The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-06-11
CRITICIZED
FOR MANNER OF
AWARDING WORK
COUNTY OFFICERS AWARDED
CONTRACT AT FIGURE UN-
KNOWN TO CANYON ABB
STRACT & TRUST CO.
Low and Legal Bids Rejected-Jock-
eying by Knowlton Provokes Cri-
ticism-People Suspect Favoritism
Was Shown-Delay in Opening of
Bids Creates Suspicion of Many.

The board of county commissioners
OF Canyon county, acting through the
county auditor, is once again engaged
in the laudable work of saving money
for the taxpayers. The board does
not know exactly the amount that it
has saved and has no way of know
ing. The fact that it is saving money
is admitted by the members of the
county administration.
The county of Canyon was author
lied by the law creating the county
of Gem to have transcribed the re-
cords of this county which applied to
the newly created county. The board
Of county commissioners asked for
bids on the work. After jockeying
for several hours Wednesday of last
week the contract was awarded to the
Canyon Abstract & Trust Company
of this city at figure that will be de-
termined at later day and date. The
bids were to have been in at o'clock
in the afternoon. They were all in
except the bid of the successful bid
der. Owing to the fact that this COM
pany had not submitted its bid the
time was postponed from hour to hour
and finally the contract was awarded
at o'clock in the afternoon.
Six Bids Submitted.
Six bids were submitted to Recor-
der Knowlton. Mr.. George w. Stovel,
ex-county recorder offered to do the
work at 5H cents per folio or super
intend the work at salary of $4,000
per month. Mr.. Fred Mitchell. ex-
deputy recorder of the county, offer
Cd 20 do 1a
folio. Mr.. E. K. Hayes, expert ac-
countant and citizen of Gem county
offered to the work at cents per TO-
Ito. W. B. George offered to do the
work for 4 "a cents per folio. Mr..
John w. Voorhees, offered to under
take the contract at the rate of AZ
cents per folio.
The above bidders are all reputable
and responsible bidders. They agreed
to do the work according to law and
to furnish bond for the faithful per-
Torrance of the work.
Bid of Abstract Company.
In order that the reader may know
exactly what the county officers did
in the premises we publish in full
and without comment the successful
bid of the Canyon Abstract & Trust
company of this city. 1t follows:
Caldwell, Idaho, June l, 1915.
L. c. Knowlton, Clerk.
Dear Sir:
We beg to submit the following bid
Tor transcribing the records of Gem
county:
For the sum of six hundred and
htty dollars we agree to furnish re-
terences to all records necessary to
be Transcribed, superintend the work,
and assume full responsibility as to
accuracy and any loss resulting from
the work.
We agree to have a competent man
in charge Of the work at all times to
superlntend the work. and will at
tend to the employment of competent
help at reasonable salaries generally
paid for typewriter and comparing
clerks subject to your approval if you
prefer. We are to furnish all equip
ment necessary in the work except
books and stationery which we un-
derstand you are to contract for.
We reserve the right to employ our
own clerks in the typewriting work of
tranScribing and comparing at the
rate other clerks are employed.
We wish to call your attention to
the advantages we offer. Our abstract
books are so arranged that We can
furnish ready and reliable references,
and further assure accurate TRANSCRIPT
ing OF only such instruments as are
absolutely necessary for the records
OF the new county With our company
and the assets back of the work we
will always be in a position and ready
to save you the annoyance of future
question and expense in connection
with this work.
We feel that this bid is furnishing
the work at cost of actual service and
eliminates the possibility of any un-
fair profit, in the work.
We will also be ready to take the
entire work under your supervision
with reasonable allowance for our
service.
Hoping we may be favorably con-
sidered, we remain,
Yours truly.
Canyon Abstract & Trust
Co., Limited. By H: J.
Zeh, Secretary.
Delay Provokes Criticism.
The postponement and delay in
opening the bids and then the award
ing. of the contract to the company
which failed to file its bid on time
at an unnamed figure, has provoked
severe criticism. 1t is charged that
the county recorder showed favorit-
ism all through the proceedings. While
no one doubts but that the success
full bidder will handle the work rightly
and properly and at a reasonable COST
neither can any one deny that the
way in which the bid was awarded is
subject to the severest censure.
HORSE SALE TOTALS 100000.
Managers of the Caldwell Horse &