Amador ledger., 1909-03-12
Editorial Column,
HE DIDN'T VOTE.

The report of the proceedings of the city trustees their
meeting last week. shows that w. NJ Penry de-
cned the letting of the contract for the city print
ing This may shape itself minds commendabe
under the circumstances To Others it will squnt in
entirely different direction The question will be asked
"Why did he voe and it will be difficult matter to
that query way that will reflect credit upon the
official refusing The Ledger believes that persons
holding position of public trust matter whether it be
remunerative unremunerave Office should scrupulous
ly comply with the spirit we'll the letter of the law
w. M. Penry, Notwithstanding his published statement
when the city incorporated the effect that he had
turned the Dispatch w. NJ Penry jun, in order as
he imagined to evade the law prohibiting city officials IRON
being interested in any contract with the city, or in the
furnishing of any supplies the city, is to-day he has
been all along the proprietor of the Amador Dispatch There
has been change ownership The first issue and the
last since the incorporation of Jackson shows the same
ownership w. M Penry jr. is posted in the Dispatch
columns the editor which by carries the idea
of propretorshp and matter of fact is not used in any
such sense in this
Now here the law governing contracts and furnishing
supplies cities the sixth class is clear cut We
conceive how anyone misunderstood its terms:
1856. No officer Of such city or town shall be IN
teresed, directly or indirectly in any contract with
such city town. with any of the officers there
of in their official capacity or in doing any work or
furnishing any supplies for the of such city or
town. its officers in their official capscity and
any claim for compensation for work DONE or
supplies materials furnished in which any such
officer is interested, shall be void, and if audited
and allowed shall not be paid by the Treasurer
Any wilful violation of the provisions of this section
shall be ground for removal from Office, and shall
be deemed misdemearor, and punished as such.
Now Penry fathered bid of the Dispatch for doing the
city printing The Ledger also put in bid These bids
published length in another column We will not at
this time inquire into the merits of the respective bids nor
the method by which the Dispatch figured out to be the
lowest by five We have hesitation in saying the
county printing under the Dispatch bid will cost of
dollars in the of year than would under the
Ledger schedule. But Penry thought it would be
becoming his part the question Why. Ii it
legal there certainly harm in helping his own
from the city, cannot be that
parental influenced him in dodgng the question
the truth be told anxious than the rest Of
the trustees to have the awarded to the Dispatch
and would doubt voted his had been
sary that end. But he the of the Dispatch
concern, and claimed have interest in the printing
He doesn't according his peculiar theory get
any benefit from the business of the Dispatch The increase
or curtailment of that business makes difference to
him. Notwithstanding that he is and since has been
the legal phase of his adoption the OF the
plant and the appurtenances thereunto belonging.
The fact is the refusal is itself dead give away
He conscious that he the most interested party-not
merely indirectly but directly interested and he thought to
tone down the affair to extent by wgging out OF the
voting ne leaving his brother trustees to bear the burden
of the illegal There is other reasonable nterpre
taton Furthermore the opinion of the city attorney
not asked this proposition 1t would that in
involving both civil and criminal penalties the
written opinion of attorney would be sought before
mitng themselves any doubtful proposition The city
attorney the meeting of the board and the
board concluded although informed the legal as