The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-11-03
DUBUQUE MUST PAY
$4,000 FOR GOAL
NOW IN ASH HEAP
Thieving From Municipal Plant
Caused Litigation Which Is
Now Decided.

Dubuque To-, Oct. 29.-What Is prob
ably the last chapter In the legal pro-
ceedings that grew out OF the water
works scandal In Dubuque was writ
ten by the supreme court yesterday.
when the decision In the case Of the
Martin Strelau company against the
city Of Dubuque was affirmed.
The Judgment was In favor OF the
coal and wood firm Of Martin Strelau.
who sued the city of Dubuque for $42.-
600, alleged to be due for coal pur-
chased by the old trustees of the mu-
nicipally wsterworks. Judg-
ment was given for the full amount.
This was at the May term of the dis
trict court in 1908. From this verdict
an appeal was taken.
Story of tho Trick.
The city of Dubuque took over the
then privately owned city waterworks
plant In 1900, paying the large sum OF
$545,000. For some years the affairs
of the plant ran comparatively smooth
ly. Along in 1906 trouble began to de-
velop. The trustees made regular
quarterly reports, always showing q
balance on the right SIDE Of the ledger.
but II developed later that this was
made possible by recourse to certain
tricks familiar to every bookkeeper. III
the cash on hand was not up to stand
ard 1t was always explained by large
eASShS~SSN ~-~~~"'S~'
etc.
Truth Leaks Out.
Finally 1t leaked out that a coal bill
OF large proportions was owing. This
account which had been covered up for
some time, was first announced as
$4,000. 1t afterwards grew as the
facts became known. The public de-
factory one was not forthcoming. The
Municipal league began an investiga-
ton and gross Irregularities were un-
earthed. Actual thieving was brought
to the surface. The plant was In
demoralized condition. Favored ones
were far behind in the payment OF
rentals; the books were In a muddied
state. One Of the cash books was miss
ing and the coal records were not to
be found. Cash that was accredited as
on hand was missing. The investiga-
ton finally resulted in the arrest and
conviction of one man and the indict-
ment of second. The trustees were
shown to be at least guilty OF gross
violation Of their public trust.
Three Trustees Bounced.
Two of the trustees resigned. The
law under which the municipality
owned plant operated needed revision
before the third could be forced out.
The law was revised through the eff
forts of the Municipal league. The
third trustee quit and when the new
board was appointed 1t. in compliance
with the revised law, entered upon Its
service without remuneration. The
plant from that time on has been run
on a business basis and has been
success from every viewpoint.
There are still other claims against
the city OF the same general nature,
which have been aw. Ting the decision
Of the coal case and which. It is pre-
sumed. will now be pressed.
SECRETARY WILSON SPEAKS
IN IOWA CAMPAIGN
Atlantic, Ia. Oct. 29.-HOn. James
Wilson, OF Tama, secretary OF agricul-
dressed a political meeting here last
evening. He Is accompanied by his
daughter Miss Flora Wilson. who In
response to many requests sang at the
meeting Miss Wilson Is singer OF
reputation. having been educated I'm
the state agricultural college at Ames,
where her father was once professor
and had four years musical training
abroad.
In discussing matters concerning his
home state Mr.. Wilson said he believed
Iowa was still the gem of the union.
He highly complimented the good roads
movement which has been advanced in
this state.
Mr.. Wilson says that the good roads
movem emit Is one that Is bound to grow
and believes the presen' movement will
gradually develop in future years into
the building Of permanent highways
such as are now constructed I'm the
east.
Another great movement in which
Mr.. Wilson is enthusiastic Is the agri-
cultural extension work being done In
this state.
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