Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1905 — DECISION PLEASES TAXPAYERS. [ARTICLE]

DECISION PLEASES TAXPAYERS.

La ports County will Not bo Compelled to Pop tor Poor Roods. Michigan City, Ind., December 31. —The docision of the Supreme Court affirming the decree of Judge Capron, of Marshall Circuit Court, in the case of the commissioners of Laporte county and A. Runyan & Co. against Charles Wolff and others, comprising the Taxpayers League, was received with satisfaction by the taxpayers of this city and three adjacent t jwnships. In the fall of 1901 Runyan & Co., of Alexandria, obtained contracts for building twenty-five miles of macadam roads in this county at a cost of $83,675. It was alleged that the work was being slighted but the County Commissioners gave the firm $45,000 for work said to have been completed. Protests of taxpayers were unavailing and suit was brought to prevent the payment of the remainder of the sum unless the work was done according to specifications. The case was venued to Marshall county. Judge Capron rendered a decree holding that there had been collusion between the County Commissioners and the contractors in slighting the work, and made deductions from the contract price on account of deficiencies amounting to nearly $32,000. The court further decreed that the commissioners be enjoined from paying the amount of the deductions to the contractors, and from accepting improvements unless Runyan <fc Co. should make good the deficiencies of construction by Sept1, 1902. This was not done. Runyan & Co.’s bondsmen, who are said to be responsible citizens of central Indiana, will be held for the costs, which amount to $5,000.