The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-07-16

the improved fiscal procedures outlined in the Act these reforms are opposed by vocal minority, in- cluding the Empire.
 That's not so, either, George We perhaps more than you anxious to see Territorial finances Ill tip-top shape and a busness-like basis We, as taxpayers want to see that Territory gets it's or should we say our moneys worth in the purchase of printing and other supplies and services
 We've always approved the bid laws covering pur- chases over $250-and we've always wondered why the Alaska Development Board never calls for bids its printing
 While we're on the subject, we've always wondered about that folder you had printed in we believe, 1s49 We noticed that it in lots of 1OOOO-each lot being billed to you s248just S2 under the bid law requirements. Now the way price printing, the cost per thousand decreases as the quantity n creases Most printers sell their work the same way, giving the quantity buyer the benefit of economical press runs. Maybe you could have saved the Terri tory money that ob if you had let it out on bids
 Between April l, 1949 and July 31, 1850 the Alaska Development Board spent $3,00172 for printing. Not
 bit of this let bids, although the work might have been done for less money had it been. We hope you see your way clear to practice what you preach and do your part to help the Territory save money by calling for bids in the future.
 But we're getting pretty far afeld, George. We didn't to bring all these things into this letter, but it just seemed like good time to mention them. Hope we didn't embarrass you
 Are you still with us George? For the record, the Empire 100 percent in favor of improved fiscal procedures for the Territory. And 100 percent against any legislation that would permit machine politicians to control the financial affairs of the Ter ritoiy.
 You say in the next paragraph of your letter that reported the Boards vote inaccurately-that where say Motion failed to g." that we imply the three votes were against the motion.
 Guess you stubbed your toe again. George. Ac- cording to the minutes of the March 26 meeting the vote was 3 against and for. The Governor and Frank Metcalf were for the unfreezing while Henry Roden J. Gerald Williams and Neil Moore were against.
 Shoulda looked that up, huh? The minutes of the two meetings the next day don't show roll call by name, but the votes were to l and to respectively The second meeting March 27 had the same five men in attendance as the March 26 meeting-and the vote was again to 2. So, unless somebody changed his mind overnight, it's a safe guess that the same men felt the way about $1000O for your outfit
 You say that the reason the minority members took their stand was that new Board would be seated in few days and that the old Board should leave all decisions to the new body.
 Now that just might be the way it was, George. but we don't think it that way at all. After all if they felt that way about it March 26 why have two more meetings the next day? All the that old Board have responsible positions in tne Ter ritory-and it isn't plausible that they would waste their valuable time in pontless meetings when the new Board was to be seated so soon. And besides, George, have you forgotten that the Governor had he bill since the forenoon of March 23 How come didn't sign right away and skip those three meet ings of the old Board?
 Hope there aren't any hard feelings George You just have to bear in mind that long you feed at the public trough, the guy that pays the bills is entitled to know what goes And job is to that he knows what goes on.
 Should you have similar problems from time to ime, want you to feel perfectly free to droA IS line We'll do our level best to get the facts or you.
 Yours for more light and less heat" in corre- ;pondence.