The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-08
Fuehring said His Former Partner
Wanted Ii to Help the Republican
Campaign Fund.
STREET SPRINKLING PROFITS
MIR. FUEHRING WAS LOST IN THE
ABSENCE OF HIS BOOKS.
Attorneys and Others wearied by the
Observation-Disclosures VIII he
Continued Tonight.


more or less to do with street sprinkling,
was the sole witness before the Council in
vestigating committee last night. For two
hours and half he was the target for At
torney Noers battery of rapid-fire ques-
tions. At the end of that time Mr. Noel
threw up both hands and in weak voice
signified to Chairman wynne that he was
through with the witness for the nigh. His
interrogatory bullets had rebounded from
the armor of Mr. Fuehring's impenetrabil-
ity He had asked probably Ave hundred
questions and had got probably half dozen
direct answers Noel, the committee. Wis
itors. everybody in the room but Mr.. Fueh-
ring was tired and praying for adjourn
ment.
For two hours and a half Mr.. Noel and
Mr.. Fuehring chased each other in rings
around Robin Hoods barn. The PERFORM
ance was interesting as a psychological
study, but decidedly unsatisfactory. 1t is
doubtful If any information of value TO the
commi.- zee was obtained. Mr.. Noel made a
determined attempt TO ascertain certain i'm
portant facts concerning the alleged COM
bination of sprinkling contractors in past
years, and to find out from Mr. FuC.-ring IL
there had been any profit i'm the sprinkling
contracts for him. but he was met at every
turn with obstacles that eventually wore
him out.
THE ATTORNEYS EFFoRT.>
Attorney Noel did his best to nail Fuesv-
ring to an admission that bidders for the
city's sprinkling contract got together be-
fore bids were submitted. arranged the
districts each was to have and the amount
of each bid TO be made. Starting on this
line of questioning. he said:
lis 1t not true that you. Mr.. Rust, Ken
nington and others got together each year
and divided up the territory?"
Yes replied Fuehring.
Didn't you get together and figure on
the prices?"
No" came the answer without hesita-
ton.
Didn't you admit that Remington, Rust
and the others did that?''
mo. sir 1 never said any such thing"
Didn't you always fix It so that nobody
should bid below a certain hgure?"
mo. it was not necessary to do that"
We'll, Mr. Fuehring. did you not have
to keep up the appearance OF competitive
bidding?"
There was no keeping up OF appear
ances, Mr.. Noel. Each one was always
willing to help out another who got more
than he could take care OF when the con-
tract was let
made each year," insisted Mr.. Noel II
want to know what was done at those
meetings?"
Why we just said for each man 10 bid
as he pleased and IL anybody got more than
he could do someone else was to get part.
That was all we ever said:"
But, Mr.. Fuehring. when you could
make an arrangement to get SIS instead
of s17 or SIS instead of $20 didn't you do
it? Didn't you always nix it up before
hand?"
NO" replied the witness, firmly.
Were you not sure always that you
| could get your own district-district No. o.
whenever yoY w wanted IL.
| Wasn't Ii always fixed up at these meet
ings that Remington was to get the dis
| trict he wanted every time. and you dis
mo. sir. 1t was not"
What did you do at these meetings. Mr..
INSISTED ON LOW BIDS.
WELL 1 always insisted that the bid
| ding should be kept down as low as pos
sible There was always an attempt to
put it up. But 1 always said the bids
| should be made low"
What did you tell them to make the
bids?"
II never told them anything" replied the
witness. imperturbably.
How did you know you could keep the
bidding low unless you knew what they
\ We're going TO bid?"
II did not know. 1 just said the bids
ought TO be as low possible"
Mr. Noel sought to bring out that each
one of the men always associated In
| sprinlxling contracts always had the dis
| trict he lived In II he wanted IL. His Ques-
| tions along this line were equally as una
vailing as those which had gone before.
lis il not true" he asked. that when
]
! fixed what districts each was TO have and
| what amount each to bid?"
! 1T is not. Mr.. Noel.
did you not know in 1902 that you were
to do the sprinkling for Rust & Remington
If they got the contract"
Did you not tell them how low to bidg''
mo. sir. We never did any figuring to-
gether."
Mr. Noel broke of questioning to remark
went TO different corners OF the room in
which they met TO figure separately. The
| satire failed TO pierce Mr.. Fuehring He
simply replied IN the negative without the
shadow of smile.
cit is more natural for a man that lives
| in district TO bid for that district rather
than TO bid for Haughville." said Mr..
Fuehring in answer TO another question
Then attorney Noel trimmed his boat on
another tack. but IL simply. beat up In the
wind without getting anywhere.
lis IL not fact Mr.. Fuehring." he said.
that when competition commenced TO get
hot among the bidders for sprinkling con-
tracts that the districts were made
| larger
SPOKE soRRowFULLY.
"Yes." replied the witness. sorrowuflly.
''but that was all wrong. That should not
have been done by the city. II cut the little
fellows out OF IT,
THE changing from twenty-one 20 six dis-
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