County Printing Contract Sparks Legal Fight
Stevens County commissioners award the county printing contract to the Colville Examiner, but a rival paper sues, alleging the process was unfair.
At the session of the county commissioners last week the contract for the publication of commissioners' proceedings and all notices required by law, for the year beginning July 1, 1908, was let. The Colville Examiner secured the contract with the understanding that it also provide for the publication of all such matter in the Newport Miner and the Northport News. According to law there can be but one official paper and the Examiner will carry such title for the year but the Miner and the News will also publish all the matter furnished for publication.
The arrangement is one which cannot help but be satisfactory to the people of Stevens county. By it the fullest possible publicity is given to the business transactions of the commissioners and the intention of the law to permit the commissioners to use their discretion in selecting the best medium is carried out. Publicity in public affairs tends to prevent mismanagement of public affairs and is the greatest known remedy for the prevention of graft. By the arrangement of having three papers in different parts of the county publish the county matter the best possible service is given the people and the intent and purpose of the law is fully complied with. The Examiner has a rapidly growing circulation in the center of the county, the News covers the Northern part and the Miner circulates throughout the eastern half.
The Statesman-Index also put in a bid for the work which was ridiculously low and tried to walk off with the contract for the job printing of the county but the Commissioners deemed the joint bid the best from the standpoint of service and so awarded the contract and gave the Examiner the job printing. "Red Top", the Examiner editor is still on top at the county seat.
As a result of the rejection of its bid the Statesman-Index has begun suit to restrain the commissioners from contracting with the Examiner. And the war has just begun. It seems reasonable to presume that the right of the board to exercise their discretion in the matter and their decision to give the people of the county the best service possible, will be sustained.
“Publicity in public affairs tends to prevent mismanagement of public affairs and is the greatest known remedy for the prevention of graft.”
The fight over who gets to publish county business—and at what price—echoes today's debates over government transparency and the awarding of public contracts. Then, as now, local newspapers saw themselves as watchdogs against graft.
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