Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-04
MAKE CHARGES OF FRAUD
Former street Supervisor Taylor Ac-
cused of MantpulatiOn of Poll
Tax Money.

The long expected report OF Aldermen
FINLEY and Huber, the committee appointed
to investigate the books and accounts of
former Street Supervisor Taylor, made it's
appearance at the meeting OF the city coun-
ell last night and the charges made by the
committee created quite a sensation. The
report was as follows:
The committee to whom was referred for
investigation the report of G. c. Taylor as
street supervisor of this city, respectfully
reports as follows:
That the time book and the records of the
such condition that IL is very difHcult to
determine what was expended, the number
OF men, who worked for the city or the time
TOR which the men were employed.
HI the accounts were very poorly kept
ana that no satisfactory voucher was taken
dor men en employed upon the streets working
We find upon Investigation that poll tax
MAS ooilected from the following named
Quinn. Mr.. Harrington, residing at 1904
seventh avenue: DR.. Meiner, r. w. Loomis,
Oscar keeline, J, II: schicketanz. A. shontz,
.. X. Shultz, V. Hutchinson, Mr.. Herrtck
and Peter Madison; that each of these men
paid 81 In order 10 have their poll tax
worked out upon the streets. and that Mr..
Taylor gave a receipt for the poll tax, but
that no labor was performed upon the
streets on account thereof.
From our Investigation we are satisfied
that there were several men soliciting poll
tax notices from citizens who are liable TO
pay pol tax: and who presented them TO
MT. Taylor. the street supervisor. and OBJ
tanned from him receipts for labor without
performing any labor, and that they there
upon collected from the persons liable for
the poll tax, and that thereby the city was
deIrauded out Of a large amount Of labor
upon It's streets, by this procedure.
We recommend that the vouchers and re-
port OF the street supervisor be delivered
TO the city clerk, to be by him retained I'M
and we believe we will be able to furnish
the names of the witnesses necessary to
prove that Street Supervisor Taylor on
numerous occasions delivered receipts for
labor performed upon the streets without
having the labor performed, and aut thor
iLeG me persons to whom the receipts were
delivered 70 collect the amount of the poll
tax. and that In different ways the city
was defrauded out of a large amount Of
money. NJ III. TINIEY
G. II. HUBER.
Contractor Wickham succeeded in indu-
cling the city council to grant him a fur
Their extension of time for completing the
paving on Harrison street, and the resolu-
ton providing for the forfeiture OF his con-
tract and holding Wickham and his bonds
men liable for any loss the city might en-
tail from letting a new contract was
shelved. A compromise was effected which
the property owners on Harrison street
who were present said was satisfactory to
them. Wickham agreed to deposit 81, 900
with the city, which is to be forfeited II
he fails to have at least 200, 900 brick on
the street ready for laying by March 1
next and the work completed by Septem-
Der is OF next year. The property owners
present stated that all they desired was a
guarantee that the paving would be laid
some time within the near future.
Final action was taken ON the resolution
calling for the paving OF South Ninth street
between Broadway and First avenue and
the city clerk was instructed to advertise
for bids. This block will be paved with two
courses Of vitrihed brick, as the season is
too far advanced to use concrete for the
base.
Henry Knepher asked for an extension OF
thirty days In which TO complete the gra-
ding Of Fifth avenue on the grounds that
he had experienced trouble In securing
teams. The council, however, took no ac-
ton In the matter.
The contract for repairing the bridge
over Indian creek on North First street
was awarded to c, e. II. Campbell on his
bid OF $3.50. The city engineer was in
structed to report as to the probable cost
OF constructing a new bridge over the creek
at Twenty-third avenue.
The judiciary committee reported that Il
had Investigated the claim OF John w.
Rodefer and had discovered that in June
1888, he secured a judgment against the
city for s4i4.2s, and that there was moth
ing to show that II had ever been paid.
The judgment. which has been drawing 6
per cent interest for over seventeen years.
viii now be paid as soon as the funds are
available.
The assessment for paving against the
property Of DR.. z. /. Woodbury. at the cor
ner OF First avenue and Seventh street was
reduced $3.50. Aldermen Caspar and
Flening protested aud voted against the
assessment being reduced.
The appointment by the mayor Of James
c. Anderson as q member of the police
force WIS confirmed.