The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-05-08
COME CLOSE TO SETTLEMENT
on Friday Shows His Willingness to
on Friday Brings His Willingness to
Compromise for $4,000 a Claim of
$50, 0oo-Claims to be Settled.

After two hour conference between
the street assessment committee and
Contractor Cleary of the Cleary, White,
Newman Company on Friday a new re-
port was framed to be sent to the
council to secure if possible a settle
ment of all claims of the contracting
company in connection with the build
ing of the trunk sewer. This report
will recommend that the city pay the
company total of $4,000 in full for
all claims against the city. 1t is not
certain that the report will be accept
ed by the city or that it will be &C
ceptable to the company. 1t is, how
ever, very probable that if the city of
fers the company $4,000 in full set
Element that the company will grab the
money and close up al the claims.
Contractor Cleary is anxious to get
his money and get out and for this rea-
son a compromise looks good to him.
At the meeting he showed his bill for
extras amounting to something like
$4,000 and the interest On this amount.
Mr.. Cleary, however, suggested will
ingness to cut this claim in two and
accept 81, 900 in full settlement. He
did not state directly that he would
be willing to give the city receipt in
full on the payment of $4,000 He
strongly urged forty thousand and even
suggested splitting Of the difference
but the committee was set in the
declaration that nothing more than
$4,000 would be recommended to the
council.
Cleary declared that ne was willing
to adopt any reasonable plan for the
settlement of the claims pending
against the company in which the city
is also party. He suggested that all
of these claims be referred to a com
mission composed of Engineer Haley Of
the contracting company, City Attor-
ney John G. Slater and Alderman John
I'll. Hegeman of the street committee.
This plan Of settlement appealed to the
city officials as fair plan and it is
possible that it will be accepted. Mr..
Cleary declared that the company would
pay such claims as were agreed upon
by this commission.
These claims have been pending for
many months and in many of the cases
the company has made no effort to set
tie up. 1t is true the company has
settled many of the minor claims, but
the claims still pending amount to a
considerable sum. Mr.. Cleary suggest
ed to the company that the contractors
would give bond which would insure
the payments of these claims. but this
plan will probably not appeal to the
members of the council. The demand
has been made from the first that the
claims be paid before any money is
paid to the company. The report Of the
street assessment committee will be
ready on Monday evening. The $35 900
suggested in full settlement of the
claims of the contractors is about
$4,000 more than the amount found to
be actually due the company under the
contractor and under written orders
given the contractors by the city en-
gineer.
1t is certain that some Of the extras
claimed by the company would be
awarded in a court action, but the
amount of such awards is decidedly
problematic cal. Mayor Head aud the
members of the committee seem to be-
Iieve that this is the time to make al
settlement and that the $4,000 offered
is one fair to the city and to the con-
tractors.