The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-04-02

This is the 'Einside' story of the
"Raid that Failed that failed to
jimmy good many thousand dollars
from Kenosha's treasury, with no
thanks to Matthias ], Scholey.
An extraordinary document telling
the tale was brought to light today
from pigeon hole where it had been
gathering dust for some two years
The writing and signatures may go
far, at a most opportune time for the
information of Kenosha's voters, in de-
termining whether, when Mr.. Scholey
was mayor, he was more interested in
serving the people or in making
good' with sewer contractors.
The amazing feature or one of the
amazing features of the document is
that it discloses how Mr.. Scholey at
tempted to exercise the prerogatives
of mayor in April of 1912, several days
after his successful opponent, Dan O..
lf'atls.h -aRolifed aF#Nassaz and mad
been sworn into office.
What was the urgency that required
the retiring and retired executive TO
attempt to continue to exercise pra-
negatives that had passed into the
hands of his successor?
Perhaps the best answer is in the
effort made by Cleary, White and New
man, the contractors, who constructed
the main trunk sewer during Mr..
Scholey's last term, to use the docu-
ment in collecting from Kenosha's tax
payers the tidy little sum of $72,275
and ono cent for extras over aud
above the contract price of $S3 ,309 20.
These contractors, relying upon the
generous acceptance Of their work and
its remarkable array of "extras, +"
were grievously disappointed because
Mayor Head refused to recognize the
act of Mr.. Scholey as of any Official
value.
In consequence of this attitude by
Mayor Head, the contractors did NOT
secure the $72,276 and one cent, which
Mr. Scholey wanted to hand them from
the city's treasury, but were COMPEL al
TO accept $40, 722.S3-or sue, and they
didn't like that idea. Even with the
$14,27717 balance due on their con-
tract price, their total check, includ-
ing extras, came to only $4,000 on
their total claim of $S3,443.1S, saw
ing TO Kenosha of more than $4S,000 :
which Mr.. Scholey was willing to
give away.
Citizens who will cast their ballors
next Tuesday in the mayoralty election
must determine, each for himself, what
was the motive of the street assess
ment committee in rushing to the front
for the sewer contractors.
That particular raid failed, but what
about the next one7
Here, shedding a white light upon
the methods of the last Scholey admin
istration, is the wording of the dis
covered documents:
''The work on the main trunk sewer,
with the exception of certain back fill
ing, which has been delayed because
of the weather, having been completed
to our satisfaction, and the material
furnished for the sewer being up to
specifications, all said work done and
materials furnished to date are here
by approved and accepted.
"Dated, April 18th, 1912.
"To Cleary, White and Newman,
Contractors,
and to
"The City of Kenosha, Wisconsin,
"M. J. Scholey,
august Baltzer,
George R. Wade,
EStreet Assessment Committee. =
Readers will note that the date of
April 10Th was ten days after Mr.
Head had been elected and they further
will remember that Mr.. Head qualified
as mayor about week after his elee.
hon, Thereupou, he became Kenosha 5
executive, since the law specifies that
The mayors incumbency shall begin
when he has been "elected and has
qualified"
Mr.. Head, therefore, was mayor and
Mr.. Scboley was not mayor on April