Kansas City journal., 1898-01-11
MEsSRS. BAER AND YoUMANs MAKE
A DETERMINED MOVE.
BOTH FILE POINTED AFFIDAVITS
DISPOSITIONS OF FEIGEL AND FORD
BACK THEM UP.
Public Works Members Enter Denial
of All Charges and Ask Any or
All Who Have Charges to
Make to Come to
the Front.

were accused by H. A. Cain. q blacksmith.
oil accepting city contracts for public work
In violation Of the city charter will demand
the fullest possible investigation of the
charges made against them. From the first
they have denied positively that they have
Lad any pecuniary interest in contracts
awarded by the board of public works. At
to-day's meeting of the board they will pre-
sent affdavits setting out their position,
and declaring unequivocaliy that they Were
not interested in anyone who secured con-
tracts from the board TO do public work.
Contractors Feigel and Ford. who were
said by Cain TO be the straw men used
by Baer and Youmans in getting city con-
tracts for themselves through their connec-
tion with the board of public works, have
also prepared affidayits to refute the
charges.
A resolution will be introduced to-day
asking the appointment of 4 committee by
the council TO fully investigate the charges
1t is the intention OF Youmans and Baer to
give their accusers the widest possible lati-
Jude in order TO set themselves right before
raI PaplG; Iney say they do not wish a
case gone into thoroughly, solely for the
purpose OF setting at rest the many state
ments and rumors that have grown out of
these Statements since the charges were
fled. The afiidavits that will be presented
TO the board at to-days meeting follow:
Affidavit of Mr.. Youmnns.
State of Missouri, County of Jackson, SIS.
George w. foumans. being first duly
sworn, upon his oath, euys. that he has
lived in Kansas City, state of Missouri, for
The last eighteen years past and is a con-
tractor and builder by trade, and that he
cd N be I'd afr lie rs
OF said city by Mayor Jones in April, 1896.
Affiant further says, that since he has
been member of said board Of public
works. he has not had any interest in any
city contracts in any way, manner. shape
or form, directly or indirectly, whatso-
ever. at any time in Kansas City, Missouri.
Neither has he loaned any money TO or for
any person for doing any public or other
work, directly or indirectly. in any way,
shape, or form.
Affiant further states, that George ].
Baer and himself did in June, 1896 take
a contract to build some sewers in the then
city of Westport, Missouri, and did build
city of Westport issued tax bills for the
work to us, part of which were dated Sep
tember L. 1886, and another part dated
November II. 1896. and that is all the sewer
or other public work he has engaged in, in
any form, in Westport, or any other city
or town in the state of Missouri or any
oher state.
Affiant further states that whilst build
ing the Westport sewers, that they George
j. Baer and himself, did employ Z. N: Ford
port sewers. For such services we paid
him the sum of five (S5.o0) dollars per day,
PAID every two weeks, the same any
other employe on the work. while he was
IN our employ as superintendent of the
Westport sewer contract for us.
Afiant further states that on or about
the list of July, 1886, they did borrow Mr..
Ford's horse and buggy and drive out to
Prospect avenue and Brush creek at the
terminus of the extension of the outlet
sewer, OF Westport, Mo-, and that they
We're run into by a lumber wagon on Tur-
key creek bridge and broke said Ford S
buggy, and that they told Ford to have
the same repaired at their expense and
we paid the bill for repairing the buggy
TO Mr.. Ford. We did not know who re-
paired It, whether it was A. H. Cain or
who Is supposed to have made the affi-
davit published in the Times. he does not
know him, whether he was ever in his of
flee or not he can not say: he might have
been in his office when he was out; and
II he ever saw any bills in his desk drawers,
he must have opened the drawers in his
absence, as he always leaves his desk open
when he is out of the office. temporarily,
for an hour or so.
Affiant further states that they bought
of Z. n. Ford at different times, a num-
ber of manhole frames and covers: we also
had his blacksmith sharpen our picks and
drills and make number of manhole lad
Tor the same, and paying him for the
same in cash. Our reason for having him
do this work was because Ford had a first
class man in his employ and had a tenn
porarG shop on his work, and did not
have employment for him all the time
steady on his own work making II handy
for getting our work done promptly, and
by good. reliable man. that made a
specially of that kind of work
Affiant further states that he wants any
and all persons whomsoever contractors
or not contractors. or any newspaper the
Times, World, Star or Journal or any
other person or concern, that knows or
thinks they know anything that in anv wav
would connect him with any public work
in Kansas City. or having any interest
in any way with goods or other things
sold to the city. large or small. to come
forward and file charges and sign their
names TO the same: and he will be ready
at any time and place, before any court
judge or jury, or other tribunal that NAV
be selected by the mayor or common coun-
ell of Kansas City. Mo-. to investigate the
same TO tho entire satisfaction of every
honest, pure-minded. unpreiudiced person
or persons in Kansas City, Mo-, concerned
unconcerned in such investigation or
otherwise. and any contractor that will
come forward and make his statement
good or bad will receive the courteous
treatment by me as he has always received
heretofore, and further affiant sayeth not.
GEO. w. YOUMANS
Sworn TO before r. B. Thornton, notary
public.