Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1901-09-12
COUNTY BILKED
BY THE TIMES
State Inspector VIM. Hudn*ll Exam.
ines Records and PrOnOunccS
the Books Far Rt.la.w
the Standard

di cAi'clt IKE state inspector WIN.
Hudnall, of Helena, is of any value the
books that are to preserve the records
of Rosebud county for all time to come
are far below the standard require
.nents and the thousands of dollars ex-
pended for their manufacture and the
subsequent labor OF transcribng the
records OF the old county to their flimsy
pages is poorly invested.
| Mr.. Hudnall is an expert record
man. There is no man in Montana
better qualified to judge the quality Of
paper in record books, the durability
OF binding workmanship and other
details that go to make up official re-
| cord books.
He has handled books all his life, is
familiar with the products Of all the
printing establishments in the west,
thoroughly knows the requirements of
the statutes and is in a position to
| speak authoritatively. In the pursuit
| OF his duties as state inspector he
| handles every county record book in
the state OF Montana twice a year so it
is reasonable to assume that when he
says the Rosebud county books are of
color and below par he knows what he
is talking about.
Mr.. Hudnall was in town sever al
days this week checking over the re-
cords. He handled every book in the
county vaults, had occasion to examine
them thoroughly and test their work.
manshlp. Without solicitation he re-
ported to Chairman Alexander OF the
board of comm ssioners, that the record
books furnished through the Times by
the Standard Pub. Co., were of SO
poor Il quality that the board would
have been fully justified in rejecting
the entire lot. His objections are not
based on any one weak detail, but EN-.
brace everything that goes to make up
book-the paper. printing, form and
binding. 1t is a sweeping assertion,
but coming from a man whose know
ledge Of the subject cannot be denied.
and whose official position as state in
spector makes it incumbent on him to
report such delinquencies, the charge
is worthy OF the attention of every tax
payer,
Without any desire Of reopening the
county printing controversy, the News
will state the grounds on which
| its contemporary secured the contract.
The contract was let to the lowest bid
der without regard to the bidders cap
acity for fulfilling the contract. The
News offered to do satisfactory work
for a considerable reduction from the
rates fixed by law and still leave y
reasonable margin of profit. The News
Is equipped to do all kinds of legal
printing and with the exception of the
big record books could turn the wor,,
out in its own Office. The Times know
ing its interiority in equipment and
fearful lest this fact should prejudice
the commissioners, as it should have
done, made a bid with discounts rang
ing from 40 to % per cent-the percent
ages being SO divided, however, that
the bulk of the work left them a profit
"h'le certain classes OF books ana
blanks little used We're done at a loss.
The Times also made promises at the
time to pat IN new equipment inn
;nediately equal to the News plant.
| W hen the Times received the con-
tract, 1t turned the whole business over
to the Standard Pub. Co., and gave
Itself 10 further concern. 1t had cut tba
NEWS oil from what i was legitimatelv
entitled to and instead of the work be-
i"g done by Il home concern. it was
subiet TO an outsider. In taking the
contract the only recourse for the
standard people was to cut down the
quality OF goods delivered and that
this was done with vengeance is eyi-
denced by Mr.. Hudnall's testimony.
| The Times had a great deal to saw
about the printing contract at the time.
out no explanation can explain this
latest turn in affairs connected with
! the contract.
Not only was the new county sub.
Jected TO the annoyance of Il long and
tedious wait for the books, but when
hnally delivered. they prove to be a
worthless lot of records. The Nrws
does not wish to criticize the oriein,,
board OF commissioners for its award
In their mistaken zeal they fool, +ha