The daily Nome industrial worker., 1916-08-02
THE PRINTING CONTRACT.

vent this paper getting the contract for the city printing is, no doubt. inspired by the highest motives. He feels himself, very properly, the GUS todian of the city treasury and Is determined to exercise due diligence in the prevention Of any extra vagant raid upon the city strong box. In that, his actions are cer- tainly those worthy of the highest type of official, and beyond all praise that we can give him. We hope, none the less, he will permit this paper to commend his attitude and to congratulate him upon his very fine stand in the matter even though we wholly difpr from him as to the amount charged being excessive.
 As it is, Mayor Blake according to his lights is acting in manner which he believes his duty dictates and with what he doubtless con- ceives to be circumspection and prudence, so although he begins his first very interesting and possibly novel attempts at administrative economy on the Industrial Worker, this paper is the first to laud hls really stimulating efforts.
 That he has not graspef the fun damentals of economic administra- tion is not entirely his fault and human nature can only serve within the limitations of it's capacity.
 It might be invidious upon our part to point out that economy is not best subserved by venturing upon junkettiug trip in the fields of real estate speculations costing thousands, while later directing magnified attention to fifteen cent printing contract which involves at most couple of dollars a month. If is a fine thing to be penny wise, but that wisdom is stultifed ln be- ing pound foolish.
 However we realize that it would be an ungracious thing to blame any man for his natural shortcom- ings or to denounce one for being as God made him.
 The fact that it is not i'll evld- ence that the Mayor did not very earnestly concern himself to the same extent with bills of consider able magnitude that are read with systematic regularity at each meet ing of the Council, is neither here nor there. One can very well un- derstand that his mind was at that time engrossed upon the more per picking problems involved In the proper interpretation of Roberts Rules of Order, or in the profound difficulties that time and again ob- trude themselves as unpleasing ob- stacles in the path of village states manship.
 It is quite unnecessary to say that we charge the mayor with no ui- terior motive in vetoing the print ing conlract. nor is he to be chargeo with being unduly antagonlstic |" .bis paper. Yet we realize that were he less broad minded man ne might very easily have over looked tfe good intention which inspired the criticisms which have been maoe in this paper concerning some of his rather fanciful methods of doing | business, especially with regard to the pumping plant, and thus been considerably offended at our truth ful and very necessary comment l thereupon. But Mayor Blake will | readily have realised that the duty of this paper naturally led to those criticisms, and will have arisen from it's perusal chastened in spirit and improved in mind.
 Yet we admit that it is for this req son we think his policy of endeavor- ing to prevent the Industrial Work CT being awarded the printing con tract is likely to prove narrow and short sighted. To us it is all right. We understand and properly appre- eiate the rather dutiful motives that prompted his action in this re- gard, but the public at large may obtain different opinion and cling to the idea that the Mayor chagrin- ed beyond measure at his actions be-