The Alder-men's Secret Handshake

The provisions of the city charter respecting the letting of the contract for the city printing are plain and unmistakable. No provision is left for the exercise of discretion on the part of the board of aldermen. The charter provides that the board shall by resolution announce the names of all parties whose proposals have been offered and designate as 'city official newspaper' that newspaper whose managers or owners have offered the lowest and best proposals. Last evening the board of aldermen had an opportunity to show their respect for the organic law of the city and the pecuniary interests of the taxpayers. Five bids were presented. Of these, the bid of the Press-Times was the lowest; that of the Telegraph the highest, averaging more than 50 per cent higher than the bid of the Press-Times. The board of aldermen, by a secret ballot, determined upon the selection of the Telegraph, the highest bidder, as the city official newspaper. The difference between the cost to the city will amount to upwards of $5,000 annually, taken in defiance of the charter from the taxpayers of the city to be placed in the pockets of the political friends of the members of the board of aldermen.