Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-16
TIE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Another Fruftless Discussion or
County Hospital Matters,
A COMMUNICATION FROM cooTs
Messrs. O'keefrc aud Anderson Again
Enliven the Proceedings With
Their Usual Passage
at Words,
A Letter From Coots.

Chairman Mounts patience was severly
taxed in waiting for quorum for the meet
ing of the county commissioners called for .
o'clock yesterday afternoon. II was three
quarters of an hour later than the time fixed
when the meeting was called to order, with
Chairman Mount and members Turner. An-
derson and o'Keeffe present. County Clerk
Roche arrived in time to hear Clerk of the
Board Webb read the minutes OF tho last
meeting, in which the county clerk was
checked up on a number of overcharges in
the matter OF pens and canvass book covers.
The COMMITTEES on finances was instructed
TO ascertain how much money has boen paid
out by the county for wolf scalps and to take
steps to recover the amount from the state.
The petitions of Thco Festner ana George
Allcn, for the appointment as constable in
the Eighth ward, were referred to the COM
mitteo on judiciary.
telegram from Il. b. Meyers, con-
curing IN the proposed changes in the
arches in the new hospital, was read The
telegram was addressed to Contractor Coots.
"Why don't Meyers address his communi-
cations to this boardp' asked Mr.. O'Keeffe.
81 don't know" said Chairman Mount
II do" said MIR. OKeetfe
Contractor Coots' letter, relative to tho
errors in Architect Meyers plans was read
as follows:
OMAHA, June 15.-To the Honorable Board
of County Commissioners: In response to
your resolution of June $, requesting me to
drawings for the Douglas county hospital
furnished by &c. e. Meyers & Son, architects
and point out all imperfections and errors in
SAID plans and specifications, / would re-
spectfully submit:
That the relations of superintendent of
construction to the architect are necessarily
such as would make it unprofessional aud
improper for me to attempt any criticism Of
his plans. The superintendent of any build
ing public or private, is subordinate and not
coordinate or superior to the architect and
it would be Il palpabie breach OF courtesy If
not an imDertinence for me to overhaul the
architects designs and plans while occupy
the position of superintendent. Moreover,
IL would be impracticable for mo TO point out
errors in plans or designs before they be-
come apparent to me while the build
ing is in process of construction.
In this instance, the contractors have not
only done inferior WORK but have varied from
the plans and details so much us TO make it
utterly out Of the question to judge what
would have been the condition Of the build
ing had they done good work and strictly
carried out the plans and specifications.
II Is well known to the members of your
board that have frequently expressed tho
opinion that the plans of Myers s. Son ara
above tho average usually furnished by
architects, and in the hands of honest and
conscientious contractors, the building would
not only be safe but in every way suitable
for the purpose designed.
JOHN F. Coors.
"It is Coots' business to let us know
whether or not anything is wrong with the
building" said Mr.. O'Keeffe. "If we'd dis
pense with Meyers services we could get
the building compete4 in three months. If
Coots won't report upon the defects I'm in
favor of getting some one who will"
The letter was referred to the committee
on construction.
A communication was read from Con-
tractor Coots, asking the board to request
MIR. Meyers to come on at once in order to
facilitate the work Of construction upon the
hospital, and to decide upon some needed
changes in the matter of plans Tor steam
pipes.
''If Meyers comes he'll charge us
5000 for walking around the streets
doing nothing" said Mr.. O'Keeffe
in support of motion to refer
the matter to the committee on construction.
The motion was lost and motion by Ander-
son instrnctlng the chairman to telegraph
Mr.. Meyers to come on at once was adopted.
The bill of r. S. G. Patton for $50 for an
alysing tea, referred to the board by the city
council, was adopted.
Commissioners Anderson and O'Keeffe had
their usual passage at words when Mr.. An
aerson, from the committee ON finance, re-
ported the claims of the assessors for 1889,
recommending that the claims be voted on
separately.
''What's the finance committee form de-
manded MIR. O'Keeffe. at is the business
of tho committee to find out whether these
bills are correct or not, and then report for
or against them.'
'si'he gentleman from Missouri avenue"
began Mr.. Anderson, when he was stopped
by Mr. O'keeffe's point of order.
81 object to any personalities" said Mr..
O'Kaeffe. 'If the gentleman is in for that
kind of business, all right I'm something Of
brick at il myself"
Chairman Mount interfered, and the
claims were recommltted to the committee
on finance.
complaint filed by A. Randall. charging
Jacob Levy, South Omaha justice of the
peace with improper conduct in office, was
referred to the county attorney tv tix date
for the hearing of the case