Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-18
70 GUT
EXPERTS BILLS
Judiciary Committee of Coun-
Gil Not In Favor of Paying
Them as Presented
WILL RISK THE LITIGATION
Thought That Bill of Professor weems,
of Ames Will Be Cut More Than Half
Those of Macy, Grimes and Francis
Will Also Be Reduoed-Dr. Hoffman's
Considered More Nearly Reasonable.

/ 1t is practically settled fact that
the Judiciary committee OF the city
council will not report to the council
| favorably on the bills of the experts
who were engaged by the health and
sanitation committee. thru its chair
man. Councilman Anthony Psenicka,
of the Fifth ward, to investigate the
| sanitary conditions of the city. The
| committee has held consultation over
the bills, has secured the advice OF
City Solicitor Van Law. and the pros
poets are that it will recommend to
the council that the city run the risk
of litigation rather than pay the bills
as they stand, for the committee con-
siders them exorbitant
! Mr.. Greene. who is member of thu
! committee, has not yet been in con-
sultation with the others, and it is not
known just how he will feel regarding
the matter. He will likely not be at the
adjourned meeting on Monday night,
/ and because of this it is to be presumed
! that the report of the committee will
NV NC 1dSh Stt tltot tihlN. iiS oaiiIA
two members, Messrs. Abbott and In
1 gledue, are not in favor of their pay.
ment, and have agreed on about what
reductions should be made. Before the
report is made Mr.. Greene will be con-
I suited, and then it will be ready for
/ presentation. The members of the
committee, of course are not inclined
| to talk upon the subject until me re-
/ tt,n a
| 1t is understood, however, that the
greatest objection is found to the bill
of Professor j. B. Weems of Iowa State
College, who was brought here to So
cc.e samples and make analyses Of
milk and water. Mr.. Weems bill for
professional services alone is $500, rail
road fare and expenses s14.75. and the
committee thinks that is entirely too
unreasonable. 1t is thought that M.
Weems bill will be cut down to less
than 5000. Professor Eli Grimes. bac-
teriologist of the state board of health.
and Professor S. r. Macy. chemist, who
have filed bills in the sums of 500 and
$50, respectively, are also considered
high. Mr.. Macy only made one trip
and Mr.. Grimes two, and $50 a trip
is little more than the committee fees
the city can afford. Charles Francis. of
Davenport. civil engineer of the state
board of health, has claim of $50. $50
of which is for professional services
and the other $40 for expenses. This
also the committee considers high.
Dr. CHI; les III. Hoffinan's bill Of
s46s is the only one that is thought
to be any where near reasonable, and
it will probably not be cut to any great
extent. The committee takes the staad
that DR.. Hoffman was here for over a
month, spent his time on the ground,
conducting actual Investigations, and
they are more willing to pay for the
results that he obtained. Dr. Hoffman
reduced his bill So day from the
amount usually charged. and made no
entry for the expense he was put to in
providing cultures for his bacteria
logical analyses.
There still seems to be a DISPOSE
ton on the part Of members Of the
council to consider that Councilman
Psenicka overstepped his authority
in hiring so much expert work done.
A resolution Of the council adopted
two or three years ago, is to the effect |
that committee can not incur an ex- |
pense of more than 500 without the
authority of the council. Another is
to the effect that the chairman of the |
committee must not incur expense
without the sanction of the other MEM
bers of the committee. The other two
members Of the health and sanitation
committee, 1t is claimed, knew nothing
of the hiring of SO much expert help
In trying to ascertain the cause of the
typhoid epidemic of last spring, unit.
the help was engaged and on the |
ground. The judiciary committee, it
is safe to say, on the advice of the
city solicitor, thinks the city not liable
in refusing to pay the bills as present.
ed. That is the one question to settle.
the matter of liability but the commit
tee will likely decide to waive that
and cut down the bills. Then, if thos.,
affected think the bills are reasonable,
they will have to collect them thru
process of law.
The bills as presented to the council
as result of the visits Of the experts
to the city, amount to S1,203.23. All
but $1,000 of this amount is in the
claims of the experts themselves. The
S110.50 is due the Pilgrim, for board.
This, of course, will not be contested,
as the hotel has charged it's regular
rates The experts bills, as classified,
are as follows:
S. r. Macy, to visit to
city and inspections of
water works and gen.
eral milk supply ............ $4,000
j. B. Weems, May % to
June %, five days con-
sultatlon and analysis
of twenty-five SAM
pies of water in du-
plicate. and three sam
Piles of milk. twenty
six and two thirds
days at SIS ........ $500. 90
EXpressage on samples ),
of water 1865. ... $40
Fare, three trips to Mar
shalltown and return
at 1926 ........... CTS
Bus fare .. 25
Hotel bills, ten days and
two dinners ......... 4OO-414.7
Eli Grimes, to expert ser
vices in connection
with water eXamina-
ton, two trips ............-100 90
Charles H. Hoffman, one h
days service as ex-
pert ........ ........ 5000
Thirty-four days as
bacteriologist, at $12. .40S 90
Railroad fare and ox. u