Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-05-17

allowance Sner1n SedgWlck drew WITHIN the year
one hundred and sixty (S16Ol dollars, and Sheriff
FOulke two hundred (Sa0O) dollars. Both of said
amounts are unauthorized by law We are glad to
state that the Commissioners at their June
sion 1881 discontinued this unlawful allowance
q The allowance TO Sheriff Sedgwick Of one hun
dred (S1O0l dollars (being twenty-five (S25 dollars
per year from January 1, 1888, TO January 1, 1881
for 1antOr to Sheriff's Office does not seem clear
to us as proper allowance, the voucher neither
there was any such janitOr employed.
s. Order 62s for hfty-eight (Sos) dollars 10 f. r.
Sedgwiek, Deputy Sheriff, for services as Court
Constable, Probate Court in case of Cleveland,
Lorain and Wheeling Railway Company Us. Clege-
land and Pittsburgh Railroad Company, 1t al, and
twelve (Sl2 2OO dollars for same services IN criminal
cases. Probate Court, and certified TO by the Pro
bate Judge and paid out of the county treasury is
not authorized by law. See Sec. $50 and no
no OSC dollars for cleaning the Sheriffs residence
and blacking stove. We are unable 10 see that the
county has anything to do with cleaning residences
and blacking stoves OF county officers, and there
fore think this was an improper payment.
10. The amount paid persons for Superintending
the building of bridges are inssOme instances, we
think, eXhOrbitant, for instance, one huEdredand
twenty-five (SI25l dollars paid A. II. Caldwell Tor
superintending the building Of bridge nearly at his
own door, we think excessive. Vouchers, however,
do not furnish any information as to the number of
days actually employed as such superintendents.
II. We find from the bills presented by the MEM
berS OF the Board OF OfCOmmSSOnerS that they met at
the county seat tSenty-SX times during the year,
for which they charged and received per diem and
mileage in excess of the twelve meetings provided
by law. Several Of these meetings there appears
to have been no record made AT the time. Some of
these meetings were called by the superintendent
of court house and Court House Committee. At said
times they charged and received per diem, mileage
and expenses
l2 In February, 1887, the council of the village
of Bridgeport memOrialiZed the commissioners for
an appropriation of two hundred and ffty lS25O)
dollars for the purpose of repairing culvertS on the
Ohio Valley Pike within the corporate limits of said
village. The Commissioners appropriated for said
purpose the sum of two hundred (S20Ol dollars
Upon investigation We find that the money was
not used for such repairs, but was used for the
betterment of a street in said village, and being
part Of said pike. 1t is alleged tnat the cor
pOratiOn had heretofore expended something in
the extension or repair OF culvert said street
or pike. With the Information We have we doubt
the legality of this appropriation and if legal
such appropriations should be made only after
full Investigation of the amount expended or re-
quired for such work, and which fact neither the
memorial or voucher disclOSes.
13. March 10, 1887, Belmont county DIR. to John
Dggins for building stone abGtments for bridge
over Wheeling Creek at McCOnnell'S Crossing, in
Wheeling township, sl,564. 10 Again, Belmont
county Dr. to Wallace Ferren for the completion
OF washOut on road leading from DillieS' Bottom
to Jaeobsburg at the mouth of Pipe Greek, S253OO.
April %, 1881. Attest, w. J. Berry" The above
are samples of very many bills filed, allowed and
paid, with nothing to show the amount of work
done or price to be paid. The Committee cannot
arrive at any conclusion whether or not such bills
have been properly paid, the number of perch of
stone or yards of excavation not being stated in
re 6eiOre f are Illue M parties
to make an itemized bill for the same.
H. Another class of bills paid like the follow
ing: June 6, 1887, order to Darby O'TOOle for
seventy seven $50 dollars, additional stone work
and filling for bridge at AledOnia." This bill
does not state how much work was done or at
what price Many bills paid upon the certificate Of
the Commissioner residing in the district where
the work is performed are of this character.
Especially Is this the ease with the bills certified
by Commissioner Berry.
Is. We find during the year 1887 orders issued to
the Architect and Superintendent Of the court
house out OF both the general county and special
building funds. Also, order S35 retaining wall for
court house five hundred, forty-nine and twenty
five hundredths (S549 25) dollars and order 336 flag
gng north OF new court house for six hundred,
three and SXry hundredths (SGO3GO) dollars issued
out OF the general county fund. These funds
should DeadJuSted by transfers to the county fund.-
16 We find that the Commissioners have ap-
pointed one of their number Superintendent of the
National Road, and allow and pay said COmmis-
Sloner three $500 dollars per day and expenses.
We doubt the pr0priety of this appointment, and
in view of the fact that superintendents for all
other pixies are allowed by law only sl75 per day,
we think the allowance of three dollars and eX-
penSeS unauthorized by law.
IL. An examination of the contracts between the
Commissioners and contractors for building the
court house and jail with their many eodicilS and
changes were examined, but from the fact that the
contracts are yet incomplete, intelligent report
could be made. We find, however, a payment or
agreement TO pay w. j. & A. MeClain thirty-twO
hundred, twelve and fifty hundrendths (S3212.JO)
dollars on account of said McClainS having done a
better class of work the foundation of said court
house than the original contract called for etc.
We did not find any agreement upon record be-
find contract reduced to writing two years sub
Sequent TO what purpOrts to have been verbal
agreement between said parties. There is nothing
in this agreement to show to what extent the work
was better or how much of said work was better
than the original contract called for.
Is. We hnd contract made with the Morse
Bridge Co., Nov TO- 1885, for an iron superstrueture
for bridge at McCOnnells crossing at one thousand
$1,000 dollars and same for bridge on Glenn's
Kun at six hundred and seventy-eight dollars
without giving notice publication of Intention to
let said contracts as required by statute. These
contracts with the cost of the abutmeDts being far
in excess of such contracts authorized by See S77
X. r., we are not of opinion that such contracts
can be made lawfully by letting certain portions
at different times in order to get within the limit
provided in said section.
During the examination of the Commissioners
report the term Of n. X. Kennon as Prosecuting
Attorney expired, and the Prosecuting Attorney
elect not having had an opportunity to examine
said report, accounts for the absence of the sigma
ture of said officer or report by him
AL OF which is respectfully submitted.
w. n. COPELAND,
HENRY NJ. DAVIES,
March n, 1885, COmmittse.