Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1901 — About Those Brick. [ARTICLE]

About Those Brick.

The quality of the brick placed on the ground by the contractors for paving about the public square haye been coming in for some unfavorable comment during the past few days, it being claimed that they were nothing but “culls,” and not up to specifications. As near as we can learn after sifting the matter down, about the whole source of the fault-finding originated in County Commissioner Abe Halleck, who has a personal spite at the contractors. Abe says the commissioners will not pay for any such brick as those now on the ground, and as Abe is the whole circus when it comes to commissioners’ matters, of course he knows. The brick manufactures were informed of the hitch over the quality of brick and at once informed the contractors that they would pay the expenses of the commissioners and city council to Indianapolis, Brazil (where they are manufactured) and Terre Haute to examine brick used there and convince themselves that these brick were all O. K. Accordingly, Councilmen Spitler and McColly and Honest Abe departed on a junketing trip to those places yesterday, but as Abe had apparently mapped out his program and made up his mind in the matter, it is doubtful if he returns convinced. We are not posted regarding paving brick, but as the public has to pay for this improvement no personal differences between Abe and the contractors should be allowed to enter into the matter of rejecting or accepting those now placed upon the ground—if they are all right and up to specifications, accept them; if not, reject them. We, remember too well Honest Abes star move in having these same contractors tear up some of the walks around the court house square a few years ago, to have any confidence whatever in his honesty of purpose in kicking on the quality of these brick. That little act, which the records show cost the taxpayers of the county several hundred dollars without any corresponding equivelent, was used by Abe as campaign thunder in his race for re-election. He may now be seeking something to confidence the people on again. Abe’s motives will always bear watching.