Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-08
KNOW. NOTHING WITNESSES.
A Slow Day In the Councilmanic In
vestigation.
MR.. oooPER's ovea.cHARees
Complaint Against the Burlington
The Fedowa Will Case Submitted
Supreme Court Cases
City News and Notes.
LINCOLN BUREAU OF THE OMAHA Bss, I
1929 = STREET,

COunClulunlC investigating C0mmlttee re-
sumed adjourned work of the investigation.
Before, however, the resume of testimony
commenced, tho council met in chamber and
ratified the contracts for the erection Of two
engine houses for the city, awarded to
Layne & Sweet, which was done with the
recommendation that the contractors employ
local labor.
To settle the price of pig iron, hydrants,
pipe and other water supplies, during the
past three or four years, b. S. Parkhurst, o
st. Louis travelling statesmen, was called to
the stand. He said that the prices on these
articles fiuctuate, the supply and demand
having much to do with their selling value.
Pig iron sold from 1925 to Si.35. AT present
the price is S4.65. Hydrants, list price gov
ern, with 10 to 25 per cent off on st. Louis
prices Pipe is subjected to like relative dis
counts. He never quoted prices to Cooper,
but may have done so to Dean. Four cocks
would, with discount Off the market price,
be 5000. Cooper had charged the city $40. 20
on this class of goods. However, there were
bids in from other plumbers, and on these
regular market prices were charged. On 2l6-
inch steam cocks the list price was $l4,
discount off 81. Cooper had charged Sl2. On
later price list the discount was 57lS per
cent off, and part of the goods were bought
during the time when tho greater discount
was in force. 1t is not usual TO charge list
price, even at retail, on this class of goods
These prices are the prices at Lincoln. Wit
ness said that in purchasing he could beat the
prices in Cooper's price list, from which he
was quoting. Witness firm had a list price
which was about Identical with Cooper's
Witness would not say that a city buying
about 81, 900 per year would be entitled to
the regular wholesale discounts to retail
purchaser This would, however, depend
largely on the amount of competition. A
219-inch steam cock, on which the list price
was Sl4, ought to be sold to a retail pur-
chaser at $3.50 to S. the discount being 5711
per cent.
l.. G. Burr testified that he was somewhat
acquainted with III. It. Clarke. Had some
interest in the Clark paving contract. He
had casually examined the contract and
knew something of its nature. No bonus
was ever demanded by the council, or any
member OF 1t, in consideration of securing
the contract. Hc knew nothing of any such
demand.
cross sexamination. The opinion had been
freely expressed that Carks contract was
bought, because, as stated, it was much
higher than other bids Witness stated
in explanation of these charges that
bio was was higher S'aHs than some sne Of Afs shs
others. "The fact is this" said the wit
| ness, "Clark's bid was lower than any of his
competitors, and there was no reason for
the bonus. Burr SAID he knew nothing of
and his partners had nothing to do with it.
Witness denied the Omaha Republicans
| statement that Clark had paid S5,0 900 each to
several councilmen to secure the paving
Republican man could not have known Clark
very well. He stated, however, regarding
the sale of bonds that the First National
bank bought one block at 95 per cent.
Dirges the street sweeper, was called, and
| on being sworn, stated that he was never
| called upon to cough up to any member of
| the council and did not even call upon Cap
tain Billingsley to examine his contract.
A MIR. Morton was called, but his story
| was of visit to Water Commissioner Ly-
| man, and had to do with politics and not
with bOOdlcrS or Doodle.
City Attorney Lambertson volunteered to
| to testify, it having been said that he re-
fused to honor a subpoena. Stating that that
newspaper story was without a shadow of
foundation. Attorney Strode however, shot
a question at him that for q moment bid fair
to open hornets nest. 1t was this:
"Mr. Lambertson, did you advise any po-
liceman or officer of the law to get an in
Identifying bond before compelling service
upon witnesses who might decline to appear
before the investigating committees"
SColdly came the reply: 81 did not. ! ad-
making service, so far as attachments were
concerned, if witnesses should decline to at
tend. This was ALL"
Marshal Cooper was called and corrobo-
ruJcu UuS ClLy dLIUTneN'S SldtclLcut. III eS-
planaton it is well to state that street stories
have been going that Lam bertson has been
trying to check the work of investigation and
bring it to an abrupt close.
The afternoon session began at 2 o'clock,
with Il. 4. Kosmeyer, Il plumber and dealer
in plumbing goods, on the stand. He was
questioned regarding prices and discounts on
water pipes, especially with reference TO
some invoices sold to the city by Councilman
w. j. Cooper. On one lot he testified that
the market with discounts
$40 on which Cooper had charged 50, an
overcharge of $3.50. On two +-inch Us
Cooper had charged $780, the market price
was 81 the oyercharge being Sl.SO. MIR.
Kosmeyer had before hum Il list price issued
by W. j. Cooper & Cole Brothers, of this
city, and quoted from it while making his an
swers. On l-inch globe valves the price,
with discount Off was 30 cents; Cooper had
charged $l.40. On IA inch globe valves, the
price was Sl.95; Cooper had charged $3.50.
On 2I-incn couplings, the price was 20 cents: 4:
| Cooper had charged 25 cents. These
couplings are really thrown in with the pipe.
tho discounts off, are as above.
| On linch corporation cocks the price
| list was $3.50; with discount off, Sl9214.
| Witness said that il he would go to Mr.
Cooper and buy goods no would expect to get
! them with the full discount off, and Cooper
| would then be making fair profit.
| AT the conclusion of MIR. kosmeyer's testi-
| mony Chairman Hamilton stated tnat sub
pUenaS nad Deen served on d. "A. oucKSJaH
| and w. ii. i. Stout, of the firm of Buckstan
| & Stout paving contractors and on George
| S. Miller, of the firm of Miller ~ Lucas,
Council Bluffs, and that the gentlemen mad
agreed to appear and give evidence. These
| gentlemen did not appear very promptly.
AT 3:45 MIR. Buckstaff appeared and was
sworn. His firm were contractors for four
or five paving districts; considered his bids
| the lowest Kelley s; O'Shea, j. Mclean &
| Co. and others, also bid for the contracts
| His firm had not had much talk with mem.
| bers of the council before the letting of the
contracts
| Like many others Buckstaff knew nothing,
and That's all, came from Attorney Strobe
| at last. Witness took occasion, however, to
| say that his firm was sl6,DOJ lower on this
| contract than competitive bidners, The m
vestigation adjourned until Monday AT 10
| O'Clock.
/ Proclamation.
70 the people of Nebraska;
| Whereas, The last disaster in Pennsylvania
| TO life aud property is unprecedented, and
| the citizens of the devastated districts are