Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1898 — In the Matter of the New Court House. [ARTICLE]

In the Matter of the New Court House.

Why not coin all silver now stored in the treasury vaults, into silver dollars except that portion represented by our standing silver certificates? The political party that has mismanaged the affairs of a state, county or municijiality, will never be exposed by the candidates of that party. The great question with the leaders of the Republican party is how to eliminate the word “coin” and insert the word “gold” in the bonds about to be issued and at the same time save the Republican party from defeat in the fall elections. Greenbacks were good enough for the “boys in blue” from 1861 to 1865 when our national life was imperiled. Would not the same kind of money bo good enough to arm and equip an army, to drive the Spaniards out of Cuba? The “best business interests” represented by Mark Hanna are now accusing the Democratic party of treason. This act of treason was committed by the Democrats when they suggested that an income tax should be levied as one of the means of raising revenue to carry on the war for the freedom of Cuba. The democrats, populists and silver republicans of Oregon have formed a complete fusion on the money question, and nominated a state ticket, giving the populists the governor, attorney-general, state printer and superintendent of public instruction: the democrats the state treasurer, justice of the supreme court, and the congressman from the second district and the secretary of state.

Our friend Clark of the Journal seems very much disturbed on account of the figures we have been giving our readers on the ' total county expenditures. All we ask of the citizens of Jasper county is to investigate the matter for themselves. If any one. of our readers doubt one statement let him send a card to the chief of Bureau of Statistics Indianapolis asking for Bulletin No. 4 and investigate for himself and decide who is misrepresenting the facts in the case. This document is compiled by Republican officials, and as it is an official document, prepared by a sworn official it ought to be reliable. If Brother Clark wishes to enlighten his readers on the subject he can do so by publishing the figures as they appear from this document which is the best of authority.

“Comes now Alfred Grindle -heretofore employed by the board end presents his plans and specifications for said new court house and the board now examines said plans and specifications and after certain corrections in said specifications, both plans and specifications are approved and accepted by the board and ordered placed on file in the auditor’s office and the auditor is directed to prepare notice of letting of contract for the construction of said new court house which is done reading as follows and is ordered published in the Rensselaer Republican and the Democratic Sentinel.” See Commissioners Record io page 208. In the Matter of the New Court House. * ♦ • The notice of the letting of contrAct having been given and not yet expired this]

cause continued, Record io page 226. In the Matter of the New Court House. * ♦ • It is ordered by the board that there be issued for the construction of new court house for Jasper County, bonds to the amount of eighty-two thousands five hundred ($82,500) in denominations to be hereinafter determined that said bonds thirty-two thousand five hundred ($32,500) dollars shall mature July 1, 1921, with the option of payment by the county after July 1, 1911 and fifty thousand ($50,000) dollars thereof, shall mature July 1. 1926 with the option of payment by the county after July 1, 1916, all of said bonds to be dated July 1,1896, and to draw interest at the rate of six per cent per annum payable annually. It is further ordered that the said bonds be advertised to be sold on June 26,1896 at pub - lic sale to the highest bidder the county reserving the right to reject all bids, deemed unsatisfactory and the board now prepare and approves a form of notice which is ordered published in the Rensselaer Republican. Commissioners Record 10 page 227.

In the matter of the new court house. * * * The bids (for the construction of the new court house) must be accompanied by a good and sufficient bond payable to. the state of Indiana with resident freehold surety conditioned, in the sum of forty thousand (S4O- - dollars for the performance of the work and the payment of the debts in accordance with the statutes of the state of Indiana. The building must be erected in accordance with said plans and specifications, the contractors to remove the old building from the sight of the proposed new building and have the right to use such of the material thereof as may be pronounced suitable by the architector commissioners. Commissioners Record 10, Page 238.

In the matter of the new court house. * * * The record now finds that the bids filed with Auditor of said county, bids with bonds are as follows: J. M, Croker & 8r0... .$107,400 J. L. Fatout 105,900 F. Nicholson & Son... 102,000 Schuyler Sigler 99,990 J. E. Gibson & Co 99,900 C. Moses 95,600 John Sultzer 97,553 0. Basseker&Son 94,587.10 C. M. Thayer... 92,300 Heinzman Bros 89,180 The Board finds that the lowest, bid was Heinzman Bros, but the bondsman had not justified that the next lowest bid was by C. M. Thayer but the bondsman thereof had not justified and that the next lowest bid was by C. Basseker & Son whose bonds were certified to be sufficient by the Auditor of Alien county and the Board find that the notice to contractors does not specify in which manner the bonds shall be certified to be good and sufficient and the Board reserves decision of award until tomorrow at one o’clock reserving the right to determine the sufficiency and legality of said bonds at this time and by 'such determination, the letting of the contract for the erection and making of said court house and building investigation which having proven satisfactory the Board now awards said contract to said Heinzman Bros, at and for said -sum of eighty-nine thousand one huiglred and eighty ($89,180) dollars the sum being the lowest bidder thereof. Commissioners Record 10 Page 239-40.