Evening journal., 1908-12-11
VETO DIDN'T STOP
PAYMENT OF BILL
Council and Auditor Disagree
Over Purchase of Ross
Furniture
FORMER CONTENDS ITS
ACTION IS LAWFUL

Believing that Council had not the
authority to purchase the furniture
and other effects used by City Treas
urer Howard ID. Ross in his East Sixth
street Office without first advertising
for bids for supplying the fixtures. City
Auditor Rice sent TO city Council last
night a communication in which he
refused to acknowledge a voucher on
his Office for S20S.50 in payment of the
bill. Discussion on the subject which
followed showed division Of senti-
ment. and when the matter finally got
to a vote Messrs. Higgins and Con-
way. Democrats. voted with six Re
publicans to pay the bill over the audi
tors veto. Messrs. Benson and Lyons
were the only Republican members
TO oppose the action. The vote was 8
10 4.
Payment of the bill over the veto
was opposed on two grounds: That
some of the furniture was unneces-
Eary and that bids for such furniture
should be advertised for, the total
value of the articles, according to
councils inventory being in excess of
$50.
Mr.. Simmons was the first member
said the public building committee had
been directed by Council to make an
inventory and to purchase the effects
which had been done after the COM
mittee had been satisfied that the city
would save money by the transaction.
Mr.. Simmons said all the furniture
was necessary and could not be re-
placed at the price tho committee had
put on It,
Mr.. Lyons remarked that It was not
his understanding that the public
building committee had been author
ICED to make the purchase, but when
he was satisfied after that the COM
mittee had acted within its authority
the member took the stand that some
of the furniture was unnecessary. Sew
eral of the Democrats agreed with him.
Messrs. White. Simmons and Higgins,
however, disagreed with Mr.. Lyons in
the latter contention and further de-
Tended the recommendation Of the
committee. which action, the members
said. had been ratified subsequently
by Council Then a vote on the mo-
tion to pass the bill over the veto was
called and carried.
It came out that the effects, which
were purchased by Mr Ross at the
time he took the office. cost s226.r II
answer TO the charge that Council was
acting beyond the law in buying the
furniture without first advertising fol
bids Il was explained that not one
article on the inventory was costing
the city $50. where as the ordinance
provides for the advertising of bids
for only those city supplies which cost
in exceSs Of that amount
After disposing Of the furniture
question. Council transacted its usual
routine work. Requests for overpaic
taxes went to the proper committee
ports were presented and read. Thai
OF the treasurer showed balance oi
S217S14.56. The collections were:
George IT, Mccall. tax collector. S575;
James II. Morris, collector. s5173S;
Eugene NJ. Sayers, collector. S490.65
Water Department. $4,000; City Engi.
neer Griffith s52s2; Municipal Court
Clerk Sasse. s675.6S; City Auditor Rice
s.. Mr.. Rice. auditor. certified to tho
correctness Of the report.
BY resolution Council recommended
TO the Board Of Park Commissioner.
the purchase of a six acre tract Of lant
adjoining Eden Farl for playground
purposes. 1t was explained that the
money required to purchase the lant
had already been appropriated and thaf
the adoption of the resolution by Coun.
Gil was for the purpose of giving th'
Park Commission legal authority I,
make the purchase.