Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1922-03-01


tee Of the state legislature, IL
and township officials of Mel
larities in connection with ros
Some County officials Have Criu-
cised This Department Very Sc
verely for Requesting the Legisla-
ture to Pass the Equipment Bill
House Roll S54-l92l Session OF
the Legislature.
We recommended this bill for the
reason that, while we feel that a
large per cent OF the county officials
were honest and doing their best TO
get the most for the money expend-
ed, few were not on the square and
for that reason we considered that
the purchase of equipment should
not be made until bids were received
and price established. The enemies
succeeded in having all Of the pen.
atty clauses stricken from the bill
before it passed. and for that rea-
son il is imperative.
To substantiate our claim that
such law-"was necessary, we here
with submit for your consideration
certain official reports of the pro-
ceedings before the federal trade
commission showing the method oi
conducting business by certain ma
chinery and material firms with
county and township officials in this
and other states.
There seems TO be tendency on
the part Of certain county and town
ship officials to act as agents, either
on a salary or commission basis, for
such machinery, culvert and m :
terial firms doing business in Ne
braska.
The records in Kearney county
disclose that Christian Hove, a
member Of the county board, sold
road machinery and culverts to the
county during 1921. We are in.
formed that he is still representing
the Gallon Iron Works & Manu-
featuring company and serving as
member OF the county board.
A Few Instances.
A township official in Waco town.
ship, York county. Charles Apple.
gate represented the Galion-~Iron
Works & Manufacturing company
during 1919 and 1920. and sold cul.
vcrts and road machinery to the
township of which he was mem
Der.
Township officials Of Rockville
township and Ashton township
Sherman county, sold culverts' and
road machinery to the township
while serving as members of the
township board.
We are informed that ]. P. For.
sythe, a member of the county
board OF Knox county, sells lumber
and culverts to the county.
The above are but few OF the
instances coming to our notice where
officials act as agents or sell to the
county or township. Other methods
are used such as the appointment O.
the father, brother, brother-in-law, OF
some other relative as the local agen
through whom sales are consumated
These conditions are entirely toe
prevalent in this state and sucf
methods should not be allowed tt
continue, and should be strongly
( condemned and not allowed to pre-
Vail.
We wish to especially call you
attention to Docket No. 4S6, Fedora
Trade commission against Galior
IRON Works and Manufacturing
Page l8 shows that w. c. O'Brien
clerk Of Highland township, Adam'
coukty, placed an order with B. Z
Larkabee, salesman. At the bottom
Of the page, Mr.. Larrabee makes tn
statement that there is commission
on tha order. Page lo shows tina
this commission is payable to w. {
j O'Brien Of Juniata. Neb.
Have Paid Them.
Page p shows that an order wa:
placed with Mr.. Larrabee by S. F
Weeks, Scotia, Neb. Page % show;
that Mr.. Weeks was at the TIM
county commissioner of Greele,
county, Nebr\ska. Page % states
Have made arrangements here will
very influential man to turn owe
everything our, way for 5 per cen
on graders and 10 per cent on cul
vert pipe. They won't purchas
anything but our line. ! hope yol
will approve of this arrangement
HAVE PAID THEM" At bottom
of page q, Mr.. Larrabee's daily re
port shows that he paid expenses o
county board of Greeley county t
see grader at Kearney, bought thei
meals, cigars, and show tickets.
Page 26, shows that Herma'
.. Wahi purchased An eight-foot grade
for Saline county. Page II show
that Mr.. Wahl was county commits
sioner OF Saline county, living a
: Western, Neb. Page % reads
Enclosed you will find an orde
from Herman Wahl for Standar
: Premier grader. Mr.. Wahl is goin
: to set it up and demonstrate it bin
self, and if he does he is to reeeiv
$50 when the machine is settled fol
So please make a notation OF this S
that when time for settlement come
there will be no question about /
c You will notice that / have adde
5 SIS to the price and charged him tn
1 freight" Page so reads as follows
a please refer to my letter of April
e in regard to Herman Wahl settin
: up and demonstrating the No. 8 Ent
t grader. Mr.. Wahl has accom-
s plished the fact of setting up an
4 demonstrating this machine SO Ii
j $50 c. M. issued is due him. No
6 when vor get this letter take tho lei
ter OF April 9 out OF the file all