The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-01-22
THE TAXES
Continued from page four

SOHllHuCu IONu pdSC Jul
to the rod to finish filling in: In some places it would settle for
a long distance without showing on the serface and the arch would
stand until a team or load came along and then fall in. At places
where the sewer had been tunneled under bitches or crossings, it
was evident that the space had not be filled in at all, for when these
arches got done cavng in there would be such big holes no further
evidence was needed to show the lack of either filling or tamping.
Examples of this kind extended across the court house grounds
where about onethird Of the distance was tunneled. When it
was graded and seeded in fine condition, the waters of irriga-
ton would reach the open or partly open tunnels and cave them in
until the arch at the top fell, and then teams would be employed
to haul in earth to fill the trench, at much expense and much sac
rifce to the finish of the new lawn. This expense and annoyance
continued there during two years.
When the trenches began to cave in was the time to deter
wine whether or not the work had been done right, and to fix the
responsibility. The Inspector had inspected and that probably
bound the city, and yet there were citizens who would have pro-
tested against the manner of b~ackflling if it had not been under
stood that the security bond was in effect to cover lust such risks.
The citizen, then, depended upon the bond. If the work had been
done right the cavng would not have occurred. If the response
blhty rested with the contractors, it was the duty of the city to de-
mand the repairs at the expense of the contractors. That being
arranged for, it would be the duty of the chief of police to keep
account OF the expense of hauling dirt to fill the trenches and
charge it against the bond This was not done. 1t was paid by
the city Just as If it were street work, and much of the hauling
had to be done In winter when it was expensive to break ground
and get dirt During some quarters these bills amounted to humid
REDS OF dollars, and as nobody ever kept track of the amounts, no
demand could be made upon the bond. 1t has been four years
now, and the expense for that has about ceased, but other places
may break in at any time where the ground is hard. Long stretches
OF it had to be broken down with picks or axes where it settled
when the crust was frozen and it was dangerous to leave it until
1t fell In OF itself; so that much of the so called street labor CHARGED
tor hand work should have been taken out of the contractors
security bond.
This paper is not a grand jury and it is not attempting to
INK the responsibility for the cty's losses except so far as the facts
snow tor themselves and in so far as the council assumed the re-
sp.oanablity: They paid an engineer to write a contract for them
winch would be a good guide in constructing a sewer system, and
then when the official who was drawing pay from more than one
source and for work that required his presence in more than one
place at the same time, asked them to advise him as to continuing
Such engagements they told him to continue, knowing that most
OF the backhlEng was being done when he was not on the work.
II was pam to the officials that it was not being tamped nor set
tied with water, and they allowed it to 90 on throuotout the seasor
Wltnout protest. hen when the losses came they paid them out
OF the city treasury instead of exacting it from the bond. Whether
1he hnal results were due to undue influence or neglect of duty or
lack of business ability or lack of moral COURAGE to stand ~ and
enforce the cty's rights after they had been purchased is all left
to the Judgment of the public. In making up your mind on the
SUBJECT you should not forget to ask yourself if you would have
done any better and if you would not, it is your place to school
yourself to better methods or refrain from running for office where
good service and strict attention to duty are demanded.