Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-10-14
THE CITY PRINTING.
THE EFFORT To0UT OFF THE OAPA-
TAI
Was Ignominiously Defeated
All Honor to Mayor Seide-
witz, Counsellor Moss
and Alderman
T,,~~xx
THE PEOPLES REPRESENTA-
TIVES.

Last night the City Council met in
special session to take up an order offer
ed in the board on Monday night BY Mr.
Douw to award all the city printing and
advertising 10 the d2syziSey. a weekly
paper, at the sum OF $500 per annum. the
same that had been done IN the EVENING
CAPITAL for $500.
Alderman Wells moved that the clerk
advertise for bids, and that the work be
awarded the paper having the largest
city circulation. Before this motion was
put. Alderman Curry moved that the
order lay over 10 special meeting on
Friday. which was carried.
In the meantime, the opponents to the
CAPITAL left no stone unturned to break
down the CAPITALS strength. and came
near doing so. Alderman Wells and
Basil who would have opposed the
order had they been present, were un-
avoidably detained, the former by sick
ness and the latter by pressing business
duties. The CAPITAL had made no
special effort to secure the work, but re-
lied solely upon the honesty, fairness.
business and business integrity OF the
board, feeling assured, as business men,
they wound do that which was for the
best interest of the tax payers.
AT the hour of eight o clock, the Mayor
raped the board to order, and stated that
this meeting had been called TO act upon
the order offered by Mr.. Douw at the
previous meeting of the board, and asked
what should be done with the order: Mr..
Douw moved its adoption. The clerk
was directed TO call the roll. the first
name called being the Mayor, who dis
tinctly and to the surprise Of some. an
swered "No." The second name called
was that OF Counselor Moss, who said,
IN explanation of his vote: Mr.. Mayor,
there is nothing that has been more per-
picking to me in this board than the city
printing, While may not approve of
the course OF the CAPITAL in not publish
ing the county ticket at the head of its
column, do not doubt Mr.. Abbott's De-
mocracy. But that is not the question
for this board to consider.
This is purely a business trans
action in which the tax payers alone are
interested. and as the representative of
the people cannot see how we can con-
scientiouslY vote for such an order. We
cannot ignore the value of daily paper,
and the fact that the CAPITAL has more
than once rendered this board valuable
service. 1t was through the publication
OF the sample ballot in the CAPITAL, that
gave the legally to our city election, and
| might call other instances where its SER
vices has been invaluable. And now, MIR.
Mayor it is proposed by this order to take
from it the pittance of 500 for which it
gives value received. and pay 5000 to a
weekly paper for publishing the ordinan-
ces, proposals and by-la With all
due respect to the publisher of the 44d
Ve,kSey, it is well-known that it could not
give that service the daily paper gives
which is largely circulated. When Sena-
tor Randall drew the law compelling the
county commissioners to put all printing
and advertising required by the board
out at public bids, he was particular to
so frame the law that it should be given
to the paper having the largest bona-fide
county circulation, and this rule should
govern the action of this board. Ii is also
a known fact. MIR. Mayor, that the
sessions OF this board are sometimes pro-
longed late into the night, and the next
day we read a full and correct account OF
the proceedings nthe CAPITAL. AN enter
prise worthy of encouragement. The
people know the next day all that has
been transacted. five have done our duty
we are commended for it, and if we have
done anything wrong, we are censured
for it. look upon the daily press as a
public institution, and should, in every
way. be encouraged. and not pulled down
for personal or political grievances. Un-
der these circumstances, cannot con-
scientiously. as public servant, vote for
| the order, and vote "No. The clerk
continued to call the roll which resulted
as follows:
Nays-The Mayor,
Counsellor Moss,
Alderman Curry.
Yeas-Alderman Douw,