The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1915-12-03
SHALL CITY BRING SUIT
TO RECOVER DAMAGES
from Water System COntraCtOrs-Refer-
endam Vote will be Taken
Next tuesday

Because the voters will be called on
to express by their vote at the coming
election. Dec. 7th, whether they want
suit instituted against the water system
contractors to recover damages for fall
ure to comply with their contract, the
following communication and the opin-
ion OF R. w. Nuzum, Spokane attor-
ney employed by the city to investi-
gate the city's rights, and the proba-
bility Of recovery by suit Of the moneys
wrongfully paid Seaman & Quigg, is
hereto appended. II it shall help the
taxpayers OF Leavenworth to arrive at a
satisfactory conclusion so that they
may vote as their judgment dictates,
the reason for the publication will have
been attained:
Editor Leavenworth Echo:
Tuesday evening. Nov. 10th, the
following resolution was passed by the
city council:
Be it Resolved-By the mayor and
city council OF the city Of Leavenworth,
Wash, that the proposition stated be-
low be submitted to vote of the peo-
pie at the general election to be held
on Tuesday, December 7th, 1915
Shall the mayor and city council OF
the city Of Leavenworth, Wash, COM
mence an action in the superior court
of Chelan county, Wash, against Sea-
man & Quigg, contractors, who built
the municipal water system, ct al,
members of the city council at that
time, for the recovery of certain sums
OF money which it is claimed were paid
to them for material which was never
furnished and labor that was never per
formed.
The vote on this proposition follows:
Yeas-Miller, Seeley, Snyder, Wheeler
and Woldenberg. Nays Schubert
and Featherstone. Most of the
voters will remember there was a
bond issue of $4,000 to build
this system, but the contractors,
Seaman and Quigg. did contract
to build complete water system
according to plans and specifications
for the sum of $50, 500. but almost i'm
mediately thereafter (these dates can
be traced at the city clerks ofice) the
contractors reported that it would re
quire 81, 500 more to build perfect
water system, or strangely enough, the
balance OF the bond issue, and yet
within this period the council authorized
the issue of $4,000 worth Of what it
was pleased to call water extension
warrants" I am positive that every
man, woman and child in this city
would like to know what become OF
this money. Consequently this is sub
mitted to the voters for their decision,
and for the benefit of all you will find
submitted the report of Mr.. Nuzum,
the Spokane attorney, for your guidance
in this case.
One Of the Affirmative Voters.
Spokane, Wash, May Is, 1915.
Honorable Mayor and City Council,
Leavenworth. Washington.
Gentlemen have examined the
papers, including the contracts, various
exhibits, proceedings of the city coun-
ell, in the matter OF the water works
contract with Seaman & Quigg, and
beg leave to submit to you my conclu-
sions.
1t appears from the contract and sub
sequsnt contract with reference to ex-
tras' that the total price OF the water
works plant as complete, and in ac-
cordance with the plans and specifca-
tons both originally and Of the letter
of October 9th, 1912, was to be $44,-
600. find no act adopted varying
this by the city or authorized by the
city adopting its variation, excepting
the bridge across the river, which is
provided for under letter Of May 10th,
1912, from Seaman & Quigg, wherein
and whereby they agree that the cost
of the building of said bridge was not
to exceed the sum Of $500. have
no, gone over the full items Of extras"
paid or allowed, IS it seems to me that