Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-05
EDWARDS WOULD NOT TELL
Flatly Refuses to Take His Confreres Int
His Confidence,
COST OF HIS BOND WAS A PRIVATE MATTER
Councilmen View with Some suspi-
cion the Guaranty that He Has
Given that He VIII safely
Care for City Money.

There is a good deal Of speculation around
the city hall as to the probable action Of the
city council on the bond of A. G.
Edwards, city treasurer-elect. 1t is well
understood that the majority Of the members
Of the council are disposed to extend Edwards
all the assistance in their power, but there
are several indications that there is pos
sibility of a division in regard to the bond.
Some Of the republican members declare
that Edwards has practiced a positive de-
ceptlon from the first with regard to his
bond. He has always claimed that he had
gilt edged bond ready to produce as soon
as he was elected, but this claim has been
effectually disproved by his desperate efforts
and final failure to give such a bond.
Then there is disposition on the part of
several members to doubt the solidity of
the guarantee bond which Edwards has
finally put up. 1t is well known that one
OF the large guarantee companies would
charge al least $4,000 for sucn bond for two
years and no one expects that Edwards is
putting up any such amount. At the caucus
In Edwards private room before the meet
Ing Tuesday night Edwards was asked point
blank what the bond cost him and with
equal directness he refused to answer. This
secrecy on his part has added to the sus-
picions that already existed and at least
two or three of the majority members pos
itively state that they will not vote to ap-
prove the bond tonight unless the most salts
factory assurances are produced OF the
character of the bond.
That Edwards is not likely to have things
entirely his own way is indicated by the
fact that the bond was not approved that
night Edwards was very anxious to have
the bond approved at once without investiga-
tion and he and his immediate supporters
labored to this end for nearly two hours in
caucus. But they found it impossible to
carry their point and the anxiety of Edwards
to have the bond approved without ref
erence to committee has operated to in
crease the suspicion with which the bond
is regarded. 1t is expected that at leas,
Taylor and Jacobsen of the finance commit
tee will report in favor of the approval of
the bond in any case, but 1t is understood
that Kennard is disposed to go into the mat
ter as far as possible, and he is one of the
members who has declared that they will
not vote for the bond until they are entirely
satisfied. If the committee brings in unan-
imous report there is no question but that
the bond will be approved tonight, but If
kennard should bring in minority report
showing that it is not sound, there is likely
to be vigorous opposition to its ap-
proval.
There is another point in connection with
the approval Of the bond which seems to
have been overlooked by Mr.. Edwards and
his supporters. The ordinance by which the
existing ordinance was amended to allow the
city treasurer to give guaranty bond was
passed Tuesday night 1t will not become law
until it has received the signature of the
mayor. 1t is no certainty that the mayor
will not veto the ordinance or that his veto
Will not be sustained. 1t Is a question
whether the council has the power to accept
a guaranty bond until the existing ordinance
is amended, which will not be until the
amendatory ordinance has either been signed
by the mayor OF passed over his veto. In
case the council should approve the guaranty
bond and the mayor should veto the
ordinance and his veto should be sustained
the council would be in a very embarrassing
pred.cament.