The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-01-14
THE GARBAGE BIDS.

Some criticism has been made be
cause the city council. by practically
unanimous vote, rejected the lower
bid for removing the city garbage
this year. The lower bid was $l,5T5,
by a negro named Chas. Hudson, and
the higher bid was s2025 by Thos.
Meehan. The committee to which the
bids had been referred reported In
favor Of the higher bid as giving
the better assurance of good service
to the public. They had inquired int
the facilities each of the bidders had
for performing the work expected OF
him. and found that the lower bidder
was very poorly equipped; hat he
had never had experience in the work
called for and thar he was engaged m
other business and would probably
not give his personal attention to
the work On the other hand they
found that Mr.. Meehan was thorough
ly equipped and hat he had given
general satisfaction 10 the p Ople in a
department wherein good service has
not been easily obtained in years past
and where the very best Of service Is
very important 10 The well being Ct
the community,
The minority members Of he com
mittee who favored the lower bidder
admitted that Mr. Meehan had given
good service, but contended that the
public were entitled 10 he benefit Of
the lower biz and that the bond offer
ed would be a sufficient guarantee 81
good service.
Generally speaking, the position and
arguments of the gentlemen who IA
yored the lower bidder must be held
as being correct. The people are
entitled to have their service per
formed at the lowest figure possible
consistent with good service; and 2
bond should always stand good for the
service. The position and the argu
moat would be unassailable If ir were
true in practice that a bond does
stand good for the service General
experience has shown here and nearly
everywhere else that bond, no mat
ter how strong. is really of small
value as a guarantee of good service
To the public. tbs a pity but It's
true. The law requires that good
bonds shall be given for ali manner of
things and il is well thar it does Sd
for without bonds contracts between
the people and individuals world in
many. II not in most cases. be alto
gether one-sided. the people being thu
only responsible party. But We all
know that in the ordinary run of pub
lie affairs the guarantee Of good ser
vice, which bond implies often ia Is
10 prevent the many petty lapscs Of
contract In which a careless or an
faithful contractor NAV and does hah-
itually indulge. 10 the great annoy
ance and injury of the public Good
bonds do not give us lawf lly con
Quoted saloons in all cases. nor law
fully conducted pawn shops or second
hand stores. and they do not give n
good service in The matter Of restoring
streets. that have been torn mp. nor
have they in past years given rs
good service in the removal Of gar
bage. Hence II is cot well TO place
loo much faith in a bond where other
conditions do not bear ont a promi -
or an expectation Of good service In
Paducah last week the Board II Pub
lie Works ked for SEQ Oh0 for 1907
mostly 10 repair street pavements|
which rad been Torn up and not prop
erly replaced by people who wer.
under bond 10 do 50.
Good service is what we want
said Alderman Seullis. and he was
right. Whether $4,000 per annum is
too high price 70 pay FOR good SER
vice in the matter Of rrmoving gar
bage from the city is another ques-
ton into the fair determination Of
which many questions viii naturally
enter