Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-07
BOARD DECIDES
TO PAY AMOUNT
OF JAIL CLAIM
Supervisors Allow Sum of S6,229.1S
TO Contractors on Unfinished
County Building.
PASS BUCK TO TREASURER.
Members OF Former Building Com
nIttee Hope to See Their Per.
souaI Notes Taken Care OF.

NO1lQ 40 so ldI6G- AT present, NE
said. there is but $1,000 that can be
paid out on order. He has $50, coo of
this years taxes now collected. In
few days he will apportion this
sum, giving the county its share,
and NHom funds so provided he will
pay the claims-if nothing happens
In the meantime to prevent it.
There were hints of injunction
Proceedings. but no one had taken
steps in that direction at a late
hour this afternoon. 1t was given
out on apparently good authority
that Bishop Dunno OF the Catholic
diocese of Peoria. in whose name
the building of the Jail on the
square has been fought, would not
intercede.
Mr. Whiteside holds that the in
junction prohibiting payment Of
the contractors claims issued early
in the controversy, is still effective
and the money must come from 9TH
or funds.
In the form that proceedings
have taken the contractors are
made collectors of some $4,000 for
which members of the former Jail
building committee took personal
responsibility by signing notes.
These notes were discounted at 10
cal banks, so the contractors are al
ready compensated to that extent
BY putting the matter in this way,
members of the committee. some of
whom are still serving on the board,
are spared some embarrassment
Delayed TIL Last Moment.
Payment of $16,22918 to various
contractors as the amount due on
Rock Island county's white ele-
phant-the partially completed Jail
west of the court house-was auth
orized at the final session of the
board of supervisors yesterday aft
ernoon.
Delaying consideration of the
matter until the last thing in the
routine of business at the meeting
Just closed, the board members
shortly before noon yesterday voted
to discuss what later developed to
be the report of the Jail building
committee as a committee of the
whole.
From what could be learned, de-
bate over the question waxed warm.
after an hour of wrangling extend
ing until near 1890, an adjourn
ment until l o'clock was taken. At
that time the secret session was re-
sumed, continuing until $3.50.
Arising from a sitting as a COM
heard a resolution offered by Super
visor NJ. o. Griswold, and endorsed
by himself, Supervisors John Lip
Schroeder. Martin Sieyers. Albert
Hofer. Charles S. Kerns. W. n. Phil
lips and C C. Opdycke, members of
the Jail building committee, provid
ing for the payment of the money
said to be due on the unfinished jail
structure.
The aggregate amount of SIX, 229.1S
was apportioned as follows: P. H.
Lorenz. S15,441.23; ". A. Robb
Electrical Co.. S6S74; Channon &
DUfva, $216.95; c. D. McLane.
s502.26.
Treasurer Is Goat.
Cut OF what fund the sum was to
be paid was left by the resolution
to the county treasurer. Whether
the contract between the county
and Lorenz and it's resultant claims
were legal remained doubtful
question. Consequently it was up to
the county treasurer to determine
the legality of payment. and after
that TO determine the lawful fund
from which the money could be
paid. So the board in adopting the
resolution was simply passing the
buck
lawyers Summoned.
During discussion of the subject
as a committee of the whole. legal
advice was sought. c. J. Searle,
special attorney for the county in
the jail litigation of the last three
years. and c. e. Dietz of the firm
Of legal Representatives of LorenZ,
were both called into the meeting.
Each, ii is said, advised the board
members to pay the claims. al
though neither was prepared to
state that the contract between the
county and Lorenz was legal
In the absence Of States Attcr-
ney Floyd E. Thompson, E. L. Eagle,
his assistant. was summoned before
the board. He declared that there
exists the possibility of litigation
following the action recommended
in the resolution. He suggested that
the board submit in writing the
propositions upon which it desired
light. thereby permitting the states
attorney to investigate thoroughly
and render an opinion which would
carry weight
Il do not intend to give any
curbstone opinion which. of neces-
=, ~
yestigation." said Mr.. Eagle. His
suggestion was not adopted.
Following reading of the resolu-
ton of the special Jail committee.
Supervisor Schillinger of Rock Is
land offered an amendment provid-
ing that the money should be paid
from the jail building fund. In this
he was supported by Supervisor
Child of Moline. who led the opposi-
ton to the adoption of the report
SchfIlinger's amendment was lost
by reclamation.
Adopt Resolution.
Supervisor Griswold of Rock Is
land explained that according to the
wording of the resolution, payment
could be made from whichever fund
the county treasurer decided the
money could legally come. The or
iginai report was then adopted, the
vote being, ayes, %; nays, 10; abb
sent. 5. Those who opposed adoption
were Supervisors Child. Daley,
EinfeIdt, Exbom, Johnson, Mowry,
Nichols, Schmid, Searle and
Stroehle. Those a5sen: Young,
-