Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1909 — Made Sensational Charge Against Winamae Bridge Co. [ARTICLE]

Made Sensational Charge Against Winamae Bridge Co.

Wallace Marshall, president of the Lafayette Bridge Co., made a sensational charge before the commissioners this week against the Winamac Bridge Co., after that company had been awarded the contract for a bridge in Walker township for $6lO. The bid of the Lafayette - firm was $725. ' At the March term of the commissioners’ court a contract for a bridge in Milroy township was let to the Winamac concern at $1,400. The Lafayette Bridge Co. bid $1,469. The latter firm had bid on bridges before that but was always underbid by other firms. Marshall claimed before the commissioners that he could not understand why the other firm could always underbid him, and that he began an investigation of the matter and found that the Milroy bridge had not been built according to specifications, making a difference of S3OO or $350. He stated that he was willing to sign an affidavit charging the officers of the Winamac Bridge Co. with filing a false claim against the county. The bridge in question has not yet been accepted by the county, although a partial payment has been made thereon. The company jiad a bill filed at this term for the amount Alleged to be still due, but the commissioners continued the bill pending an investigation of the charges. It is the custom to have bridge? constructed under the supervision of the trustee of the township in which the bridge is being erected, and to have his approval of the "work before it is paid for. This was done in this case. It is understood that Marshall charged outside of the court room that the bid of the Winamac Bridge Co. was read at $1,240 at the time of the letting, but when the bid reached the auditor it read $1,400. An examination of the original bid which is on file in the auditor’s office shows no sign of being tampered with, and on. looking at the figures through a strong magnifying glass the paper shows no signs of an erasure, which would have been the case had the figures been changed. The charges will be investigated, however, and if Marshall’s story is found to be true, he will be given an opportunity to make the affidavit.