Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-20
names on the petition were all of per-
sons properly qualified according to
the state law
spry on Contest Board.


the state law.
Spry on Contest Board.
Mayor SHUTS asked Alderman Key
hoe as president of the council to take
the chair while the council proceeded
to the choice of man to preside in
the place of the mayor in the contest
court On motion Of Alderman John
son, Alderman Spry was chosen to act
and Mayor SHUTS resumed his seat.
Two Years Ahead Of Contract.
j. w. Scott, contractor on the Finley
avenue sewer was present in person
and stated to the council that he could
not proceed with the work on the Fin
ley avenue sewer unless the city would
consent to allow him 4 per cent on the
city engineers estimate Of the work as
it was completed.
Alderman Keyhoe stated that as the
contractor was already two years
ahead of the contract and furthermore
that as the contract held by Scott was
not drawn according to the original
agreement and that the contract as
held was decidedly to the disadvan-
tage of the city, he was opposed to hav
ing the work continue as suggested.
He stated that the contract was so
drawn that the sewer fund for the next
seven years was completely locked up
and that other more necessary and
important work would have to wait
until the completion of this contract
before it could be carried out.
On motion of Alderman Weiden-
Teller the matter was referred to the
committee of the whole, who are to
appoint meeting with Contractor
Scott and report at the next regular
meeting of the council.
At the suggestion of City Engineer
Allen, Mr.. Scott was allowed $500 on
motion of Alderman Keyhoe for work
done in building catch basins On mo-
ton of Alderman Keyhoe the city clerk
was instructed to draw a warrant in
favor of Mr.. Scott for the interest on
the Finley avenue sewer estimates now
due, amounting to nearly $500, as soon
as the money is received in the proper
fund.
keyhoe Wants to Know.
Alderman Keyhoe stated that he had
been informed that the city assessor
had reported to the county treasurer
the names of number Of persons
who have been running disorderly
houses and that these persons are to
be assessed the county mulct tax for
selling liquor. He wanted to know
on what authority this action had been
taken and whether or not this tax
would permit these places to continue
in defiance Of city laws.
Attorney E. G. Moon, who was pres
ent in the place of City Solicitor M G..
Gilmore, who had been called from the
city, read from the Iowa code show
ing that this was the duty Of the as
SCISSOR He also stated that this mulct
tax if collected would not give the
places the right to. continue the bust
ness of selling liquor but that so long
as they we're in the city limits, the
only possible way for them to continue
legally was to comply with the city's
laws governing the selling of liquor
Mayor Suits suggestively intimated
along that score and the matter was
dropped.
About the Rip-rap.
Alderman Weidenfeller called at
tention to the fact that after advertis.
ing two or three times for bids on the
Des Moines river rip-rapping. no bids
had as yet been secured City En-
gineer Allen was asked to state why in
his opinion no bids hal been received
and he stated that the contractors had
told him that they could not afford to
bio 30 long as the terms of payment
were as they are at present, extending
over a period of five years and with
other undesirable features. The mat
ter was referred to the city engineer
and the city solicitor to devise some
method of payment that would be le-
gal and acceptable to contractors
On motion the council adjourned.
A canning factory is to be establish
cd at Lake CITY