Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-13
Total ..............s1,136.0

Iotal -...-.....-. 81, ,l5o.ui
For months the Democrat has con
tended that it had agreed with the
commissioners to do the printing for
about one-third of legal rates, and
that the county would be saved con-
siderable money If the sarpie of
the bill filed with the commissioner,
this week is any criterion, The peo
pie should at once pray to be deliv
cred from the hands of the opprcss
or. The bill is over ONE THOU
SAND DOLLARS, and is only for the
last quarter of 1901. and at the same
ratio would be over $4,000 for the
year, but as the biggest items come
the last quarter, the other nine
months will probably aggregate about
$1,000. making a graft of $4,000 the
Democrat is enjoying at the expense
of the depleted treasury.
In the first place, the Democrat
renders a bill for S5O.62 for publish
ing the little item of bids for print
ing Just think of it, $52.62 for less
than third of column, when the law
only contemplates a few insertions.
Then comes charge of $60.72 for
trifle over a column of commissioners
.; uceedings
But the rank steal comes in for
publishing official list of nominations.
In the first place, so inches are
charged for, when measurement is
only rs. as per the Herald bill.
Then comes the weekly steal. Last
year the commissioners, against all
precedent and against all law, allow
ed the Democrat $144 for publishing
list of nominations in the weekly cGi
tion-a clear steal. The same kind
Of steal is attempted again this
year, as bill is filed for weekly cdi-
tion.
The above is mild, however. in
comparison with the bill for publish
ing delinquent tax list. The Dem
ocrat at the time the tax list was
published announced in glowing head
lines-just prior to election-that the
cost Of publishing tax list would be
less than last year, when it was $500;
that it, the Democrat, was saving the
people money by being the designated
official organ of the county. The
bill for publishing tax list with no
more descriptions, or but few more,
than last year, amounts to S62s.o6.
In this bill six publications are
charged for. If the law of '91 Is fol
lowed, only five publications can be
legally charged for. and If the reve-
nue. law is followed, it only calls for
four publications. If the first men
toned law is followed, it is express
ly stipulated that the tax list shall be
let to the lowest bidder. If the last
law is followed, only four publications
are provided and can be legally
charged for. These two laws are
mentioned, although it Is well known
that the revenue law is void and that
under the old law only five publica
tions' are allowed and then must be
let to the lowest bidder. and accord
ing to The Herald's bid would have
saved the county 5000 in this one in
stance. If the matter is taken up IN
the courts. this sum can be saved the
county. If it is allowed to go by de
fault, then 1t means that the county
Is in for series of robberies tha
beats anything in the history of the
state. II it is law for such robbery
then 1t will be only natural for Repub
nCdH papers " ash 'he oohiS ""~'
given the work, and in self-protectioI
will be compelled to make the SAM
charge, although highway robbery
The last fusion legislature. true t.
its principles and manner of con
Quoting other business. passed Law
increasing the cost of printing thou
sands of dollars in each county pre-
viding commissioners stand in with
newspaper and permit it to rob tn