The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-03-19
BOOKS REVEAL
DEALS MADE
BY OFFICIALS
Thousands of Dollars Worth
of Business Secured BY
Larson and French
FACTS DISCLOSE
Law Firm of City Attorney
Figures in Civil Suit
Against Bismarck

Nearly $4,000 worth of lumber,
cement and other supplies were sold
by the Carpenter Lumber Company
to one contractor for use in the con-
struction Of the city water works
plant. This same contractor also
bought nearly $1,000 worth of hard
ware and other supplies from the
French 4 Welch Company for city
water works construction. These
indisputable facts are revealed by
the books of that contractor Here
are sales amounting to nearly $685.
600 made by the Carpenter Lumber
Company and the French & Welch
Company to one contractor alone,
and there were six contracts made
by the city for the construction of
the new water works plant and the
laying Of water mains. These six
contracts, the diesel engine and 9TH
er equipment involve an expendi-
ture of over 100000 for water
works purposes, most of which has
already been paid out by the city.
How many dollars worth of goods
the other five contractors bought
from these same firms can only be
revealed by the books of the con-
tractors or the Carpenter Lumber
Company and French 4 Welch Com
pany.
From the very nature of the other
contracts, it was necessary for some
OF these contractors to purchase
lumber, cement and hardware.
Commissioner John A. Larson is
the manager Of the local branch Of
the Carpenter Lumber Company also
treasurer Of the Bismarck school
board, and Commissioner w. A.
French is the president and manager
of the French & Welch Hardware
Company, each of whom sold goods
to a contractor who had contract
with the city for construction work.
Last Saturday, the Tribune pub
lished story showing how the Car
penter Lumber Company sued the
Woodrich Construction Company for
$3,9O9.5O and brought garnishment
proceedings against the city of Bis
marck for this sum. The attorneys
for the lumber company in the suit
and garnishment proceedings are
Newton, Dullam and Young. City
Attorney c. L. Young, who is pre-
sumed to protect the interests of
the city of Bismarck in these gar
nishment suits is member of the
law firm bringing one of these pro-
ceedings. In his return or affidavit
of liability in the garnishment mat
ter City Auditor NJ. H. Atkinson
admits that the city of Bismarck is
liable in a sum not to exceed $4,000
subject to the defense of the city
of Bismarck that the Woodrich
Construction Company has not prop
erly completed its contract. 1t was
also shown that French E. Welch
Company sued the construction COM
pany for balance on account
amounting to $62S.11, and also
brought garnishment proceedings
against the city of Bismarck there
on. French & Welch are represent
ed by the law firm of O'Hare & Cox.
Comment has been made on the
fact that the present city attorney,
c. L. Young, and former city attor-
ney, H. F. O'Hare, are very actively
engaged in the political campaign to
elect A. P. Lenhart and his ticket
to office at the/ ensuing city elec-
tion.
Where do the taxpayers get their
protection?
It is up to you Mr.. Voter to en-
dorse or rebuke at the polls, April
z, this manner of doing business.