The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-08
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.
A Painful Exhibition of Observation-Disclosures
Wits Charging CroOkedness in Bridge
wOrk-A Work House Opinion.

Yesterday morning. when the county commits
siOners met, there a painfal exhibition of
uneasness among q number of persons who
have been doing work for the county. An affida-
Wit, signed by Charles Reynolds was presented,
accusing T. H X. Peck, superintendent of
| bridges, of paying laOOrers \ certain amount
and collecting from % to 90 cents per addi-
tiodal from the county; also, that Peck was In
sulting in his demaanor and addicted to the use
OF strong drinks. Reynolds named, besides him
self, Fred Milleman, Andy Altman and Patrick
King as persons for whom pay had been over
drawn. Peck will be given full opportunity to
clear himself of these charges, which he vigor-
ously denies. F. NJ. HOllngsworth, of Traders
Point, who had boarded county laburers,
made an affidavit showing that he hat
been required by Peck 10 sign a receipt
in blank for his money. Reynolds, in
his affidavit, also charged that when
.idge at John Pressys farm was repaired good
lumber was replaced with new, and that the best
of the rejected timber. was pied up and hauled
away, While tho remainder was used in protect
ing the abutments. Smith & Loeper, civil
engineers, made reply that to-day they
would file a written answer ssto the
charges set forth in the affidavit
of Joseph Fisher John r. Cowie, contractor,
demanded an immediate inspection of the Cler-
mont bridge, to refute the intimation that he
was using rubble instead of dimension stone,
and the commissioners went out yesterday after
noon to view the work. Cowie also asked that
Mr.. HosbroOk and the railway engineer examine
and measure the Pleasant Run work as a contra
dlction to the report that he had given wrong
measurements and had used sand and gravel in
filling up interstices. An order was also spread
upon record that the county attorney should not
pass upon the legality of any claim until re-
quested to do so by the board. This is done to
head off interested parties who anxious to
get rulings on claims to If they will hold
water. before presenting them. IL is signiti-
cant fact that the Republican members of the
board, Messrs. Smith and Ostermeyer, appear a
great deal more anxious to push these investi-
cations and go to the bottom of them than Mr.
Loftin, who is showing marked energy in the
work.
The county attorney submitted the following
opinion as to the right of the commissioners to
build a work-house, and as to the manner in
which II should be done:
ITO the County Commissioners of Marion County:
CONTAMINATION may establish and main
tain work-hOuse In this county, The expense
OF providing and maintaining IL must be paid out
of the genearl fund OF the comfy The State will
contribute nothing toward its erection and main
tenance. You cannot enter into an agreement
tain one together. For the purpose of construct
ing a work house you may use property already
owned by the county, or you may purchase or
provide tract OF land in the name OF the c0un-
ty for that purpose. In providing such tract
OF land you may exchange land owned by the
county. III you conclude TO sell ally real estate
now owned by the county for the purpose OF pro-
viding means with which to purchase other renl
estate upon which to construct q wOrk-house, it
VIII he necessary for you TO sell 1t at public ac
ton after having advertised IL for sale sixty
days, giving tile terms, time and place of sale
and description Of the property to be sold In
the erection OF the rnrk-house You must first
nave plau ana spec hsttlons made which must
be adopted by you ana be deposited in the office
or the auditor OF the county and open TO the in
speetlon or the people OF the county. You can
not contract for or let the work until you have
advertised such citing and requested bids for
at least six weeks in at least one newspaper of
general circulation in this county, and
oy posting up notices OF the same
with the time, plan, place and terms of the same
with reference TO the plans ana specifications
You must let the work to the lowest res ponsible
bidder on the terms in the notice mentioned
amt on the plans and specifications so deposited
bidder for such work must accompany his BID
with good and sufficient bond payable to the
State OF Indiana, signed by least Two resident
freeholders, and the bond must guarantee the
faithful performance and execution of the work
50 bid for, in c"se the same is awarded to said
ullder, ana that the contractor SO receiving SAID
contract will perform SUCH work according To the
plans and specifications so deposited with the
auditor, and the time, terms AMI conditions
mentioned In said advertisement of letting, ami
thab the contractor so receiving said contract
shall promptly pay all debts incurred by him in
the prosecution of such work. including labor,
materials furnished and for boarding the lan9r-
ers thereon, Care should be taken TO that
falr competition is Lad for all WORK, and that
The county gets good security for its faithful
performances when let. Respectfully submitted,
re ~ CIVILIAN WATSON WOoLLEN."