The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-01-22
SEN. HAMER WRITES
Cemmends County Board for Letting
Printing So 1t Will Get the
Greatest Publicity.
Contrasts Bid of Times With That of
Union and Cites the Law as
to Award by Board.
Milaca, Jan. 10, 1920.

Milaca, Jan. 10, 1920.
To the Editor of the Union:
The Milaca Times is considerably
worked up over the action of the coun-
ty commissioners in regard to county
printing, and asks for an expression OF
opinion from all who are interested
in fair play, honest and decent govern
n1ent," for the benefit of the commits
sioners. In so far as their action at
fects every citizen and taxpayer in the
county, I am interested in it, and so
lam writing, not merely to the commits
Tsioners, but to any others who care to
read it.
It appears from the official proceed
ings, as published, that the bid of the
Times for such printing was for publ
cation in that paper only, while the
bid of the Union was for publication,
not only in that paper, but also in six
other papers in the county. This bid
therefore, contemplated the distribu-
ton of the official reports, statements
etc., over the county through the seven
different local papers, while the Times
proposed to serve only it's own sub
scribers. The value of this condition
as an aid to soliciting new subscribers
would probably not be overlooked.
There was time, a good many
Nff n.
ings, ETC., were published in the Union
only. While such was the case, the
writer appeared before the commits
'oners, at their meeting, to have such
solicitations, personal tax statements,
etc, made in the Milaca Times also,
it being at that time the only paper
Il in the county north Of Princeton.
Some of the commissioners argued
that it would cost too much, to which
replied that if it cost too much to
serve all the citizens of the county in
that way there was no justification
for serving a part and spreading the
cost over all. Besides such publication
it would somewhat increase the revc-
nue.. There will be less lodging OF
personal taxes when all the neighbors
know what each one has to pay. We
secured the larger publication as re-
quested, and it was good thing for
all concerned, including the Times.
If the commissioners had now ac-
copied the Times bid, or any other
whereby there would be only one paper
designated as medium of publicity
and put us back where we were SO
many years ago, in this respect
would think that they had very little
regard for the public interest, and such
act would be a reflection on their fit
ness for their office.
The Times has stated what it claims
to be the law in this matter, but it is
stated only in part, and the part omit.
ted is important. In the same section
IF the law which the Times refers to
with reference to the lowest bidder
There is also the following: 'sThe
board may reject any offer if, in its
Judgment, the public interest so re-
quires, and may thereupon designate 9
paper without any regard to any re.
jected offer" In this case the public
interest did require a different pro.
posal from that contained in the Times
bid.
In advocacy and furtherance of 'fai1
play, honest and decent government
one of the essential things involved
surely, is equality of treatment. The
people Of this county and country will
submit to any necessary tax, but the
burden of taxation must be equalizec
as much as possible. They will also
insist that the services provided for
!, and made possible by the taxes paid
Sall be distributed according to the
me rule. This applies to publication
of.zial proceedings of the county
lard, and must be considered by them
~ making contract for publication OF
Nsme during the ensuing year. There
58san be no fair play without equality.
7 The omission of important facts in
the case, facts which are essential to
any correct Judgment Of the matter
is an unfortunate feature of the Times
articles denouncing the commissioners;
and these same facts, given in the
official report, reveal a failure on the
part of the Times to appreciate that
fundamental principle of equality in
our government: as having any APP
plication to all the people Of the coun-
~ who are outside of the Times fam
q ly Of stockholders and subscribers.
" Yours very truly,
~ Richard Hamer.
Potato Growers Meeting.
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