The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-11-19

1t may appear fair to give all ar
other chance, but it is not. The first
bidding was fair and aboyeboard,
There was no excuse for throwing
them out The action of the board an
nounees to the other bidders that bids
will not be decided on their merits and
is virtual notice to them that their
bids are not wacted. 1t is an admls-
sion that ii the board can possibly do
so it intends to give the contract to
certain man and that other biders will
not have fair and equal chance.
Again Mr.. Grill lives here, he is at no
| expense in attending sessions OF the
| board, while all the other bidders
must pay out good money in order to
appear here and then not receive fair
treatment. II is doubtful If outside
contractors will wish to enter the race
again with such handicap. One re-
deeming feature is that in January, |
| John G. Smith will be on the board IN I
/ place of Mr. Gigax and we do not be.
lieve he will have any conscientious
scruples against awarding the contract
to the lowest responsible bidder.
/ We do not hesitate to brand the ac-
/ tion of the board as wrong and unjust
and unfair not only to the bidders but
to the tax pay ers of Crawford county
Mr. Cole was refused the poor house
contract although he had done good
work, although Door farmer can DO
farm $500 worth of damage during
year and although the question OF hu
manity anI kind treatment of helpless
women and children enters into the
transaction. He was refused renewal
of the contract because he was under
bid to the amount of seventeen dollars.
The board took the nigh ground that
they had no discretion but to give
/ the contract to the lowest
bidder. The real difference is that Mr.
Cole is a republican and MIR. Grill is a
! democrat. There was no re-adyertis-
8 ing in the poor house contract, there
u was nothing but desire to turn the
\ republican out. The bridge contract
Il involves dollars, to the poor house con-
bare-i faced fraud that the board did not
deal honestly and justly and award the
contract to the lowest responsible bid
der Mr. Grill himself admits tha'
I.l,, 1n1lapS diff
ference bet tween his bid and those o
the two lowest bidders.
This is the democratic county govern
r. ment of which such boast has beer
er made and it is well that the people
as have begun to take matters in thei
a own hands and not to vote for any mai
as simply because he is labelled demo
ut crat y The Review has not taken oc
We casion to. hamper the board with trivia
i'd criticisms. 1t has not tried to maxi
in itself obnoxious over every petty mis-
er take. 1t has recognized that ever.
board and every man may make mis-
re. takes and so long as we have felt tn
ay purpose to have been honest and tru
Nv we have said nothing. The Review IN
at tends to keep the taxpayers posted a
en- to every step OF this bridge contrac
ny deal. 1t is not afraid of the board 0
,e- supervisors, it has no favors TO ask Q
lie them. 1t will however, demand TAI
treatment not only for itself, but TO
cb the taxpayers of the county. Eterna
ha vigilance is the price of liberty an
81, good government and we ask the votel
10 to help us in onr efforts to see that tn
or public funds are honestly expended an
20. that business principles, not otiicl'
/, favoritism, govern the affairs of tn
do county The Review cannot make til
IA fight for good government alone. 1t
!, the duty of every taxpayer to hell
-. Who is with us for honest county go
ernment and no fayoritism?