The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-03-16
THE COURT HOUSE.
The Commissioners Offer $4,000 in Set
Element Which Is Refused by
Ring 4 Tobin.
rhe work o Be pushea ANYWAY.

Another step was taken in the court
house matter Thursday. II was stated
In last weeks paper that Ring 4 Tobin
had offered 10 submit the case TO FIVE
business men Of this city who should all
be appointed by the commissioners
This was very fair offer and the COM
missioners authorized their attorneys,
Messrs. Smith and Freeman 4 Pfau, to
accept it. When cornered, Mr.. Ring
began to hedge and claimed that two of
the commissioners should be appointed
by himself, two by the Board, and these
four should select the fifth. He then
made the proviso that the arbitrators
should only consider the case on condi-
ton that the Board admitted change
of stone on the court house and also
that it had ordered the change. Both
of these the Board denies and claims to
be able to prove its ground. Mr.. Ring
finally added the provision that he
should have the privilege of appealing
on certain conditions. 1t is useless to
say that the commissioners refused to
submit the case 10 any such arbitration.
II IS evident that the offer was only
made as bluff.
The commissioners then, by vote of
three to two, authorized their attorneys
to make the following proposition to
Mr.. Ring: The commissioners would
pay the contractors 5000 to settle for
the alleged change of stone and the bill
of extras, which would settle everything
up to date, the commissioners on their
part, foregoing any claims they might
have against the contractors. All points
upon which differences could be foreseen
| to arise were to be made clear, and in
fact everything was to be smoothed away
between the contractors and commits
sioners. Moreover, the contractors
were to complete their contract by June
LIST.
This proposition was communicated to
Mr.. Ring last evening and he refused 10
accept it. This is where the matter now
stands.
| TIC CohIIdClOI6 V1,OOV q
change of stone, and 81, 5Sl.62 for extra
work. The commissioners deny the
first claim and admit a part of the Sec
ond. They have counter claim, how
ever, that will more than balance the
amount they admit due the contractors.
This is for work that the latter have
omitted 10 do on the court house and
which the contract calls for. The con-
tractors, themselves, have admitted
that the county has claim against
them.
The commissioners do not admit that
there is a balance due Ring & Tobin and
only made their proposition in order
that the matter might be settled and the
court house completed without further
trouble. They made it in good faith and
in this they are supported by the vast
majority of our citizens. 1t is conceded
that they have done all that could be
expected from them and made liberal
offer of settlement. If Ring & Tobin
persist in their refusal to accept the
compromise they will certainly lose any
sympathy they may have had hitherto,
The commissioners will not make q
better offer but will allow the matter ia
be taken into the courts. In the mean.
time the contractors will be forced tc
push their work on the court house and
not await the result of the suit. This
will insure the completion of the court
house which is the main thing in which
the people are interested.