The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-06-18

k - soon - you get back from
the time for appointing q state print
er for the next two years came, In
1929, I happened to be out Of the city.
At q meeting held on Sept. 8, 1879,
the commissioner Of agriculture and
labor presiding. the state printer was
reappointed, the commissioner Of
agriculture and labor Of course vot-
ing aye.
Says .Blackznail Tried
"Now friends. I am going to tell
you something that I would much
rather leave unsaid, but 1t has q d.
rect bearing on the matter Of con-
tracts and I believe partly explains
the reason for the attacks on the
secretary Of state and myself, 50 far
as the printing commission is con-
cerned. On May 6, 1880, after bids
for printing for the next two years
had been submitted, but contracts
had not been awarded, one Of the bid
ders came to the capitol. After brief
~ discussing with me state printing
in general, he said: I have proof
that excessive and illegal charges
have been allowed and ordered paid
by your commission. Now, while I
believe I am not low bidder on
land he named a class that covers q
large proportion Of the state printing!
I want the contract for that class.
The primary election is coming soon,
and II I don't get that contract I will
blow the lid off the printing commits
sion. OF course, II I do get 1t, nothing
more will be said This explains the
interest Of at least one bidder In the
money Of the taxpayer. AS some of
you know, the contracts were award
cd to the lowest responsible bidder.
No one questions that fact. And now
someone is trying to make the bluff
good. I have never been bluffed, and
there is no act of mine, either in pub
lie or private life. that makes me q
subject for blackmail.
Bonds Subject to Suit
IT the Bismarck paper referred
to, and the Independent Voters asso-
citation really believe their charges of
illegal payments are true and wish
to save the state some money on
printing bills. there is q much quick
er way Of doing It than by placing
one new member on the printing com-
mission In 1891 and another in 1885,
which Is when the railroad commits
sioner elected this fall will reach the
printing commission. The three
nr{nffnN nnvovno1~~AaAn~~ l~~ ..~A~.
bonds in the sum Of $4,000 each /.
and the printing contractor has given
bonds in the sum Of $35 900 for the
proper carrying out Of his contract,
SO there Is a total bond Of $65 900 in
effect that may be proceeded against
for the recovery of any illegal pay
ment on printing. Why do not those
who profess a desire to. safeguard the
money Of the taxpayers, bring suit
for recovery Of what they claim has
been illegally paid?
The seni-weekly newspaper has
given its version Of one Of the last
chapters Of the state printing con-
trpversy. A few paragraphs from
preceding chapters might be interest
Ing. Let 1t tell Of the efforts that
were made by certain bidders to get
together with others and protect
each other on the two most important
classes Of printing, one man to bid
high and the other low on one class,
and to reverse bids on the other
class. Or 1t might tell who was con-
and who really wrote its bid,
not forgetting to tell who came to It's
aid last winter when it was three
weeks behind on, its payroll. and
whether or not there was any con-
nection between that action and the
attempt Of that paper, under the
cruise Of ithographing, to take away
from the contract holder . large Job
Of straight printing. We have re-
peatedly heard the rumor that the
manager for the Independ.
ent Voters association Is financially
interested In one Of the disgruntled
bidders. It has never seemed import.
ant. and he certainly has tho right t.
Invest where he chooses, but In view
Of recent developments It would seem
only fitting ana proper that he should
tell tho public II these rurnors are
true or not.
Says COLLATION. Failed
when collision between bidders
let it be told how 1t was ar
ranged asto whom to attempt to black
mail or coerce the Printing Commits
sion. The attacks on the Secretary Of
State and myself are inspired by dis
gruntled, u~nsuccess{ol bidders for
state printing, who, through collision
between bidders, attempted TO- high
Jack the state on printing contracts.
Failing in this, coercion and black
were tried. and that failing, it is
now proposed to defeat two candi-
dates for reelection whose efficient
conduct OF their respective offices has
never been questioned. It is q cheap,
play by cheaper men.
you have no doubt noted the fact
that I am not referring to any indi-