Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-10
HOW MACLEOD KEPT BOOKS
He Declares His Duties Left Him No Time
to Keep Records,
EXPLANATIONS OF ALLEGED oveRCHARGES
Mr. Elgutter's Testimony as to tho super
intendent's Ordering Repairs Made
without Authority-The Fourth
speculation Reached.

SpeCCtttatton Reached.
At the meeting Of the Macleod investigat-
ing committee last night MIR. Macleod was
given an opportunity to defend himself on
the charge of purchasing materials without
due authority from the board. Secretary
Gillian was called to the stand by the de-
Tense and stated that he had found no in
stances of overcharges in the November bills.
Frank l.. Fitchett Of the Hoagland Lum-
Der company was called to explain the over
charges in bills of lumber, mentioned by Mr..
Gillian in his testimony the night before. In
ono case the witness said that the extra
charge was because the lumber delivered
was carefully selected and was worth much
more than ordinary lumber of that grade.
Mr.. Eitchett thought hat MIR. Macleod
had been a very good officer for the board,
as he had been very particular in getting tho
right kind of lumber.
Macleod speaks for himself.
Mr.. Macleod then took the stand on his
own behalf. He said that he had never
been furnished with a COPY of the resolution
passed April Il. He had no recollection,of
having ever seen such n resolution. When
he first took the Office of superintendent he
had been furnished with "a copy of tho rules
and had never been notified that there had
Dcpn any changes mdue. Az the request OF
his attorney the witness went into an eX-
haustive description of the amount of work
he had done in order to show that he did not
have time to come TO the secretary of the
board for an order wnen he wanted ma
terials. lie had always kept a record Of
everything ho ordered, and when the mater
ial was delivered 1T was checked of to be
sure that there was no mistake. If he had
come to the secretary for orders every time
he wanted materials it would have delayed
the work three or four weeks.
On cross examination MIR. Macleod adj
mitted that he had been furnished with
blanks for ordering materials by Secretary
Gillian, but he had not used them because he
did not consider them suitable.
John Widner was called to explain the
extra charge on n flight of steps which Sec
rotary Gillian had mentioned. Widner said
that the bill was too high because he had
supposed that the steps were inside of the
building and had put in a bill for more eX-
pensivc material than was used. When he
found out that cheaper material had been
used he had reduced the bill accordingly.
Charles Conn, Macleod's foreman, con-
tirmed the statement of his superior that 1t
was impossible to take time TO obtain orders
from the secretary for the material to be
used in school work.
Kept but One Book.
This ended the testimony on the first
charge and the second was taken up. This
VI " h1SD " 81
of books containing records of all the tran
s~actions of his office, stating the names
wages and time employed of all workmen
and on account of all materials received By
him and the disposition of the same"
Secretary Gillian was called to state what
books had been kept by the superintendent
of buildings. He said that Macleod had
kept a book containing a record of the time
and wages of workmen, but that was tn,
only one he knew of. A book had been pro
NilaI for pn min ~ ,.apptn nf all Ia hnp anI
materials. This had been lying on a table
in Macleod's Office for n long time. The wit
ness had on one occasion told Macleod tina
he would probably hear an objection somt
time because he did not keep the required
record, but the superintendent replied tina
he did not have time to keep books and at
tend to his work, too.
Macleod then went on the stand and SAT-
that he had not used the book because Mr.
Conoyer had told him that it had been triet
by a former superintendent and found worth
less. AS far as materials were concerned h
thought that the bills he turned over to tn
secretary were a sufficient record. He ha'
no record in his Office of the distribution o
materials.
This ended the testimony on the secon'
specification and the third was considered
This charges the superintendent with max
ing expenditures and mourning large IL
debtedness for labor and material in repair
ing school buildings without authority @
| IlS ipoatu Va lsN INV oLiI - '
law, said expenditures having been chietl
incurred in and about the following schot
buildings: The High school, the Cas-
New Central, Park, Webster, Vintor
Lothrop. Mason. Leavenworth and Kellol
schools"
DIR. Duryea's OBJ lection.
DIR. Duryea objected to the specification
claiming hat it was too general in il
character. Mr.. Elgutter replied tina
although such an objection would CON
more properly from the defense he coul
make the charge as definite as was desired
The facts were that over s., 900 had bee
expended for repairs on seven building
within Il few months and most of this will
out authority from the board. To find o.
how and why this money was expended wa
the purpose of this Investigation. Sinl
January /, 1898, Macleod had spent owe
$4,000 for repairs, exclusive of the new wor
for which appropriations had been made I
the board. Fully one-third of this amour
had been spent without authority.
After som further argument the men
bers of the committee put their heads +
gether in II corner and decided that IL
specification should be amended so as
specify more definitely the dates when tn
alleged expenditures were made.
The fourth specification was taken |
which charges the superintendent with ha,
ing ignored the instructions of the commi
tee on buildings and property and the res
lutiOns of the board, especially the resol
lions passed Narch Z, lnstructinS MN not
make expenditures for repairs without u
authority of the committee.
Mr.. EIgutler's Accusations.
Mr.. Elgutter of the committee on bull
ings and property, was the first witness {
this charge. He said that in February NJ
Macleod had reported that the wat er pip
in the Webster school had been damage
by the frost and asked permi
sion to make repairs. He WI
directed TO MAKE temporary repairs. Ma
leod wen on and made permanent repai
costing nearly S4OO. Upon this the commit,
served notice on the superintendent tn
/, thereafter he should make no repairs wit
out instructions from the committee.
/, cases of emergency, however, he cot
act on his " responsibility as lol
, as the amount expended did not exceed s.
MIR. Macleod was present when this acti
, was taken and was notified of IL.
The committee at this point adjourn
until Monday evening.