The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-05-26
ALvA WILL TRY
ANOTHER PLAN
Judge Beauchamp's Decision
Gave Satisfaction
OPENS ANOTHER METHOD
County Commissioners VIII
Leave No Loophole.

Alva, o. T, May 25.-The Pioneer. dis
cussing Judge Beauchamp's decision en-
joining the treasurer from paying out
money on existing contracts in the county
| court house affair says:
Judge Beauchamp's decision Saturday
in the court house suit. is accepted by all
| who heard the testimony, as fair and i'm
partial, and it is generally conceded that
! it has opened the way for the completion
| of the court house without further legal
| complications.
Right here we had hoped TO give YER
batim the judges decision, and the tes-
| timony of the witnesses proving that
| County Attorney Martin approved the
contract before work was begun on the
building, but the court stenographer has
not yet made a copy, hence we failed
TO get it.
! However, the judge said that the COM
missioners had absolute power to levy
not exceeding mills per year on every
dollars valuation in the county Tor the
purpose of erecting a court house, and
! they were authorized by law to build it
under the rental plan. He said that in
this magnificent county with a valuation
| OF 3o.OVjsvJD a ldN levy Oh iiliIl
pay for the court house in ten years.
He said. further, that the evidence in
the case didn't sustain the charge of the
county attorney that the cost of this
building was exorbitant. The estimates
made by different architects and builders
on the witness stand varied from $500 to
sSS 600, and that TO concede the building to
be worth $4,000 and that money was worth
10 per cent per annum, the contractor
would only get $780, 600 in ten years. not
calculating any profit in constructing the
building
The judge said it was his opinion that
the commissioners should have adver-
tised for bids and also made a special
tax levy, hence he would enjoin the
county treasurer from paying anything on
this contract. But he pointed out very
plainly way in which they could pro-
ceed to build the court house.
1t has not yet been decided whether
or not an appeal Will be taken to the
supreme court. But many lawyers htink
different from the judge as to adver-
tising for bids.
There was a crowded house at the meet
ing last night and every phase of the
court house situation was discussed to
the satisfaction of all
There has never been any intention II
trying to build a court house in an il
legal manner, but the best of lawyers
differ on the meaning of the law. The
contract under which this court house
was started was practically a copy of
the Woodward contract. That was not
called in question, hence no judge had
passed on the legality of the contract.
The commissioners will advertise. for
bids, make the required levy al pro-
ceed; and it is needless to say they WIZ
not leave any legal bars down again in
their deliberations.
Mr.. Bofils. who has the old contract,
made a good talk that satisfied his
hearers that he only expected to make
the customary per cent on his money
invested
Arrangements viii be made as soon as
possible TO proceed with the construction
of the court house, and before snow flies
next fall Woods county will have the
best court house in Oklahoma.
America s Greatest Medicine is Hood 6 ]