The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-04-30
rHE COUNTY PRINTING.

the coming year from the simple tact
that the board of county commits
sioners never had any intention of
seriously considering bid from a
democratic paper. While our bid,
If it hai been accepted by the board,
would have saved the people from
$500 to 81, 200 during the year, we
we're not disappointed over failing to
receive the contract. While the
board Of commissioners went through
the formality Of receiving and open
ing bids it had been decided months
in advance by the republican party
leaders that the contract should go
30 the North Idaho News regardless
of the bids or the cost of the same to
the taxpayers.
When the bids we're opened it was
found that the offer Of the Press was
by far the lowest and the board was
50 anxious to find some excuse for
rejecting our bid that the chairman
called US up over the telephone and
inquired if we understood what We
were bidding on in a number Of cases.
For Illustration, he wanted to know
if our bid of s42 per thousand for
road tax receipts was what we in
tended. We informed him that it
was. Other bids on this item ranged
as high as 500. The same question
was asked Us regarding the property
tax receipts, on which our bid was
S12 per thousand. Other bids we're
more than double this amount. A
number Of other items were treated
in the same way and We informed the
chairman in every instance that We
knew what We we're doing and were
ready to fulfil our contract il award i.
ed the printing. But it was new er
intended to give Us the contract and
the conversation over the telephone
was simply an effort to secure from
Us an acknowledgement that We had
made a mistake and wished to with
draw our bid. That would have left
a clear field and fair sailing with
none but republican papers to deal
With and compromise, such as was
entered into between the board and
o. B. Moon, of the independent and
E. Duerslin, Of the st. Maries Cour-
Ter and which was subsequently, set
aside after some of the republican
politicians went after the board
and gave its members to understand
that the printing had long ago been
promised to the Standpoint paper.
The board then stultifled itself by
ignoring its contract with the In
dependent and Courier and laid the
county liable to a lawsuit for damages
II enough pressure cannot be brought
TO bar to prevent the aggrieved
parties from taking action. They
ouofedly have good case and If
the matter ever gets into court it
would develop one Of the most rotten
conspiracies ever entered into 10 the
letting OF a contract Had the board
even have fairly aud honestly con
sidered the bids Of the republican
papers and awarded the contract to
the lowest bidder among them, there
would have been less cause for com
plant, because it il custom for the
party in power to favor its own papers
where the difference is not 40 great
as to be unreasonably high. In fact
We believe that the public would not
seriously object to the contract being
let to their party organs at com.
mercial rates or any fair price, but
when 1t comes TO making the organ
present Of several hundred dollars
out OF the public funds, that il an
injustice to which the people will
not submit without a protest. and We
believe the protest will be heard at
the polls.
Let u review briefly the history
OF this crooked transaction. In the
brst place the bids we're opened and
that 1t the Press vas ~ much lower
than any other that the board lo,ked
about for an excuse 10 reject il with
the result,as mentioned above. regard
ing the telephone conyer-ation Opr
nid was not fairly considered and
We have 20 serious objection to the
treatment received, although We
figured the bid to give uz profit on
the work and could have cleared At
least 81, 900 net on the printing dur.
ing the year. After eliminating our
bid from the contest the board tool
Up those Of the republican papers and
gave the contract to .. q. Moon. Of
ms Independent, requiring him 10
ilVlde the spoils with DuersIin. the
nan OF ballot box and fraudulent
'aIIot printing fame in the campaiup
4 1892, by signing q contract 10
I've him all the election printjnu
bis year. Moon gracefully submit /
ed to this imposition and siUned !
way the best part Of hi. contract 10, I
20 sake OF getting piece of the pie G
10 do not charge tho oommis.lonsr. /