The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-07-05


practice is universal The official pa
per having been designated, the Law
prescribes the printers fees. In era
dy county the Express is the official
paper. However, it has never claimed
the entire amount Of the legal fees
The commissioner proceedings have
been charged at about one-half OF the
legal rate and in the case Of the de.
linquent tax list, a reduction Of over
5000 was made on account Of Il the
quantity Of 1t. the county being given
the same kind Of treatment that would
be given to an individual who placed
such q large order for advertising.
The delinquent tax list this year
was three or four times as large as Il
will ever likely be again for the rea.
son that the collection Of taxes on IN
dian lands was temporarily restrained,
pending a court decision. It was neces-
sary, however, to publish these lands
as delinquent in order that the tax
might be collected in the event that
the case is finally decided for the
state.
The Express was made the official
paper for county publications just in
the same manner that the Journal Is
the official paper for the publication
OF bankruptcy notices and Indian land
sales. In the latter case the Journal
was selected by the Indian office and
in the former BY the referee in bank
ruptcy. In both instances the appoint
ment was made by republicans be-
cause the journal is a republican pa
per and here, also, as in the case Of
the county, the fees of the printer are
fixed by law.
The referee in bankruptcy might call
for bids on the publication Of notices
and the Indian agency might call for
bids On the publication Of lists Of IN
dian land, but within the memory Of
man such a thing has not been done.
They take the view that to the victor
belongs the spoils," when the victor
is republican, but it's different when
the yictors are democrats.
Also we have an idea that if Mr..
Taft had called for bids on the Chicka-
sha post office he could have found
several good men willing to take it for
less than $4,000 a year. In fact, we
will guarantee to get first class p. M.
for $4,000 a year or less. But the
postal department says to the victor
belongs the spoils and the appoint
ment is made on this basis, the salary
being fixed by law just as the com
Of the county printer is SO
fixed.
While not bearing directly upon the
point at issue, it may be noted that in
the case of printing where the law
doesn't fix the price, the county com
nissioners have pursued the policy of
giving the work to the lowest bidder,
and the Journal is aware Of this fact.
Furthermore and finally, let It be
that while the county COM
nissioners followed precedent that
exists in every county in naming a pa
20 rof their own political faith as the
medium for county publications, a
precedent that both democratic and
'epublican counties follow, they we're
urther justified in choosing tic Ora
ly County Express because 1t has
low and has had for three years,
more than twice the circulation Of any
'ther paper printed in the county.
rhe entire object Of these official pub
ications is to carry necessary infor-
nation to the taxpayers and it was the
uty of the commissioners to select
he paper that would best serve this
purpose.
If the Journal has SO great desire
o save the taxpayers money ii might
e consistent by starting a crusade on
he referee in bankruptcy the Indian
gency and the postal department and
emand that all the odd jobs which the
epublicans have to distribute be auc-
Toned off to the lowest bidder.
WHAT'S sauce for the goose IS sauce
1r the gander.
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