Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-16
THE PRINTING STEAL.

There Is little use OF newspaper
controversy over the printing steal
exposed by The Herald last week
when the other side will not tell the
truth All that is necessary is for
investigation, and this Will be the
case. County Attorney Morgan
seems to have taken hand and CIV
en- out n few figures. and we must say
his figures are as unreliable as the
rest, because he does not give the
true amount for which the Democrat
nled bills for 1901. Why he desires
to cover up some OF the bills is more
than we can tell. except that he does
not want the public to understand the
situation.
In the Hrst place, there ia good rea.
son why the bills oil last year were
greatly reduced. but IL ls not due TO
The Democrat but TO The Herald. To
commence with. The Herald refused
to enter into combine for 1901, Ms
we could not stand the robbing bills
filed by The Democrat. as our patrons
were kicking. second, the year 1900
wns presidential year and double the
printing was required In some lines
For instance. the publishing of the Of
lciai list OF nominations was more
than double that OF the past year. be
ing about $3.50 in excess. This was
required by law and could not be
gotten around; third. the constitution
al amendments were published that
year. costing In the ncighborhood oi
$3.50 extra over the past year. Thus
we have $500 accounted for. Then
a saving of 5000 was effected the past
yonr on ballots. all on account OF The
Herald. making a total OF 5000. and.
again. The Democrat made II n point
to secure orders and supply the va
rious Offices with stationery for 1901
the bills being paid or charged to the
1900 account. Thus we can easily
account for 81 900 OF the excess OF
1900 over 1901. But let us come
right down to facts. The Herald.
the first of the year. secured nm In
junction against tho county commits.
sioners going ahead In their wild ca.
roor and the first nine months of the
stationery and other printing and the
bill of Tho Democrat Is for the last
three months The situation sum
med up is as follows; II Tho Demo
crai IL permitted to get AWAY with
its 1901 steal. II expects TO get from
81 900 TO - 900 for 1902. In the
first place. the official list of nomIn-
ations will figure close to $500 This
ls required by law. Now comes the
sr frAg,., gtw lt,,t tl,x,, ,,,I
amendments to be published this fall.
The Democrat expects rake-of of
from SIS to 500 on each one; the tax
list will no doubt be considerably
longer this year. ns the outlook for
farmers and others being able to come
to time promptly is not good. and
Tho Democrat hopes to secure from
81 900 TO $500 from that source.
Then with commissioner proceedings
and other legal notices through the
year another $500 is expected. 80 the
taxpayers of Durango and La Plata
county can readily see why The Dem
oerat is 80 anxious to have the pres.
ent steal go through, because of the
$4,000 to $4,000 for 1902 In sight &.
It's bold scheme, and no wonder a
desperate game is being played No
wonder commissioners are being han
died. and The Democrat acknowledge
cd only ten days or two weeks ago
that II had endorsed and was respon-
siblc for McCullough's appointment
and inference given that the paper
owned him.
II is not against The Democrat The
Herald is making the night. but
against the county commissioners.
who alone are responsible for the
deplorablc condition. They are TAX.
ing desperate chances in order to
perpetuato an organ.