Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-18
IN HURRY FOR BRIDGE WORK
County Board Rusbos Through Order t. lis
Bridge Contractor.
o%KEEFFES PROTEST ExcrTES CONNOLLY
First District Man Expresses Hope
that NO One VIII suspect
There IL some Kind of
steal on.

81 hope this won't be aired as though
there was some kind of a steal on. l am
tired OF this everlasting insinuating that
the bridge contractor has some kind OF a
brass collar around the commissioners
necks. Let's get down to business and act
like men,"
This declaration by Commissioned Con-
molly at yesterday mornings meeting OF the
county board indicates the amicable and
harmonious spirit in which the democratic
members enter upon the work of 1903. IL
was a retort to the protest Of O'keefe
against the immediate adoption Of a resolu-
tion ordering Robert 2. Drake, bridge con-
tractor, to lengthen two county bridges. one
two miles northeast of Valley and the other
six miles below Elkhorn.
When the resolution was introduced
o'Keefe tried to have its adoption delayed
a week, but Harte said the bridge con-
tractor had his piledriver near there and
ought to be allowed to go ahead with the
work. o'Keene answered 1t was peculiar
the board had not discovered the work was
imperative until the contractor got there
with his machinery and called attention to
1t. He said when the board had inspected
the location 1t had favored filling, instead
of lengthenipg the bridges. Connolly said
the board member had not all so expressed
themselves at that time, but had quietly
"let O'Keeffe have his own way until time
to build" and that to move dirt for filling
would cost % cents per yard.
some ndearinE FERNS.
o'Keefe said he would take the contract
for moving it at 20 cents per yard and pay
for the bridge IL he lost money on it. There
were other endearing remarks, including
Connollys reference to the brass collar.
and then a vote was taken. Mcdonald
passed, but later voted with the others for
adoption, o'Keefe's being the only negative.
Are there any other resolutions? ?" Chair.
man Hofeldt inquired.
O'Keeffe marched to the desk and de-
posted a slip, remarking: Yes, I've got
one, but it's nothing to do with bridges.
It's to make DR.. w. S. White of South
Omaha assistant county physician at his
old salary Of $50 per month, and l hope It
will give some fellows a little rest. They've
been keeping my telephone hot for several
nights now trying to find out~who is to be
appointed"
Connolly smiled a cherubic, engaging
smile and stated 1t gave him great pleasure
to second the motion of his esteemed col
league. The resolution was adopted, Harte
and Mcdonald voting no.
Announcer raining JOD.
There was read and referred to the COM
mittee on court house and jail, with power
to act, the request OF Judge w. W. Sla-
baugh that court room No. 3, which he oc-
cupies, be painted. O'Keeffe raised objec-
ton to this course, declaring bids should
be advertised for. Harte. who is chairman
Of the committee, said he would have va
rious painters make estimates, but that
there is not time now to advertise and get
the work done before the new term opens
February 2. O'Keeffe thought 1t strange
that the matter should demand such imme-
ciate attention on such short notice when
the application could have been filed weeks
ago and said that the county had paid $500
for painting one room without bids being
submitted, whereas one of about the same
size right across the hall had been painted
for 5000 after bids we're called for.
At Saturday mornings meeting the board
awarded contracts to A. Thompson for meat
for the county hospital; Union Pacific
bakery, for bread for the hospital; Paxton
g. Gallagher, for groceries for the county
store; j. P. Meilander, cornmeal and flour
for the county store; Cudahy Packing COM
pany. bacon for the county store; Chicago
Lumber company, piling; Cady Lumber
company, oak and pine; Sunderland Bros,
sewer pipe, cement and sand. The ad-
| journment was until next Saturday at 10
o'clock, as the commissioners of the state
| will be in session here the first of next
week.