The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-05-01
REFUND Is ASKED
FROM W. BROOKS

From Esidsy,s Daily.
Opposition to the resignation OF
County Surveyor Brooks as engineer
on Ditch No. "a was manifested at
the meeting OF the board of county
commissioners this morning. when a
petition signed by eleven property
owners along the ditch was present
ed to the board
The petition was presented by Ivan
Bowen, attorney for the property
owners, who asked that instead of
allowing Mr.. Brooks to resign, that
he be removed from the position OF
engineer on the ditch. Mr.. Bowen
stated that II was his opinion that ~
Mr.. Brooks was allowed to resign
and II his accounts were found 10 be
incorrect. the county would be liable
to the bonding company. County At
tprney Schmitt denied this fact, al
though he admitted that the proper
ity owners had the right to ask for
/ Mr.. Brooks dismissal.
1 Attorney s. B. Wilson. who is coun-
sci for Mr. Brooks. said that the only
i proposition before the board was
whether or not Mr. Brooks has a
fright to make profit on the men
\ whom he employs in his Office. The
findings OF the committee In regard
i TO his accounts on Ditch No. a."
4 Mr.. Wilson asserted, were known
to Commissioner Davis and to others
before either Mr.. Brooks or myself
were notified OF the results of their
investigation" g.
Denial is Entered.
Mr.. Bowen charged Mr.. Brooks
with resigning from the Office after
he knew that the petition was being
circulated asking for his removal.
This was denied by Mr.. Wilson and
by Mr.. Brooks
There was some heated discussion
2 of the matter, In which some person
al feeling seemed to creep in, and
. finally Attorney Schmitt suggested
J that the matter OF considering ne
petition be laid on the table at least
+ until the afternoon session, and
said that Il was his opinion that spe
; cific charges against Mr.. Brook:
would have to be made against Mr.
u Brooks before any such action wa:
o taken.
s The matter was laid aside, as wa.
n also Mr.. Brooks resignation, and i
a was expected that II would come nj
n some time late this afternoon or 10
U morrow.
o The report of the committee which
investigated the accounts of the en-
y gineer on Ditch No. "a was read b.
e Chairman John II. Hohmann. which
e with Commissioner Evan ]. Davii
r. acted on the committee, and worked
$ with Mr.. Allison, Mr.. Brooks, Mr.
r Wilson. Mr.. Bowen and the count,
r attorney in compiling the report.
e what Report Charged. Is.
The report charged that on the
4 ditch in question Roy II. Allison
e had received from Mr.. Brook;
o s17s.ss, and that the county paid Mr.
3 Brooks for his work SASS. Or
3 Philip Comstock's account he was
D paid s25 on the work. and the coun
{ ty paid Mr.. Brooks $3.50. Pau
Ford received from Mr.. Brooks 81
and Mr. Brooks received from the
J. county for his work ss5. B. II. Gal
e, lagher received from Mr. Brooks
$ s6.16. and Mr.. Brooks received from
+ the county for the time SIS. The
e amount which the COMMITTEES decid
Z ed should be paid back to the county
, by Mr.. Brooks was s2se.32. On mo
: ton of Commissioner Schneeberger
!, seconded by Commissioner Ole X
/ Olson, the report was accepted as
, read and order placed on file.
) Wanted Money Right Away.
j Evan j. Davis then moved that no
!. tice be served on Mr.. Brooks that
this amount, with interest to date,
be paid back to the county by three
o'clock this afternoon. A. NJ. Schnee-
i berger seconded the motion. which
4 carried. Mr. Brooks asked that he
/ be given time to consult his attor.
!, ney In the, matter. No formal action
] vas taken on his request.
Attorney Bowen addressed the COM
missioners and stated that an inyes-
tigation, which. was not altogether
\ authenic had been made, and that
/ Il had been found that Mr.. Brooks
had overcharsed for time of his men
on bitches q. % and 80. The over.
charge on Ditch No. 81 Mr.. Bowen
reported to be s749 on No. 20. 1892,
and on Is II was sss3.25. He re.
quested the board to investigate the
accounts on these bitches. He also
1 thanked the board for the careful
way In which II had investigated the
matter Of Ditch No. "a. rv
Should Co Into Court. Says Wilson.
Mr.. Wilson suggested that the mat
ter be taken into the courts. but
this was objected to. He asserted
that he only thing which was coming
lup for, consideration was whether
Mr. Brooks had a right to make a
profit on his men. and he did not
believe that tae the board of coun-
Lty commissioners had the power to
decide this matter.
However, II was decided to inves-
tigate the accounts on these other
dtches. and the work on going over
1.-THE fndiugs In Ditch No. q was