The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-19

vote was taken The vote stood as
For the amendment: Ryder, Griley
Holiday, Rice and Howe-5.
| Against the amendment: Kutz, Neil
Green, Nellis. Sinner, Swendson and
| Hughes.
On the original motion to adopt the
report of the tellers, Councilmen Ryder
Griley and Rice voted no.
Evidently the majority of the mem
bers of the city council consider that
economy is very good thing in the
| abstract, and a very nice theory to
hammer on for the benefit of their con-
| stituents. But when it comes to the
| city printing, where there is a chance
| to make political profit at the citys
expense, it's quite a different matter.
Manager Dell Keizer of the Herald
was present to dictate to the faithful
and injected himself into the proceed
| ingS several times when he thought
the backbone of his adherents needed
stiffening. When Councilman Holiday
had the floor, explaining his vote on
| the amendment, he said:
This council is supposed to be in for
economy, and here is a chance to econ
omize. This city printing contract is
a good thing for the printer. know
when I was running the Democratic
lpaper mere we bid five cents once on
this job. and were glad to get it at that
price,
but you didn't get it, interrupted
Dell Keller, the spectator.
IT beg your pardon. but we did get
it, retorted Mr.. Holiday.
''Wen, you ought to be ashamed to
admit having done the work for five
CENTS" said Mr.. Keller.
"Oh, the city printing helps circula-
ton, you know, Mr.. Keizer," said
Councilman Holiday with a suggestive
touch of sarcasm.
When the amendment was under dis
1Ce,f1 Of a "
pressed themselves as follows:
Councilman Ryder: Zone of these
bids makes it possible for this city to
save several thousand dollars. Any
man here who had such an opportunity
in his private business would seize 1T
gratefully"
Councilman Swendson: 1--WE have
two bids. one at legal rates and one be
low legal rates. Any proposition to
change the legal rate as it now stands
is foreign to the matter"
Councilman Holiday: LAS I under
stand it, the State Journal does not
want to do the printing at less than
legal rates, but 1t is willing we should
fix the legal rate. It is up to the coun-
Gil to save that amount of money
which the Journals bid enables us to
save"
Councilman Hughes I'm all my ex-
perience in the council this is the first
time the council has tried to craw1sh
on a bid. It is the first time it has ever
tr1oQ 10 a new rate dlIST DlOS udu
been received
Councilman Griley: 1--WE are here to
look after the city's interests. We
would stand as spendthrifts If we did
not accept this chance. You turned
down the ways and means committees
occupation tax plan for raising money;
here is a chance to save some money
and help make an occupation tax I'M
necessary"
Councilman Neil: ct don't believe
in letting contracts too low. 1 think
that the people who do the city print
ing should make some profit on the
work and therefore 1 am opposed to
the Journals bid. There is no money
in it for the Journal"
Closed Scandal.
The absence of a bid on the city
printing from the Capital was doubt
less the result of the State Journals
exposure of the Capitals system of
overcharges, which resulted directly
in turning back into the city treasury
over $4,000 of Illegal profits by that
paper. The closing chapter in that
scandal was probably written on the
official records Monday night by the
presentation of the following report
from the ways and means committee
which investigated the overcharges,
and which report was adopted in full
by the council:
To the Mayor and Council of the City of
Your committee on ways and means.
upon whom was placed the duty of inves-
tigating overcharges for city printing, beg
leave to report that in accordance with
your instructions the committee at once
employed as an expert to assist in the
Investigation Mr.. G. F. Kimball, a pub
Usher. and printer of forty and more
years experience. who is a gentleman of
character, and, rs your committee be-
Iieves, an entirely disinterested party.
The city printing in recent years has
been done by the Topeka Daily Capital
and the Topeka State Journal. The lat
ter paper has been under one continuous
management The Capital has had four
arrangements since the latter part of 1895
-one from November, 1885. to August
1899; another from August, 1890. to May.
1900; another from May. 1900. to April 1.
1901-since which time the present man
agement has had control. The over
charges herein reported are only for the
time of the last management. The record
kept by the city clerk containing clip
pings of all articles published, was used.
and for measuring the matter a rule in
common use by publishers was used.
All the members of the committee partic-
ipated in the investigation. two of them
acting clerks - r2Eert the findings, in