, 1877-08-05

without any price being named. The super
| intendent hasno control over SExroN's prices
and the Commissioners may vote to hin
whatever sum they may think proper.
The decision in the Harms case was s,
long Delayed that WALKER, the contracto
for. tho stone, became impatient, and he u
last presented bill for so, 1000 for eztr'
stone The superintendent certified tina
WA1RER was entitled to $21, ,00o, and there
fore that the claim for 900 was fraud
| Of course the payment of this scandalou:
bill has been agreed upon in advance. 1t:
! payment, however, in advance Of Judge
| FARwE1Ls decision, would illustrate toe
glaringly the fraud in the HARMS case.
Though the majority Of the Board has already
determined to pay this bill of WA1KER's for
extras, in defane of tue decision Of the super.
| intendent and of the contract, just as it has
been determined to pay all his future bills
for extras, and SE11os's bills for extras,
and oil the other bills for extras,
which promise to equal if not exceed
the original contract prices, they have
resortcd to u very cheap attempt to divide
tho responsibility. They have agreed upon
4 resolution authorizing certain citizens to
appoint a committee to examine WALKEn's
bill, md to allow it or reject it: This is very
shallow. The law Of the State is emphatic.
These contracts have been made. Either
WA1KEn is entitled to the money under his
contract or he is not. The Commissioners
aro rs much bound by tie contract as is
WALKER. No committee Of citizens can de-
privc WALKER of dollar Of his legal claims;
no committee Of citizens can authorize the
County Board to vote WAIKEn $71,00o to
which he is not entitled under the contract.
The committee can have no power to make
any decision binding on my party, or to
construe tho contract, or ;. warrant the
County Treasurer to pay ST. 900 to any per-
son for any purpose. as well refer the case
now before Judge FAnwE1b to committee
Of citizens to be by them decided, and thus
appeal from law, contracts, and the courts
to town meeting consisting Of three per-
SOUS.
The whole question is Before the Court
# Judge FAEwE1h decide that the County
Board can go behind the contract, and vote
whatever sum it pleases to contractor, then
the County Board has no need OF commit
tee of citizens, but mny 60 ahead and vote
the payment of all WALKEn's, and SExroxs,
and H1SsDA1E's bills for e1tras,-their sole
limit being their discretion. If, however,
the Court shall otherwise decide in the
HARMS case, then tho contractor must, if he
have any lawful claim beyond his contract,
60 to tile courts and have that claim en-
forced by law. But the County Board has
no discretionary power; nor caa it invest q |
committee of citizens with any such power; |
Dor can it derive authority to exercise such |
power from such committee It's powers in |
his case are those written in the contract,
md by that contract al parties must be
3onnd.
ALI these circumstances should be borne in
mind by the people Of this county, and
hould impress on them the fact that the /
'nly hope Of deliverance from this Board is
u the election this fall Of five citizens whose
haracter shall give some assurance that
omp1ete change in the management
+ affairs will be had. The election of five
uch men this fall will enable the minority
I tho present Board to revolutionize the |
hole organized scheme Of dishonesty and
rlbcry, which is not only notorious but is
efant,