The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-14
II SKIN GAME
Plain Language Used in the Pho
tograph Committee Meeting.
W.. PALMER GOT THE PLUM
There Wa No Composition and Palmer
Wanted e1.26 Apiece Tor HIS Pic
turss-The Mayor Accused Him
Of Working the City.


lures and arguing. the photograph
committee of the city council last
evening decided to pay $l25 for 100
views Of Butte. as prepared by w. J.
Palmer. the photographer.
The decision was not arrived at with
out considerable friction. 1t seems
h the committee expected COMPETE
ton. and in order TO have competition
they engaged Mr.. Post and Mr.. Palm
err each to take 80 views OF Butte,
agreeing ( o pay them SIS each for their
work.. 1t to be optional with the COM
mittee whether ii took any of h pho
tographs or not. But instead OF Mr..
Post and Mr.. Palmer each working
three days for SIS apiece. Mr.. o
turned his share over to Mr.. Palmer.
who worked six days and was entitled
to the entire $50. So instead of there
being two sets of photographs OF 5o IN
a set to select from, there was one
set of 100, all taken by MIR. Palmer.
This produced a good deal of kicking on
the part of some of the members of the
committee. but there was more kicking
over the price asked for the photo
graphs. $1.25 each.
This is a regular skin game" de-
clared the These photographs
are not worth $1.25 or 81 or as cents,
and you would not charge anybody
else but the city that much. But be-
cause IL is the city you must grab all
you can" =.
We are charging the regular price,
said Mr.. Palmer. I'VE can't sell them
for less than that n conn out even.
But you have sold them for less
than that right in this building as
serted h mayor
These Photographs
Eyes, some Of these very photographs
you are now trying to sell to us. You
have sold them for six bits right in
this city hall"
THAT Is certainly a mistake" de-
| clared Mr.. Palmer
The mayor called Assistant CITY
Clerk Witty into the mmitt
room.
How much did you pay to-day for
that picture of the council?"
Il paid six bits said Mr.. Witty.
did you pay In CASH.?
Yes, sir"
who did you pay it to?' asked MIR.
Palmer.
ITO your partner
Alderman Knowleson declared that
the same pictures were being SOLO All
over the city for SO cents. He declared
the price exorbitant. 1T is outrage
ous.'' declared the mayor. The coun-
ell may decide to pay that price Tor
the pictures, but 1t Will not De done
With my consent. Furthermore, we ex-
pected some competition here. and ma
was the idea when we hired two men
to take views instead of one."
IF ! had taken views, said MT
Post. II could not have sold them for
less than $1.25, the price asked by Mr.
Palmer"
.Why can't you sell to the city as
cheap as to individuals?'
..There are very few of these views
that individuals will buy. They were
made especially for the city and nave
spent three weeks of my time, besides
the expense" said Mr.. Palmer. -
After much further argument MI
Palmer agreed to throw on the $50 th'
committee was to pay him for his tim
and sell the 100 photographs for S.2'
apiece. Aldermen Macarthur and Pas
coe voted in favor of this proposition
and 1t carried. The photographs really
therefore. cost 80 cents apiece. as tn'
$50 time had to be paid whether an!
photographs were taken or not.
There are several views not included
in the set which certainly ought to b.
included II Butte is to be properly rep
resented. There is no view OF tn
school of Mines, and surely there coult
be no more glaring omission than mat
There is no view of the McDermot
hotel and none of the Iron building
now in course of constructor. I'M
committee thought also that ther'
should be more. street views. I'M
committee will also probably selec
some of the photographs submitted d!
other photographers.