The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-01-27

succeeding remarks Of the speaker
y. V. Hannaacroft. the West Harri
son avenue druggist scored the first
touchdown of the evening in referring
to the ALLEGED inegality OF the sewer
assessment IF the assessment Is III
legal" said he. Il am in favor of prob
ing the matter from the very beginning
and II need be TO carry a Jest case to
the supreme Sourt Of the United
States Mr.. Hannancroft was loudly
lcheered.
The club room by this time was q
seething jam Of people md the ho'
way was packed with others trying to
gain an entrance A clamor was rails
ed for more room whereupon j nj
Brooks invited the crowd to adjourn
TO his opera house where all the pro
itestors might be accommodate. The
suggestion was adopted and the crowd
adjourned to the opera house when the
proceedings were resumed.
Alderman lille Again.
Alderman Lille was the first to take
the floor at the opera house and ignor-
ing the volley Of Kisses that greeted
him. he sought to explain his previous
statement as to the motive actuating
the city council in knowingly letting
the lateral contract at an exhorbitant
figure He insisted that bids for the
contract had been publicly advertised
and that the contract was let to the
lowest bidder Those who did not
want sewerage had been given ample
opportunity to enter protest, he seid.
and the mayor had withheld his ap-
provaI Of the contract for as long as
ten days for that very purpose THE
contract was probably let at too high
figure, but so far as knew the
counc'i acted to the best Of their
knowledge in this matter
In the course Of his romarks ,lr.
Lille was frequently interrupted with
questions. chiefly concerning the 25
per cent penalty for non-payment Of
the sewer assessment within the speci-
fed period, which penalty, it was all
mitted. was to further enrich the con-
tractor and his profitsharing associ-
ates.
Alderman Spencer. during the even
ing, added a bit Of refreshing testi-
mony as 20 the keenness Of the city al
ministratson in protecting the interests
of the tax payers. In explaining the
nearly 100 per cent increased cost of
the laterals over the main sewer. he
said that the contractor had lost about
"a 900 on the main sewer contract and
that the council had permitted him TO
recoup these losses by adding to the
price on the laterals, statement that
again provoked the crowd to jeers and
cries of Il told you sor' That's the
Niger in the woodpile!" etc.
Lille is Flatly contradicted.
\ william Wilson, property owner
on Second street, stated that he had
gone TO different city officials TO as
certain what the amount of his as
sessment would be- and that in every
instance he was told that the amount
ieould not be ascertained until the
lateral work was completed. This
statement by Mr. Wilson hatly contra
dicted Mr. Lilies assertion that the
property owner could have ascertain
ed ths amount OF his assessment in al,
vance by inquiglng at the city clerks
office.
Harry Thurston discussed the ques
ton from a legal standpoint urging
that the contract, especially 'iN pen
atty clause, was illegal on which
noiat II. C. Olds took is0ue with the
speaker. declaring that under recent
decision Of the supreme court the con-
tract was entirely legal unless Il
could be shown that the contractor haa
not followed the profie OF the city ea.
glneer
City Attorney Closely Questioned.
City Attorney Hcpburne was present
and being called for addressed the
"kiokers" from one of The boxes. His
apparent candor and franRness at the
start made a good impression upon his
hearers. but towards the close under
O rattliug yolley of questions. tire
speaker began to hesitate end in sev.
eral Instances contradicte1 statements
J made uy Alderman Lille He said
that the figures named in the con
tract were no doubt too high bat In
sisted that with one exception the law
had been closely adhere to in letting