The herald., 1898-04-10
EXPENSIVE EXPERTS
THEIR BILLS WILL ALL BE PAID
NEVERTHELESS
INSURANCE PROCRASTINATI0N
More Pumping Cable Recommends
tions-Cash Collections-Audit-
or's Balances-Contractor

The finance committee had before 1t yes
terday among other matters, the demands
of the four consulting engineers of the city
for $S25 each for services rendered as ex-
perts before the court during the recen
water case. It will be remembered tina Il
the demands were laid over last week be-
cause they seemed at variance with the
rate to be allowed according to the terms
OF their contract with the city. This doc
ument provides payment of $3.50 to each
engineer for services dn preparing the
case and $25 additional for each and every
day In court. The $3.50 fee to each of the
engineers has been paid, but the $S25 addi-
tional to each engineer was in question.
The bills as made out show but twenty
two days actually In court. while eleven
days additional were itemized as water
measurements" Consultations" etc.
City Attorney Dunn appeared before the
committee. He explained that many of
the days not itemized as 'in court" were
partially spent there. as In case of those
days when adjournment was taken be-
cause of Attorney Copeland's illness. On
these particular days the engineers spent
the balance Of the day in examining vari-
GUS details along the river or In sys temat tiz-
According to Mr.. Dunn there were but
eeyen days which could not be strictly In
cluded under the terms of the contract,
though these were days when the en-
gineers were hardest at work under the
direction of himself and City Engineer
Dockweiler. During these seven days they
were engaged In getting evidence on points
raised by the opposition, which work could
not have been anticipated.
Mr. Dunn requested liberal treatment Of
the engineers. who had given valuable time
and valuable services to the city. They
would have been better paid, he said, by
the water company. and all had received
offers from the company. He called at
tention. further. to the fact that these
same engineers. with one exception, had
served the city in the Pomeroy- Hooker
case. That case was one which it was sup
posed would be settled in few days, and
the engineers were to get $3.50 for their
services. Instead Of few days the case
heightened out into six weeks session.
and for all that time the engineers re-
ceived no additional allowance
The committee finally decided to allow
all but seven days to each of the en-
gineers. according to the contract. For
these days additional demands were or
dered presented, to be approved by the
city attorney and city engineer, when they,
too. will be recommended for payment.
The question Of insuring the city's prop
erty was taken up. There is $54, 900 insur-
ance to be placed. 1t is probable that
S25,000 Of this will be placed with the North
western National company Of Milwaukee,
which company offered a reduced rate of
80 cents hundred. The balance will doubt
less be divided among six other bidders.
Tie Northwestern does not offer to handle
more than $4,000 of the entire amount.
While no Rublic recommendation was ar
rived at in this matter by the committee,
report will be ready for the council Mon
day morning.