The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-08-22
OFFICIAL DEMANDS THE PROOF
Council Orders Alderman of Fourth
Ward to Produce Proof Before Coun-
Gil at it's Next Regular Meeting-En-
gineer Says Charges are False in Toto.

Sensational charges were made
against City Engineer August Baltzer
at the meeting of the common council
on Monday evening and as a result OF
the charges the council will formally
investigate the charges that the city
engineer has been directly interested
in contracts for the sale of pipe to
contractors now laying sewers under
contracts with the common council. The
charges against the city engineer were
made by Alderman James Fi1bin of the
| Fourth ward and under a demand for
an investigation made by the city en-
gineer himself the council directed the
alderman. of the Fourth ward to pre-
sent the proof of his allegations to the
common council at the meeting to be
held on the evening of September 4th.
The display of pyrotechnics which
brought the demand for an investiga.
ton came early in the session of Mon
day evening. Robert Connolly Of Chi
cago had appeared before the council
to defend certain pipe sold to the city
By his company whose office is in Chi
cage, and demand had been made up
on him that the pipe be shipped to Ke-
nosha at once and that it be pipe that
would pass the inspection demanded by
the city. Robert Nelson was said to
have made the contract with the pipe
company in connection with his con-
tract with the city for the laying of a
thirty inch sewer on Avery street.
There has been continued delay on the
work and many pipes shipped to the
| city for the sewer had BEEN condemned
by the city inspectors and by the street
assessment comr4ittee. Connolly had
declared that his contract was with
Nelson and that the pipe shipped had
been of the Number / variety when
| Alderman Filbin arose and pointing
his finger in threatening. attitude
| first at the city engineer and then at
Connolly declared: "The Contract fol-
that pipe was made with George r.
Wade and August Baltzer, and I am
ready to prove this statement by a
mar who stood in the office in Chicago
at the time the contract was made. -
There was a hush followed the charges
of the alderman and City Engineer
Baltzer promptly passed the lie. "That
statement is a lie,'' said the engineer
quivering with emotion. Connolly had
to leave to catch a train and he made
70 further statement, hue sickly
smile played about his lips as he left
the council chamber, and he insisted
that The contract was made with Mel
son and that the pipe had been sold
| to him direct. Later Alderman Rhode
put the question directly to Nelson and
he stated that the contract for the pipe
had been made by him in person at his
home in Racine and that it had been
made with Connolly. Alderman Filbin
charged that the city engineer was also
interested in contract FOR the sale of
brick for the Macomber & Whyte fac
tory buildings.
For some time yelled insinuations
have been made in regard to the con-
nection of the engineer and former AL
derman George R. Wade with materials
| sold to contractors doing work for the
city and most of the members of the
council were decidedly pleased to see
the matter come to a head in order
that the facts in regard to the matter
might be brought out. Alderman FIJI
bin declares that his information was
furnished by one Of the most prom
inent men of the city and that he will
be able to produce proof to the fac.
TO such an extent that the members of
the council will not be left in doubt.
Engineer Baltzer declared that he had
absolutely nothing to do with the sale
of the pipe 10 Nelson and had never
heard Of the contract for the brick TO
the rope concern.
DROWNED AT PAWTUCKET.