County Printing Scandal Brews in Centralia
Local newspaper proprietors accuse the News-Examiner of padding invoices for county work.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Following the awarding of Lewis County's printing contract to the Centralia News-Examiner, rival papers—the Chehalis Bee-Nugget, Chehalis Advocate, and Centralia Chronicle—have accused its proprietor, Mr. Dunckley, of fraudulent overcharging. An investigation by county commissioners suggests an overcharge of at least $40, while the rival papers allege the discrepancy is closer to $300. The controversy centers on complex billing methods, such as charging for printing by the hundred at inflated rates compared to larger quantities.
“The commissioners made an investigation and, it is stated, found that Dunckley had overcharged.”
This dispute over government contracts and public notices serves as an early example of the tensions between local media and municipal graft. It reflects how local newspapers historically acted as both civic watchdogs and competitors for public dollars.
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