Amador ledger., 1907-04-12
A Serious Omission.

A Serious Omission.
On looking over the list of articles
included in the advertisement foI
for bids for the supply OF
county offices, it will be Doticed that
the policy which has prevailed in this
county for many years under demo
cratic control has been continued.
We refer to the omission of record
books used by the various officers.
This should be properly Included in
the printing list or bids for station
cry. 1t is included IN neither. For
lung years Amador county has been
pursuing It's way with these supplies
outside of any contract price. The
different officers have been
LETT free to purchase such articles
without any agreement or under
standing with the county managers
whatever. This is contrary to the
mandatory provision of law. The
law is very explicit on this matter,
requiring all stationery to be con-
tracted for with the lowest bidder.
and all printing yates to be establish:
Looking down the list of articles in
cluded IN the stationery list no
mention is made of record books,
which constitute by far the heaviest
item of expense in the stationery or
printing line. A lot of things are
mentioned which are never called for
a particular brand is called for in
others, which would not pass the test
of the courts. 1t is simply giving, as
far as this county is concerned, a
monopoly of such articles to q
favorits manufacturer. 1t is dis
elimination in its worst form. and
should be dropped. The stationery
list calls for quality of goods ID
some instances which do not figure in
the catalogue of wholesale houses,
and of course never have been, and
never will be furnished.
The persistent omission of such an
important item as record books, in
the face of repeated mention thereof,
is unfavorahIy discussed in circles
where the fact is known. Naturally
an Interpretation of this violation OF
the plain provisions of the law will
be resorted to, and the conclusion
reached cannot in the nature of things
be favorable to those responsible for
this state of affairs. Every claim
for record books under this
no contract condition is illegal. A
protest is liable to be filed against
the payment of such bills at any
time. Indeed, 1t is an open question
whether a suit to recover all the
moneys paid out under this system
against those responsible therefor,
and their bondsmen would not be
sustained by the courts. And yet we
90 onzyear after year at this negligent
and unsatisfactory pace. 1t is dis
to say the least, and shakes
the faith of the average citizen in the
methods of the local government.
That the policy of creating forest
reserves is a wise one will be disput-
ed by none. At the same time there
is at least so far as California is con-
feeling that the reservation
business is capable of being overdone.
1t is roughly estimated that the re-
serves already created IN this state
aggregate about one-fifth of the total
area of California. Naturally, these
reserves are confined to the timber
LANDS of the Sierras and the coast
range-the only places where com-
mercial timber exists in any quantity.
Presumably, these reserves will in
the future supply lumber for market
under government control. Unques-
there has been great waste
in the timber regions heretofore, and
if the government succeeds in pre-
venting this waste, without materially
the lumb bering interests,
it certainly will accomplish a much
needed reform.
Wanted TO make contract with
reponsible contractor to haul lumber
from saw mill to railroad. Five mile
haul, practically all down hill Make
trip and one-haIt day. Will have
forty thousand feet a day, or one
million month for five or six months
for three seasons. 1t will take ten or
twelve tour horse teams. Can use
rollers on wagons and roll lumber off
at railroad. Don't answer unless
you mean, business and are prepared
to give bond and carry out such
cuntract. Answer box 80, BurIin-
game.