The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-19
BILLS PAID Twice
BY SCHOOL BOARD
Reinsurance Given, However,
That BridwelI and Not
Board Is Loser.
MORE LOOSE METHODS
ARE BROUGHT TO LIGHT
Architects Paid Twice to DO
Work of superintendent of
Buildings.

II developed at the continuation OF
! the investigation Tuesday evening by
the board of education into tho lrrcgu-
laritles in the department of buildings
and grounds, of which George NJ. Bird
we'll is superintendent, that the board,
thanks TO Mr. Brdwcll 5 loose methods,
has been in the habit of paying some
of it's bills twice. Mr.. Bridwell says
however. that he and not the board Is
the heavier loser.
Payable vouchers Nos, 1872 and i9ll.
for the latter part of August and the
first Of September, 1908, show that w.
II. Nichols received payment twice for
the furnishing OF plans for tho superin-
tending of some manual training work,
which, by the way, the supcrlntcndcnts
of buildings and grounds Of board of
education of other cities arc required
TO do themselves, and which the su-
perintcndent here is paid enough TO
do himself in comparison with the sala-
ries of other pcrlntendcnts through
out the country.
Payable voucher 1872, for August,
shows that Nichols received $5l.75 for
the furnishing of these plans. and the
experimenting of the building, while
voucher 4o4l, for September, shows pay
mont again for the same item.
Clear as Mud.
Brdwcll s explanation of how this
occurred was reassuring to nobody but
himself. most Of the blame being laid
upon Nichols, The item was first paid
by the board shortly after the work was
done and then by Mr., Bridwell by
check on his personal account about Sep
fAV,t
l6 when au investigation into Mr..
Bridwell's department was imminent,
Nichols repaid Brldwcll.
Heads nor tails could he made out of
another item Of S54.75 for similar work
performed by Nichols about the same
time and apparently paid for twice,
Mr.. Bridwell making payment by cash
OF check first and the board after
wards, but it appears from tho testi-
mony that Bridwelh has not been reim-
bursed for this item. The loser as vet
is uncertain, but Bridwell is endcaTor-
ing TO make a settlement with Nichols
he said The explanations as 10 how
this came to happen are about as clear
as mud and The building superintend-
emf $ records on the subject are lust as
clear.
Mr., Bridwell admitted in thc item for
50 10 that Nichols has said that he
believed he was being paid twice. and
when he issued The check 10 him he
told hlm TO go 20 the board records and
determine whether he had received
payment before cashing tho check, If
SO, Nichols was 10 return the check 10
him, Bridwell said. The Instructions
were not followed, it was asserted.
Bailey Startles Bridwell.
Mr.. Bailey startled Bridwou bv
forcing him 10 admit that the PAYABLE
voucher, which would have determined
the matter IN minute, was in his
possession when this question arose,
having been retained without warrant
by Mr.. Bridwcll until March of this
year, but Mr., Bridwcll said il never
occurred 10 him to consult this docu-
mcnt.
According to Mr.. Bridvell's own adj.
missions he conducts his private nusi-
ness about as loosely as he has been
running that Of the board, His own
bank book. he said, had been lost for
several weeks. and he didn Z take par.
ticular pains 10 find IL at once, either
AS receipt from Nichols for all the
money nc had ever paid him, Mr. Bird
we'll submitted memorandum showing
the separate amounts, with the dates.
paid Nichols. but this WAS not consid,
cred receipt at all, for the reason that
1T was not signed by Nichols One
check showed that Nichols received the
money the day before the check was
issued
While his brother, r.. j. Bridwell,
was paid union wages for double time,
although he did not belong to the union,
=. H. Evans, the superintendent 8 fore
man, who is union man, received no
double time for overtime, one of the
payable vouchers showed.
The INVESTIGATION will he conlinucd
next Tuesday evening.
Humors feed on humors-the sooner
YOU get rid Of them tho better-Hood 8