Evening journal., 1892-10-04
IS THERE A SKELETON?
Commissioners Clark Insinuates
That There is Crooked Work.
HUTCHINSON RBSBNTs HIS REMARK

Washington street Bridge The Cause.-The
Red Lion Hundred Commissioner Makes
"A Quasi-Accusation of Crookedness and
Corruption Hutchison Says He has
not Violated His Oath-He Intimates
That Clark wants To BE ON the Com
mittee.
There is a skeleton in the closet of the
levy court chamber, and II Commits
sioner Clark, OF Red Lion hundred, does
not keep the door shut It is going TO
stalk out in full view Of the public.
That seems TO be what some of the
members fear and what Mr. Clark seems
to be unable TO summon up
moral courage enough TO do Whether
it is the skeleton of bribery. or jealousy,
remains TO be seen, but time will doubt.
less settle the matter to the entire salts
faction Of the public, IL not 70 the con.
sternation of some Of the parties con-
cerned
There has been trouble ever since
the Brandywine bridge project was
placed squarely upon its feet AT first
there was a scramble Of land spectators
to secure the site. The Elliotts, who
wanted It at Broome street were beaten
Z by the North Side Improve
ment company, corporation
which held large landed interests
on the opposite side of the creek from
the foot of Washington street It was
a case Of diamond cut diamond, with thu
public treasury to fall back upon The
wolf of private speculation stalked
around under the sleeps skin Of public
convenience, and of two evils the levy
court accepted the one at Washington
street because the inducements" were
greater.
Just how great these Inducements
were is the skeleton whose dry bones
Commissioner Clark seems TO take de.
light in rafting in the ears of Chairman
Hutchison and themembers OF the bridge
committee IL has been alleged that
So, 600 was ",.lacei" 20 further the pro.
ject, but such a report was met by EN-.
phatic denials, in which Commissioner
Clark does rot seem TO take much stock
The committeeman. on the other
! hand, claim that the reason Commits
sioner Clark, ellis and Eliason oppos,
the committee is because they are mo
in il, and would like to be. 1t has ONLY
, been a few days since an effort was made
by Mr.. Gillis TO have Messrs. Clarl
and Eliason added to the committee, bu
l the resolution was voted down by th,
q seven members of the committee, whit
contended that the committee wa
. already large enough.
This proceeding simply made the ba,
blood boil and it reached its highes
] f..H L..
- ing, when Commissioner clark vpem
h charged crooked work and made som
e specifications, which reflected upon th
r, committee.
d sanction of the Court.
. He opened the battle by calling up hi
q tabled motion to refer the validity o
u the action of the levy court, in building
u new bridge without an apprc
priation and the sanction Of th
y court Of general sessions, TO f. G
~ Bradford, the courts attorney. II
n quoted chapter GO, page 1923 Of the Re
4 vised Code which, he claimed, applied {
the case.
Gillis-I second the motion.
Jolls-Are you right sure this apple
y TO new bridgesl
Clark-Yes.
d Grubb-The court above will approx
A. 10. II a majority of this court say It ca
n be built, il can be built.
l. Chairman Bucfingham-Order gentle
r men, order.
III Grubb-I call for the ayes and nays.
II Clark-That is what | want / wan
Is the names OF the members who will vot
t. contrary to law to go on record.
" Buckingham-Hold on; hold on; ar
what you are doing?
pr Hutchison-I think this importan
rs enough to put in writing
e The Court ordered that Mr. Clark
o. motion be reduced TO writing. It wa
IL done. and formally offered.
II Hickman-When we built Third stree
bridge there was no levy made for il
" We went TO work, built that bridge, an
Of had it half done before we came in her
n to ask for appropriations
lg Eliason--It was different then. tn
" bridge was in such a dilapidated cond
IL tion that lugs had to be used to pull tl
I'd draw on and of. It was expected I
le fall into.the river at any time. Necessit
compelled that a new bridge should
built
ye Hickmln--We appointed a committee
ce see II it could be repaired That con
I'd mittee reported that it could be fixed u
n. for 81 9, 600 to last for several years.
that time we had floating debt Z
n Ss3 600, but the court thought Il best
II. go on and build the bridge, and it WI
IS, done
n. Grubb-We have no bridge out hel
e. to get across.
n Jolls-I don't agree with my frien'
ge Mr. Clark but believe in going slow
k this matter If the levy court has I
es authority 60 build the bridge withoI
the consent OF the upper court, all hay
lir to say is that the law has been violate
of time and time again. We can't ste
be now. The contract has been signe'
er sealed and delivered, the bond has bee
made and delivered. l think our a
E. torney will tell you so. You can't g
away.
ay Clark-It is very queer the way
m which this thing was rushed through
ty such hurry Mr.. Hutchison and oI
IT. friend Samuel II. Baynard, expect
lie 90 to the Legislature-why didu
by they let the thing rest uni
is the General Assembly could pa
or bill for us. There is somethir
i'll wrong in this thing, l tell you. Loo