The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1918-06-21
TO HE'LL WITH THE PEOPLE
WE NEED THE MONEY!

i ~ AAHLA viii 11L EOT LIZ
| WE NEED THE MONEY!
The above caption may not be JUS
the words of the county commission
ers; but in view of their recent &C
ton in planning to spend severa
thousand dollars off the peoples
money, and their attitude when an.
preached to reconsider their actor
prompts more than one taxpayer OF
this county to believe the title ar
appropriate one.
"The straw that broke the camel's
back" assumed the form of huge
plum, which the honorable board
OF county commissioners presented to
Joe Dolin on golden tray during
the quiet vigil of a certain Wednes-
day afternoon, after several other
newspaper men in this county had
been denied the opportunity of even
witnessing the glorious spectacle.
To get down to brass tacks, the
county commissioners, without adver-
Using the usual "call for sealed bids'
and apparently without attempting to
ascertain the most economic and eff
ficient plan for having the county
printing done, just gave the huge
contract-one which will total pos.
sibly 100000 Joe Dolin at HIS
OWN PRICE.
1t has always been the custom
land according to the constitution of
the state of Montana and decisions
OF the supreme court in similar cases,
the law that the county printing be
let to the newspaper in the county
rendering the lowest and best bid,
suitable bond to be given by the
printer when the contract is signed.
This year several newspaper men,
with the fact in view that taxes
are high, and Liberty bonds, the Red
Cross, Y. NJ. G.. A., and other war
necessities are being freely subscrib-
ed to by the people, had decided that
several thousand dollars could be
saved for the taxpayers on the
county printing alone and were pre-
pairing their bids accordingly. But
No call for bids was advertised
this year. Inquiry at the court
house and from a couple of the COM
in person brought the
good news that all those interested
would be given chance to appear
and submit their views or bids. They
also gave their word that the coun-
ty printing contract would not be let
until the first meeting in June, at
the earliest; and it was possible a
call for bids would be advertised. |
Those newspaper men were loath to
think that any member of the honor
able board would violate his word. |
Instead, the publishers planned on
visiting the court house on June 3,
while the commissioners were in ses-
sion, and there seek the contract on
4 competitive basis, which would GER
tainly have resulted in great saw
ng for the taxpayers and living
profit for some publisher.
But, while in several newspaper
offices, price lists were being con-
suited and all extra expense elimin-
ated for the benefit of the people,
| scene, which may have been some
hing like the following, was going
IN in the county court house., where
he servants of the people "faith- |
July guard pent up treasures to help
win the war;"
TIME. Wednesday afternoon,
Nay 20, 1918.
PLACE: Commissioners cham
,ers.
One of the faithful servants speaks:
Well, let's settle this county print
ng business, now that we've side
racked bunch of those outside
printers. I'll send for Joe Dolin.
ENTER Joe, quietly.)
C. C. Hello, Joe, old scout! Got
NY dry camels on yuh 2"
JOE: "Never without 'em, judi
lelp yourself. Have one, jake"
C. C. NAV! Would smoke per-
ecto, though"
JOE: "0h,, alright! Here it isl
IN taking no chances"
c. G. "Say, Joe, we've had a devil
f a time saving this county print
ng job for you. Now, what have
'ou got to say for YOURSELF"
JOE: cts go with me, fellows.
duch kickin' goin' on z" t,
G. G. "Oh. we fixed that; told 'em