Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-22
WASTE OF TWENTY THOUSAND
Commissioner 0'KesEe Says County Pays
Too Much for Bridges,
BOARD ORDERS PROMPT INVESTIGATION
south Omahs Member IL Of the Opin-
ion that Contractor Drake En-
Joys an Unwarranted
Margin Of PROFIT.

Commissioner Richard O'Keehe is Of the
opinion that the old boards Of county COM
missioners permitted Robert 2. Drake to
get the best of Douglas county by more
than $4,000 In his bridge building, and he
hade that opinion known at yesterday morn
ing's meeting Of the board by presenting
a resolution calling upon the bridge COM
mittee, Of which he is chairman, to have
a competent engineer inspect the new
bridge at the county poor farm, report on
the merits OF the workmanship and esti-
mate the fair cost Of building such a struc-
turc.
Commissioner Connolly moved the adop-
tion of the resolution, saying: For many
months now we have had this constant talk
about bridges and I wish we could get the
matter cleared up and the talk shut up. BY
all means let's probe the thing, and If there
be a Niger in the woodpile, smoke him out.
II there Isn't any niger let's have peace.
am tired Of this constant hinting." All
members voted aye.
Afterward O'Keeffe said: 81 hadn't in
tended to bring this subject up until after
the Board OF Equalization matters we're
out Of the way, but l understand the con-
Nention this afternoon Is thinking of re-
nominating some Of our men and | wanted
them to know in advance that this matter
would come up"
O'Keene Has Evidence.
O'Keefe is not talking at random and
without preparation, apparently, for he has
his desk piled high with old contracts,
warrants and other documents in evidence.
Among these is a table compiled from the
records Of meetings, showing that between
August IS, 1900, and November 30. 1901,
Drake received Arom the county commits
sloners SAC, 1914 Upon the latter date his
contract was extended to December 81, by
which time he worked in another SIS, 1873. SO,
making a total Of $50, 036.1O OF the $15,-
1852, however. there remains one last in
stallment Of So. 1000 that has not been turned
over to Drake and it is the payment of
this that O'Keeffe is seeking to prevent.
He cites the new bridge at the county
poor farm, showing that according to con-
tract price Of s2S per foot Of span and 500
for tubing the structure, which is ITO feet
span with two approaches Of fifteen feet
each and with eighty feet Of tubing in it,
should have cost S4.752, whereas the
records show, he alleges, that the board
allowed $14, 1922. SO for this same bridge, or
e10,170.69 too much. In contrast he cites
the steel bridge on road IT'D, over the Elk
horn, which is 210 feet long and cost but
$4,000. It was built by a competitor of
the company represented by Drake.
Acts Like Watch Dog.
The remarks that O'Keeffe makes in
opening his bridge fight are pointed. "Will
any one presume to say that a man could
sit on this board while such things wera
going on and not know about 1t? And
then will anybody presume to argue that ]
am entirely blameless IL l sit on the fence
and watch another man steal apples with
out protesting. particularly when 1 have
been especially chosen to watch that same
fruit?
II have been going through the records
for some time and I believe that $40, OOO
would have been a fair price for the bridge
work that Drake has charged the county
$50, 900 for. In this investigation at the
poor farm bridge l would be glad to see
not one. but three engineers act. For
instance, the county. the city and a third
engineer to be chosen by them"
The commissioners adjourned until next
Saturday morning. They will sit through
the week as a board of equalization.