Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-14
UP TO GRAND Jury
DIRECT STATES ATTORNEY TO
TAKE CHARGE OF CASE
AGAINST PAINTERS UNION
CHIEFS RESPONSIBLE FOR DE.
TENTiON HOMES ALLEGED Ex-
POSE.

With the avowed purpose Of remov-
ing from their colleagues any odium
resulting from the alleged expose OF
Irregularities in connection with the
Detention Home painting contract the
Board OF Supervisors this morning
adopted report eXoneratmg mem
beIs Of the Building Committee, Ar
chitect Jason r Richardson, Jr.. and
Contractor Finneran. of all blame and
clearing them of all charges raised by
representatives OF the local Painters
Union.
The report was not in the form of
an effort to white wash but WAS de
signed more to approve all acts of
the Building Committee against whom
charges were hurled earlier in the
week when Representatives of the
Painters Union opened inslnuated
things in connection with La Sale
County building contractn were not
just as they should be and there were
indications, at least under the surface
OF graft.
Following the report which was
read by Chairman of the Joint Com
mittee, Frank T. Mchey. a resolution
was presented by .Ch/frman NJ. J.
Charley, of the Building Committee,
directing that the States Attorney
proceed with an inquisition into the
allegations OF the Painters Union. II
the statements Of the union men arc
found to be improperly authenticated
as held by the solons indictments for
criminal libel or SANDER will be asked.
Mr.. Charley, after hearing the vim.
dication report Of the Joint committee
took occasion upon the floor to eX-
onerate all connected with him in the
Detention Home work. He stoutly
praised the faithfuness, honor and
reliability of Architect Richardson.
He defended Mr. Finneran as a man
and friend who had always been
upright and straightforward in all his
business dealings, Mr.. Charley spoke
for practically half an hour, during
which time he reviewed the commit
tees experiences in letting contracts
He compared the figures on record
with the charges made by PAINTER Of
ficials that all work was going 10 out
side firms. He said that in the past
five years there had been forty-four
bids for lettings of painting contracts,
one OF which was given to Charles
Begel e. Son while all the others went
went to either Ottawa or Ia Sale
County firms In his comparisons Mr.
Charley said there had been S9n3G
worth Of work let in the county dur
ing that period $500 Of which went
to Mr.. Biegel. All money, he said
was spent for union labor.
As for the re.advertisng for .ho
Detention Home contract he said that
was brought about by an admission
from the first low bidder that he had
not looked well into his figures and
had not thoroly acquainted himself
with the work to he done, which meant
he would have had to proceed at n
great loss Of money At the second
attempt to get the contract let the
job was given to Mr.. Finneran be-
cause he was the most reliable in
the committees notion of the low Did
ders. As for Ottawa painters Mr.
Charley said they had had the lions
share of all the work, getting Sc OS2 50
OF the $12,53G4O worth of painting
done during the five-year period, Tho
$500 job awarded the Biegel firm
was at a public letting when Mr.
biegel was the low bidder
At the final letting of thhe Deten
tlon Homo job bids were submitted
as follows.
Bowermaster ........... sIee,
t'""' ''s.s's.' 11n
In Sale Decorating Co. ... 10o'