board cannot be per-
formed by letting out this work to the lowest
failure Of your plan to accomplish the purpose
Of the law, by refusing in your last advertise
ment TO award the work to the lowest bidder.
But, save in this one instance. you still evade
the duty which the law you have sworn to
obey imposes to choose or select" papers best
suited in your judgment for filling the above
named purpose OF the law. You will not pre-
tend that you have done this. or that the papers
to which YOU have awarded such advertising do
hest fulfil that purpose. You well know that
it cannot be fulfilled by depending merely on the
Ohnp xrit hiChc ctny,. incr han
rupt paper Is willing to do the work, nor by de-
pending merely upon the number Of copies
which such a paper is able to give away or dis
tribute at cost or below It, Every business man
knows. and you are not ignorant of the fact that
the value of advertising depends not merely
upon the quantity. but upon the value Of cir
culatior. You as individuals must be aware
that The Tribune Is recognized by every Repub-
lcan the representative paper Of the party.
both locally and In the country at large, and
that to it's pages Republicans look for accurate
and complete information upon al political mat
tiers. official and otherwise. Owing both to the
bona fde character of its great circulation. 10
the completeness of its news. and its position
the leading authority there can be ques
ton that the best notice to Republican voters
is always given by publication in its columns
IT. we believe. and as we have no doubt
every member Of your Board believes. the pub
LEGATION Of this and the other election notices
in The Tribune Will Civ. the best information
to Republican voters Of the city. how can the
designation Of any newsp lper having mani
festly less representative character, less sought
for for accurate information, with smaller cir
culatlon unless of the gratuitous or handful
sOrU and OF less influence. be justified merely
on the ground that II agrees to print the notices
for a smaller sum?
We feel bound to make these protests whether
they regarded by your Board or not, be-
cause deem this matter far cutweghng
money considerations especially in view OF the
Importance to the people Of this city OF the COM
ing election. How can you escape the appear
ance of cowardce and dishonesty If, in the face
OF your present knowledge Of the law and your
responsibility under it. you shall continue to
evadc the obligation OF choosing which the law
plainly imposes upon you and continue TO give
the public a bad service. under the pretence OF
trying to save part of legitimate and proper
expenditure. when you are really trying TO evade
responsibilities which you may think awkward?
You have in the designation OF the newspapers
TO publish the polling places. etc. for 1896, under
the Consolidation Act. disregarded the plain
mandate of the Legislature and rendered the
necessary for private individuals political
Iarties themselves to undertake the duty which
the law imposed upon you Of advertising proper
notices to the people of the city respecting the
coming election. This assumption OF such a
burden will be because upon the giving OF such
notices tn ~ believe may depend consequences Ct
the most serious and far-reaching character.
Put IL Is humiliating that the necessity for such
action should arise from the refusal Of the pres
ent Board OF Police Commissioners to obey the
law Very respectfully.
NATH'L FUTILE. Cashier.