The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-02-13
COUNTY PRINTING AGAIN.

OOON FINN iNO h1HN.
Commenting on the article which APP
peared in these columns short time
ago, under the heading, "Th, County
Printing Contract" the Caldwell Tri-
Tune says;
About that The Tribune will say:
We were not invited to bid on the
county printing and 80 far as we know
nobody was. However, AS tine cry Of
economy mad been the shibboleth Of
the Peoples Democratic party aud we
were given TO distinctly understand
that, Economy in public affairs in Ida
no is no lorger catch phrase To beguile
the unwary or a subterfnge TO mislead,
We concluded to put ourself in harmony
with that cOmmendable sentiment and
at the same time put the professions Of
the reformers TO a fair practical test
We deeply regret being Obliged TO adj
nit that, AS far ms there is any evidence
on the subject the Peoples Democratic
economy cry was hollow mockery in
tended. indeed, TO beguile aud mislead
The Tribune made proposition 10 pub
lish all matters Of an official character
AS required by law for the uniform price
Of two cents per line, BREWER type meas
ure, and offered to put up good and
sufficient bond for the faithful perform
ancc of the contract. We might Say
parentheticnlly, that our proposition To
file bid WAS not received very gracious
ly by certain members OF the board. but
we did not expect to meet favor in the
eyes Of these reformcrs by giving them
so excellent an opportunity to reduce
their loud professions TO practice. AS
no bids had been publicly called for,
none was considered, aud therefore the
letting Of the county printing seems to
have been the result OF private dicker
in which the public interests cut no
figure. We wish II distinctly under
stood, though. that the Tribune has no
complaint whatever 10 make. These
facts are related simply to dc justice to
The commissioners. There is fortunately
nothing in the law to prohibit county
commissioners from paying seven aud "A
half cents line for printing which they
might, IL they choose. have done for two
cents. IL is purely discretionary in the
breasts of the commissioners, and we
make doubt their conscicnccs are quite
AT ease. Furthermore. we believe that
the commissioners were justified in Civ
ing preference to their party paper
To the victors belong the spois Is a
correct aud honored Democrats doe.
trine and appears to be growing rapid
IS In favor with populsis Some peo-
pie may contend that this preference
should be exercised within reasonable
limits. As for instance. when party
paper is willing To perform public SER
vice at approximately the same price
that any other paper asks for the same
service. then IL would be quite permits
sible to give preference to the party
paper But whether or not party papers
"n"hiu oc oup>lul<ru AT cost 10 TN"
general taxpayer Of three or four hun
dred per cent greater than necessary.
may 10y some be regarded as open to argu-
ment. The Tribune, howcve~. is disposed
to uphold the commissioners in this cx-
ircmity. They are engaged in ire
medous reform enterprise and must Sc
a..
obliged to pay eNorbilant prices for
ihsm. They are, also. solemuly pledged
10 destroy root and branch the forces Of
corruption aud extravaganza in public
affairs in Idaho Considering the eNi-
genclcs of the times they may be not on
IN forgiven but laud,d for del ing evil in
the hope that sometime or other good
may come of IL.