Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-05-03
OF the Charges Against Those En-
gagged i'm the Construction Of
the High School
ORDERED BY the SCHOOL BOARD
Matt Dunn, w. Roberts. II. &. Depew
J. Greeley, and }. L. Earll
to Investigate.

A letter was presented from f. =.
Letlingwell, the Chicago attorney of the
board. He stated that in the matter of
he $4,000 deposited in lieu of the E3SO0OO
| bonds, which the suspended Merchants
National bank is alleged to ha,o hypothe
Gated in the American Exchange Nation
al bank Of Chicago the attorneys for the
| bank had intimated that satisfactory
compromise would soon be effected.
On motion of Cooper, seconded by
Raban, the county treasurer was re-
quested to transfer 55,2SS.1O from the
special fund to the general fund of the
district, ror the purpose of paying eal
uries of teachers and others. This will
leave 500 in the special fund for the
payment of interest due July l.
Poole stated that it was necessary for
him to resign from the building COM
mittee, as he did not have time to serve.
The resignation was accepted and the
chairman was authorized to appoint his
successor.
The eighth estimate OF Mckay Bros.
on their contract for the high school
building, for 5l,91t.s0, was presented.
Gocks,etter moved that it be paid and
Hanks seconded the motion.
Cooper opposed tho motion. lie re-
peated the charges that had been made
and said that he had no confidence in
Architect White or his figures. Cap
piause). lie had found several errors IN
the architects computations. White
mad counted double corners twice. He
had made a mistake in simple division,
Ou he walls hp :.Ad ,uGcu outside meas
urrmenis
liuimes eaid jUat it was left to the
clerK - cheek uD Whites figures.
iiaoan Eaid II looked like the board
had been running a loan office for the
accommodation Of Mckay Bros, The
board are servants If tAe people anG can
nuG say tine pubic hs damnet." Dan
Mciay said be wHs living up to his con
tract and courieU Investigation. i!DImes
said that he had appointed d committee
last fall, reprrs entirS all cllquee, and
lhat the comm,ite had yielded To certain
influence and refused IL serve.
MS brought Matt Dunn to his feet.
lie said that ne WAS chairman of that
committee and That he wanted Mir.
Holmes to understand that 10 man In
town could influence him. (Applause) J
Much has been said about street rumoTe.
Pointing to Hanks, Dunn said: There
is the first man to cause these street
rumors. A man told him to his face, at
board of trade meeting, that he was
implicated IN dishonest $3.50 deal in
connection with the $4,000 bonds. ]
have done considerable building and
have had dealings with White, ! have
come TO the conclusion that he is not d
safe man to fool with. (Applause.) The
t architect, not the contractor is the man
q that needs over hauling. | have seen d
great deal of stealing since | have been
in this town, and ! WAS never in the ring
q daughter and applause). We need in
|. vestgation. The people are uneasy, ano
v we must have an investigation of this
>, work"
Hanks said that he had been chargec
/, with everything, bat no proof had beei
d auduced. The man that made the
, Charge about the 5 ,-2D0 had made othe
statements, and signed them, too, ant
. afterwards confessed that he didn'
10 know what he was doing.
s ira Myers asked if the original plan
q and specifications had been altered any
Holmes said they were altered before tn
Il contract was let, They were altere'
n after bids had been opened. They wer
e altered at Emerton's suggestion.
II Raban wanted to know what bont
Mckay Bros. gave on their contract TO
the extra foundation. Holmes said tina
they put up a certified check for s25(
Tnls accompanied their bid. 1t was nc
-, based on the value of the contract.
Cooper moved the adoption of pre-
amble and resolutions which he had pre-
r pared. The preamble recitea the charge
v that have been made and it is resolve
~ that committee be appointed to II
" vestigate the charges. The committe
ar is empowered to employ necessary labc
I'D to ascertain the state of the foundation
,e. The county attorney is requested
:. render such assistance to the committt
's- as he may be able. Raban seconded tt
at motion to adopt the resolution.
ca Gockstetter wanted to know VII
.at would pay for the investigation. G.
M 81. Woehner said no taxpayer would b
e'' grudge the amount. He would su
es Hatcher also said he would subscribe
dv such a fund. Cooper said that IL
board should pay. The motion was ca
'o' ried unanimously.
On the question Of allowing the es
in mate, Hanks and Gockstetter were Il
,es only ones voting in the affirmative. III
-, motion was declared lost, and the resi-
'os was received with applause.
rge For members of the Investigate
er- committee Matt Dunn. William Rober
,ev James Greeley and Il. G. Depew we
10 unanimously chosen.
' '.0' For the fifth member Hanks non
ter mated G. F.. Woehner.
ing County Attorney Freeman asked
ar Woehner we're not interested with N
,.o Kay in a stone quarry. Woehner
'iso left the room and his nomination "
the not seconded.
ave Poole nominated A. M. Scott. Sex
declined. He said that he had ne,
hesitated to express the opinion tt
prior to the last election the board "
ful incompetent to transact the business
all the district and, in view of the evenin
,dy proceedings, he was more than ever
I~A