Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-01-14

soning. If there is a contract. then
the whole board must act, or If 1t
is left to the discretion of any one
person, it would have to be the county
clerk. There is but one course open
to the board. If there be any good
reason why neither of the bids should
be accepted. let them readvertise.
A board of county commissioners is
no more above the law than the hum
best citizen of the county. AS the
Wage Garner withdrew its bid, its
only interest in the matter is that of
any other citizen
After learning the action of the
commissioners. the manager and
business manager of The Herald
waited on the board for an explana-
ton. and the only one vouched was
that the board had a right to reject
all bids and do as it might see fit
The board was offered a good bond
that the bid of The Herald would be
carried out to the letter But, no.
this would not be in accord with the
political deal.
1t will be remembered that last
fall The Democrat was willing to
sacrifice every other candidate for
Bradley. 1t demanded, in and out of
season. that Bradley should be IT."
Everything is now made plain why
this was so-The Democrat was to
have the entire county printing, re-
gardless of the law, at prices tina!
Bradley might consider reasonable.
And the public is astounded that Nick
Cook should stand in and allow this
kind of rocedure-unheard OF in La
Plata or any other county. AS Mr.
Galbreath says. and every other attor-
ney OF experience in ,he city, the ac-
ton is clearly Illegal, but the COM
missioners appear willing to run the
gauntlet to contribute something like
one thousand dollars to their Demo
cratic organ.
The Herald's bid would make the
cost of printing for the year about
Sl00 Under The Democrats bid it
will be fully $1,000 And still, the
commissioners say this is good for the
taxpayers. And this is not all A
day or two ago. the commissioners
made The Democrat present of
sl44 and some odd cents. clean
cut and open present, one not warrant
ed by law or ordered by anyone. We
make this statement open and above
board, and if any taxpayer will CON-
mence action on the bonds of the
OF recovery. Thus. We have posi-.
tive assurances that the county is to
be blcd. if the commissioners can do
so. to the extent of one thousand to
fifteen hundred dollars year. As
tc the $3.50 above referred to. The
Herald makes reference in another
column.
Now, let us see where such revolu-
tlonery action of the commissioners
might lead to. if the law is disre-
sarded. Suppose, and this is, eatirely
supposition, that La Plata or any
other county, had dishonest man as
chairman of the board. To handle
Tie county printing as per the reso-
ution of the commissioners Wednes-
day last would be worth at least $500
n year, and in county like Pu-
eblo or Arapahoe, from $4,000 to $1O.-
900 II year.
Again, suppose the commissioners
should advertise to build bridge
across the Animas. One man bid
$1,000, another $4,000 and another
$4,000. According to the theory of
the present board, it would be good
policy to reject all bids and place the
matter in the hands of the chair
man to let to the highest bidder at a
figure Mr.. Bradley might consider
right. refusing to accept the low bid
because the contractor might lose
money. All other supplies come un-
der the same heading.
If commissioners have this author
ity, then there are no limitations on
their actions and the people have no
redress and the Legislature should
lose no time in affording relief But
The Herald is confident the action of
the commissioners is clearly illegal
and Will be so held by the courts.
In the meantime, the taxpayers are
given good object lesson. They
can readily realize how taxes are
climbing up-being 80 per cent higher
this year than last, and why is 1t
that the people are kicking?
If the commissioners will disre.
gard the law and squander thou.
sand dollars year to keep up an Or
gan. what can be expected along other
lines?