Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1898 — CAMPAIGN THUNDER. [ARTICLE]

CAMPAIGN THUNDER.

How Commissioner Halleck Made the Court House Yard Contractors Come to Time. The contract for placing coping around the court house yard, grading and building cement walks, was let, so says that notorious official (mis) statement, for $8,300, “to which,” said the misnomer, “about SSO will be added for extra cement.”

As will be remembered, Commissioner Halleck raised a kick about the quality of cement that was being used, and to demonstrate to the people how carefully he was looking after their interests in county matters, the contractors were made (?) to tear up some of the walk and considerable of the coping and same was relaid—we believe in exactly the same quality of cement, which was a fairly good article. ' , .

The matter was taken up by the republican press circle here and commented on to quite an extent. Mr. Halleck was not all backward in giving out that the contractors had been brought to time —principally, of course, through Halleck—and that no “monkey business” would go so long as he (Halleck) remained on the board. This has been used by Mr’. Halleck’s friends —not counting himself— as campaign thunder. Isow, so far as the merits of the job as finally completed and accepted is concerned, we have no serious complaint to make, but we do not think it is any better done than was that which wss ordered torn up. Well, what was the result ? Every dollar’s expense of tearing up the walks and coping, to make campaign thunder for Mr. Halleck—which was all it was done for—has. we understand, been paid for by the county. To substantiate this statement we will call your attention to the following allowances made to the contractors as appear on the record: Amount allowed on contract $1,005.25 “ 1,200.25 “ * 860,25 “ “ - “ 800.25 “ “ “ “ 2,500.25 Whmce “ ‘ l/HKUO Total $8,950.50 Contract price.... 8,800.00

Excess above contract price .$ 050.50 To this should also be added the amount paid by the commissioners for cement used in relaying the walks which were torn up, amounting, we believe, to S2OO or thereabouts. In addition to the above cost of fixing up the yard the pay of the superintendent should be added. We believe he received two dollars per day, and he probably put in about one hundred days. This is how “Abe brought them to time,” although the matter has been kept as quiet as possible, it not, apparently, being thought wise to let the taxpayers know that they were being made to pay for the thunder used by Mr. Haljeck in his campaign for re-election. Ts any taxpayer who reads this has any doubts as to the truth of the matter herein set forth, let him make a few injuries of his neighbors, then go and consult Commissioner’s Record No. 10 at pages 546 and 551, and Record 11 at pages 18, 93, 122, and the latter record for allowance made August 23, and at the September session. We would also desire that the republican press circle here call us down if we are in error as to above figures and statements.