The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-03-01
West Hammond Board Finds
Shortage of $500 and
Public Documents.
ORDER INVESTIGATION
President Withholds Contract for
Sewer Construction and Con-
tractors $4,000 Bond.

| Several hundred dollars has gone
astray out of the treasury of the viii
lage CT West Hammond Two other
things that are absent from their prop
per custodian are the contract for the
construction of the West Hammond
proposed sewer system and the s25,-
geo bond of the contractor.
The latter two documents can be ac-
counted for. as Peter Max confessed
to having them in his possession, but
the $500 cold cash is missing in the
utmost significance of the term
The meeting Of the board last night
was not altogether a peaceful one of
the little children love one another
character, but pretty orderly for West
Hammond. President Max was in the
chair All of the members We're pres
ent and the only absentee was Village
Attorney Markham, whose children are
sick and who was present in the spirit
If net in the flesh. Attorney Markham
by means of a communication address,
ed to the board and which was read by
the clerk, wanted to call attention to
the absence of the $500 which he said
represents the returns from the seven
tn installment of the old sewer assess
ment
Treasurer Fails TO Account for it.
Joseph Goyke, the village treasurer,
was questioned and failed to account
for 1t so the matter was turned over to
the committee on finance for an i'm
mediate investigation. This is to be-
gin tomorrow. The members of the
committee have hopes Of locating the
money and thus hush up a scandal.
They claim they have confidence in it's
being nothing more than a clerical
error. Goyka himself says the matter
can be Strengthened out without doubt.
After this subject had been dropped
the stormy part of the meeting be-
gan by Alderman Winchowski asking
the board of local improvements when
the new sewerage system was to be
started. Frank Green then took the
floor and explained that the work
would probably be begun at once. but
he was net able to say this positively
as he had only seen the contract once
and then had not read it very care
fully.
1t then developed that since the con-
tract had been signed President Peter
Max instead of leaving it at the village
hail with the clerk for public inspec-
fused to let any one see it.
A motion was made and carried that
Max have the contract at the village
hall this morning and place 1t in the
hands of the clerk. Max said he would
do this, but by noon he had not yet
shown up.
Bond Also in MaIx's Possession.
The $4,000 bond that was given by
Contractor Healy of Chicago, is also in
possession CT Max, when 1t should be
at the clerks Office in the village hall
Max was roundly criticized for with
holding these documents. but resented
the criticism with forfeited language,
Say, who is running the village and
who is president. I'd like to know"
demanded he.
The members laughed ironically and
Max went up in the air.
The board of local improvements was
authorized to see that Contractor Healy
begins work at once. 1t developed that
Healy is In Hot Springs. John Yorck,
one of the aldermen, got up and Of
fered himself as a sacrifice to go to
Hot Springs and bring the man back
with him. This proposal met with
laughter and on motion the meet
ing was closed.