The record-union., 1897-04-06
CHIEF OF POLICE REPORTS.
Says Gambling Games Are Carried On
Behind Closed Doors
And He Has No Authority to Break
Them Down and ForcibIy
Enter.

The City Board of Trustees met IN
regular session last night, Trustees
Leonard, Wachhorst, Kent, Davis, NC
Kay, Deyine. Bentley, Tozer and Pen
nish being present.
The citizens who attend the meetings
of the board and stand up for two OF
three hours listening to the eloquent
addresses of the members, heaved a
sigh of relief and approval as they saw
the six new benches outside the rail-
that had been ordered for their conVe-
nience by the board and no signs OF
Keep off the grass placed beside
them.
On motion of Mckay, the statement
that he had been informed that AS
sistant Engineer Hurd was drunk was
stricken from the minutes, Mckay
stating that he had understood Davis
to say he had been informed so,
whereas Davis said he had stated he
was informed Hurd was asleep He
had investigated and found Mr.. Hurd
never drinks a drop of liquor, and he
wished to make this statement in JUS
tice to him.
T. A w. Shock asked the board to
extend the siX-inch water main from
Twenty sixth to Twenty-eighth street
to protect the electric car barn and the
property adjacent, as there is only a
four-inch main at present, which is in
sufficient in case of a fire, the engines
being so far distant
The Water Committee was instruct
ed to confer with the City Taper and
report to the board
Contractor Campbell stated that he
had always felt interested in the sew
age question and when bids We're ad-
vertised for, he put in a bid, believing
that a great saving could be made by
using electricity. If he had supposed
he would have been involved in a law
suit, he would have added 81 ,0G0 to his
bid, to pay attorneys fees. He sup
posed, however, that when his bond
was approved, all he had to do was to
get to work on April LIST.
That morning he went down to the
plant, but found no engineer there to
turn over the plant to him. He hunt
ed up the Superintendent of Streets.
and shortly afterwards the Mayor and
Superintendent came down and turned
over the plant to him. A day or two
afterwards the Mayor sent him a COM
munication, warning him that he would
enjoin payment of the money on his
contract, which was followed by an
other, warning him not to alter or
change the machinery.
Those who were dealing with him
had been intimidated and Mr. Hall re-
fused to furnish him coal and Mr.
Drew to furnish certain machinery If
the board thought the contract not le-
gal, he wished it to abrogate the con-
tract and advertise again for bids He
thought it could run the plant cheaper
in his way than by steam, but he did
not want to have a lawsuit and did not
feel able to carry the contract at his
own expense until the matter was set
tied in court
Kent said that before the bids were
opened, he had moved to transfer
enough money to the sewer fund to
cover the contract, but the board did
not see fit to transfer that amount, but
transferred a smaller one and before
the contract was adopted over the veto
sufficient additional amount was
transferred. He was satisfied that
electricity is cheapest He moved
that the contract be rescinded and bids
advertised for again and that Mr.
Campbell be paid for running the plant
to date, as the Mayor was willing that
he should be paid, if he did not insist
on carrying out the contract
Davis asked why the Mayor and Su-
perintendent of Streets turned the plant
over to Mr.. Campbell, if the contract
was illegal
Mr.. Campbell said he wanted the
matter settled, as he did not wish to
be hampered at every turn by the May
or, who told him that he would fight
the matter to the bitter end
A general discussion ensued. Bentley
holding that the money was in the
fund before the vote was taken that
adopted the contract over the Mayors
veto. and that it was therefore a valid
contract He moved that the matter
he referred to the Corporation Counsel
to be reported on at a special meeting
tomorrow at , p. m.
Tozer said that the Mayors position
was that the board could not put the
plant out of its control by making q
contract to run it. and the Corporation
Counsel had better be asked to report
on that. as it was a matter of law
Well" said Devine. we will let the
law go and have a little Justice
1t was ordered that the matter be re.
ferred to the Corporation Counsel, and
the meeting be at 3 p. m. to-day.
THIRTY FIRST STREET CANAL.
Devine said the work on the Thirty
first street canal is completed and tbs
PARTIES want their money. The work
had been faithfully done, and he