Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-14
COUNTY S0L0NS WANT
"DEFAMERS" INDICTED
tContinued from Page ID
The Charley Resolution.

OF the board follows.
Whereas, Edgar Streuyer. Seth
Gregg and Frank Sweger have pre-
scented TO this board d complaint in
writing, making Ce"tain charges
against the building and grounds COM
mittee OF this board. Jason F.. Rich
ardson Jr., architect, and James Fin
neran, in connection with the letting
of certain contract for painting and
decorating at the county detention
home and the performance Of said
contract by said Finneran. said COM
plant being accompanied by sworn
atlidayits of said Edgar Streuyer. Seth
Gregg and Frank Sweger; and
Whereas, Upon investigation Of
said charges by representatives OF
this board to whom same were re-
ferred. it appears thar charges made
in said complaint have not been sub
stantiated therefore belt
RESOLVED by this board, That said
complainants be required to prove the
truth of said charges within thirty
days from this date. and that upon
their failure to do so the states at
tOrney of this county be directed to
proceed against the said Edgar
Streuyer, Seth Greg and Frank
SWeger in such manner as he may
deem best and if possible to procure
their indictment by the grand jury
Of this county,
The Committee Report.
If the board of supervisors had had
It's confidence shaken any by the
painters charges that some Of its
members and employees we're in col.
fusion to pass off inferior workman
ship on public buildings such was not
the case this morning, when unani-
nous support of the committee and
Architect Richardson was asked in
the following report. which passed
without dissenting vote
Your committee, composed of the
building and detention home commit
tee, to which was referred the matter
Of the painting of the detention home
as complained of by an alleged com
mttee OF the Painters Union No. 4G5
Of Ottawa, have carefully and thor
oughly inquired into and considered
the same and report as follows
That they met in joint session and
that there We're present in addition to
the members of the joint committee
Mr. Finnern, who had the contract
Tor the painting OF the detention
home, and also J. c. Richardson Jr.
the county architect. who prepared
the specifications for that painting.
That neither Edgar Struever. vii
liam Wilcox, Seth Gregg nor Franz
Sweger, nor other persons for then
or for. said unionaNo. l6j, appeared
and that there was nothing to suppor
the charges made except the infer
ences that might possibly be draw
from the vague and inconsequentia
atiidavits read before the board on
the 11th inst.
Your committee is at "a loss tC
know why the gentlemen who were
so free in presenting charges reflect
ing on the official conduct of thi,
board, its committees and mos.
capable and trustworthy employ,
failed TO appear before the commit
tee unless it was for the reason tina,
he desired to avoid answering ques
tons showing the degree of credence
if any to be given his statements.
Your committee, upon a careful
reading Of the charges made. founC
That as the representative of Union
400, 1t was demanded that all counb
printing be done by La Sale Counn
Trims and action which would b,
clearly Illegal in case such bidder,
were not the lowest responsible bid
iers, and which would cause an in
Justice TO the people Of this county
who have a RICH. to have their worl
done for the least sum for which ,
responsible contractor would agree Il
do it.
Again, in the charges it is ba,dh
asserted by the alleged committe,
that we are given to understand tha
the county architect is the agent fo,
the contractor for the interior worl
on the court house Evidently thos,
making this statement meant TO hay,
IL understood and believed thai tn,
county architect was the agent O
such contractor but, fearing that sucl
a false statement would be expoeod
sought to avoid responsibility for
their utterances by saying we ar,
given to understand, and agency in
stead Of actually asserting the agency
Because Of these two statement,
your committee would have beer
warranted in reportin back TO yo,
the charges as scandalous. and de
clining to proceed further. but to pre-
vent the spreading of unwarranted
wholly untruthful and scandalous mac
ter they proceeded with the inycstiga
ton
The specifications charged to hay,
been so drawn that no contractor
could bid on them in an inteligent
way were found by us to be clear in
style, simple in expression, exact and
definite in all their terms, as viii