Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-07-09

there was no neeu 10 VOluuLceF any
information. That people who would
believe the insinuations and slanders
of interested people without making
inquiries as to their truth, would be-
lieve q frank statement of the truth
when they heard it, was not to be
supposed. And, therefore, we have
been inclined to let things rock. But
now we have satisfactory evidence
that a majority of the board has never
really understood the matter, and we
feel gratifed.
To say that the county board is
really ignorant of its business, is pref
ty hard. We do not like to do that.
But that it has never intelligently
handled the advertising question where
there was a chance of making mis-
take, we are positive. Its last break
is more obvious than many others.
So obvious in fact, that when explain
ed, it seems that anybody should un-
derstand it.
What is the board driving at in let
ting out advertising to the lowest bid
der? To assume to divine O mans
unexpressed motives is always danger
Gus, and we shall not attempt it. In
the position it has all along taken
that the value of advertising space
does not enter into its calculations, it
has shown that the dissemination Of
official information among the people
| is not one of its objects. Then, among
other possible reasons, the only one
that seems to be creditable enough to
mention, is the fact that the board de-
sires to economize. 1t may be saving
dollar and losing ten dollars; but all
the same, according to the boards
idea, this thing of ignoring value must
be done for reasons of economy.
Then, economy is it? If this is true,
we have the proof of the assertion
that in agreeing to meet next Tuesday
for the purpose of letting out the ad-
vertising for the auditor, treasurer and
superintendent of education, it acted
without knowledge of what it was do
ing. Possibly it took its information
originally from the interested parties
who have all along made so many
fragrant Misrepresentation about this
matter in the promotion of their own
aims. Possibly now, after we give
away the facts, some of them will
claim that they knew it all the time.
Well, here are the facts. The board
has no more to do with the placing of
the advertising upon which it has ask
ed for bids, than it has with the build
ing of an iron bridge in Klondike.
That is, we mean as matter OF law and
right, and in pursuance of the objects
that were desired to be accomplished
by the general assembly when it pro-
vided for the publication of the ad-
vertisements in question. Of course,
if the officers named are willing to
submit to the boards usurpation, that
puts different phase on the situation.
But now we are talking only of the
boards rights and duties in the matter.
However, this is not the vital point
the economy point. For the board to
hold its meeting will cost the county
about s15-provided all the members
are present. AS matter of fact, &C.
cording to the specifications upon
which we have been asked to submit
bid, the total amount of advertising
involved at the rate prescribed by law,
does not exceed SIG or $1S. So here
we have our honorable board, for econ
omical reasons presumably, spending
SIS of the peoples money for the pur-
pose of getting service, which render
ed properly, is easily worth SIG or
s1S, done little cheaper, regardless
of results.
Now, gentlemen, come on to the
meeting; but let US beg you to do
some thinking on this subject. Don't
let your idea be to get ahead of The
ENQUIRER; but to get at what is right.
You have been dreadfully hoodwink-
ed several times by designing parties.
We knew it; but kept our mouths
shut. You did not ask us for infor-
nation, and it was not our business
to give you any. But now, if you
really want the exact truth, come TO
THE ENQUIRER and we will be pleas
ed to help you out. However, let us
assure you that we are not asking any
fayors. We have never received a
dollar from the county for which we
had not previously given value recelv-
ed. We have given the public treasury
many dollars worth of our labor
without a cent of return. The sum
HnQc-