The morning call., 1893-06-20
CONTRACT FRAUDS
Startling Disclosures at
Glen Ellen.
REPORT OF EXPERT o'coNNoR.
The Grand Jury Will Investigate and
Contractor McElroy Will Probably
Be Asked Some Questions.

No sooner have the scandals connected
with the Veterans Home at Yountyille
passed away from peoples minds a nine
days wonder than allegations of fresh
rascality spriag up in connection with the
Home for the Predetermined at Glen Ellen.
This time it is not question of defalca-
ton by some officer, but it is the time
honored question of fraud on the part of
the contractors. This is all shown up in
the report of State Expert P. j. O'Connor,
which has been filed with Attorney Gen
eral Hart, and the Grand Jury will invest
igate the matter.
From he report it is appears that Con-
tractor McElroy made wretched job OF 1t.
The building he has constructed is of the
worst kind, being weak and unsafe. And
McEroy will not stand alone to share the
blame, as Superintendent Redmond, who
was in serious trouble in connection with
the home last November. will be called
upon to answer for his carelessneSs. On
that occasion the matter was investigated
by the Legislature. but nothing came OF It,,
as the expert employed, Crowley. did OF
report anything serious enough to lake
hold of and act upon.
O'Connor's report contains disclosures
of startling nature. Whereas, he says.
1t is true. according to Cr0wley's report,
that the concrete above ground is set in
boxes, yet the underground concrete has
never been boxed at all, but simply
thrown into the trenches. And as to the
cement furnished for the concrete, where
as McElroy asserted that he had used 800
barrels of the best Portland cement, yet
the way bills show that only twenty bar
rels had been paid for in transportation.
Another point is in the quality of the
wood used in the buildings. Oregon pine
was sVecified in the contracts. but the ex-
pert finds that most OF the lumber came
from Guernevlle, place quite close to
Glen Ellen. The j0ists In the upper por-
ton of the building are filled with knots
aud terribly Insecure. Everywhere there
is evidence of unsatisfactory work, and
there is an entire absence of footing
courses. The amount involved is eStl-
mated at sum of $4,000.
Copeland e Pierce were the architects
for this extraordinary structure, and their
connection with the matter will be thor
oughly investigated. as well as the actions
of ex-senator W. U, Banks, partner in
the firm of Copeland 81 Pierce, and AS
semblyman Curtis, no was called upon
TO Investigate and reported matters all
right. 1t is also stated that the legislative
committee appointed TO conduct the inyes-
tgaton was not made up of competent
men, in that Senators Everett and Sey-
. mour were interested in building and
BiGgE Taggart and Bennett. the other
members of the committee, had no practl-
cal knowledge of building.
One of the most i'm pOr,ant discoveries in
connection with the matter was made when
DR.. Osborn, resident physician at the
home, started TO dig a place for a coal
cellar in the basement of the laundry
building. Here it was found that the side
walls did not 20 down to the line of the
basement; in fact they were found to ter
inmate a / least two feet above the line. It
can be readily seen from this that the
building is entirely unfit for occupancy.
Lacking all necessary support 1t would be
a very unsafe place to attempt to harbor
old and decrepit people in.
AS to Superintendent Redmond ii is
thought that he should have known if
there was any crooked work going on. as
he has been in command of the home ever
since the first contract was let. But he
has made no sign, and so il is expected
that rigid inquiry will be made into his
conduct and connection, if any. with the
building swinde.
II is understood that Attorney General
Hart will not let matters rest until the
matter has been thoroughly ventil-
ated. He has just had his ewes
opened in the recent Veterans Home
investigation, where the expert architect 5
report showed that il was one thing to
contract to build structure for so much
and quite another thing to build structure
worth that so much. Hart means business
now, and it only remains for the Grand
Jury TO look into the matter, and steps of
a very decided nature will be taken.