Shiner Gazette. (Shiner, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 3, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 16, 1897 Page: 4 of 8
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TH© •*• GSZ6TTE.
Published every Wednesday by
C. W. WARD,
SUBSCRIPTION RATES':
One Year, postpaid, - - - -
$1.09
E.itered at the Shiner. Texas, Post-
<o£8ee as second-class matter.
BIIIISR, TEX., WED.-, HJlIE18, 1897.
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The Court House and
Vault Question.
Inasmuch as Commissioner J.
D. A. Meyer has seen fit in an
article in the Gazette of Jane 2,
to make an effort to clear his skirts
fey muddying mine, a proper re-
spect for the readers of your paper
demands that I reply to said
article.
In the first place Mr. Meyer has
failed to confine himself to facts in
his article and has drawn on his
Imagination to a considerable ex-
tent, stating that which suited his
side of the case and leaving unsaid
that which is to his disadvantage.
After looking for some time at
the plans prepared by Architect
Heiner and discussing same, Com-
missioner Gleckler made a motion
to adopt a certain plan, which the
architect said would cost $65,000
to $70,000; his motion was duly
seconded, and then discussed, each
commissioner and Mr. Heiner be-
ing heard on the subject, as is evi-
denced by what Mr. Meyer says
was said then and there, although
he now asserts that there was no
discussion. And his $100,000 debt
imagination is also produced by his
fertile brain, because it was dis-
tinctly understood that the limit
was to be $80,000, lock, stock and
barrel.
It is true that no one objected to
Mr. Meyer’s request that the Die-
bold Safe & Lock Company’s agent
prepare a set of plans for a steel
vault, but it was not decided that
a steel vault was tube built, nor
that said company was to have the
contract were it later decided to
build one. but on the contrary it
was decided that if was advisable
to take bids not only for a house
complete, but also for a steel vault,
in order to determine the cost of
each kind of vault. If Commis-
sioner Gleckler, as Sir. Meyer now
says, desired to change his vote on
the adoption of the plan, he cer-
tainly could have done so, and the
architect would not have been in-
structed to prepare the specifica-
tions.
When the court met again on the
21st of April for the purpose of
looking at tile specifications pre-
pared by Mr. Heiner. Mr. Heiner
did not appear, but wrote a letter
which was placed before the court,
suiting that he was sick and un-
able to be present, hence Mr.
Meyer’s assertion as to report by
county judge, etc., is a little “far
fe.ched,” and doubtless intended to
eaten dies. I know nothing of any
e nversation between Commission-
os Meyer and Gleckler in which
•;.be latter confessed to the former
thereof as necessary to be used.
This is somewhat line the kettle
calling the pot black.
In goi ng from date to date and
giving the different happenings
from lime to time, he is very care-
ful to say nothing about the visit
to him at his home of an agent of
the Diebo’ld Safe & Lock Co. prior
to the meeting of the court, May 10.
Why not tell it all, Mr. Meyer?
What object did this man have in
visiting you and the other com-
missioners at your homes? Such
trips cost money, and your actions
indicate that you are more than
willing that Lavaca county should
foot the bill.
When the court met in regular
session May 10, this self same agent
of the Diebold Safe & Lock Co. was
here, and later he was joined by
his boss. They had prepared a set
of plans and specifications for an
independent steel vault and desired
to get a contract at once for the
building of same, and even under-
took to employ S. C. Patton, Esq.,
to represent and assist them in get-
ting the contract. Pie, however,
had at heart the interest of Lavaca
county rather than his own, and
declined to assist them.
When the court met to look at
the plans and specifications pre-
pared by Mr. Heiner, Mr. Meyer
made several motions, no two alike,
hence I suggested to hi m that in
order that no mistake be made in
so important a matter, he reduce
his motion to writing, as is always
customary, and because I did this,
Mr. Meyer now seems to think he
was mistreated.
Mr. Meyer admits that he made
the motion to adopt the plans and
specifications of the Diebold Safe &
Lock Co. for the vault, but he for-
gets to state that he, when he made
the motion, had never seen, much
less read the specifications. Yet in
the face of this, he claims there can
be competition. It is quite true
that I endeavored to persuade the
commissioners to “make haste
slowly” in this matter, which in-
volved much money of the tax-
payers of Lavaca county, yet Mr.
Meyer persistently refused so to do
and stated that he might do so
were it not for the fact that Com-
missioner Gleckler did not want to
do so, and he did not want to do
anything which would not suit
Mr. Gleckler. He asserts that the
county judge became excited, but
it would seem to a looker-on that a
man who will publicly admit that
he dances when another fiddles is
not a fit subject to judge the acts of
others. I must admit that I do
not understand what he means by
continually referring to old mem-
bers, unless it is to insinuate that
he and those who have probably
served heretofore as commissioners
are a privileged few and that Com-
missioner A. H. Weller and the
county judge should not object to
being led around by the nose by
him, as he admits he is by Com-
missioner Gleckler, who has served
a few years longer than has he,
Mr. Meyer.
Mr. Meyer had never read the
specifications of the vault prepared
rrirr.frai'Sra^r''-
Mower
We are sellsBg; the—
STANDARD, BUCKEYE » MCCORMICK
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Mowers* audi Mates,
We have a full and complete stock
of General Merchandise always on hand.
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that he had been hoodwinked and
had been induced tp vote for that | *>* ,the DjebokqSafe & Lock Co.,
which he did not want, etc., but I
do know that on the occasion re-
ferred to by Mr. Meyer, that Mr,
Gleckler asserted that as Mr. Heiner
had prepared specifications as per
orders of the court, it would be ad-
visahie to take no further action
Until he, Mr. Heiner, could meet
with the court, and it seems from
Mr. Meyer’s own statement that it
was not the fault of the county
judge, whom he is more than anx-
ious to blame for every ill, that his,
Meyer’s, ideas were not put into
full force and eflect.
Next he blames me because it
Was decided by a unanimous vote
of the court to issue bonds to the
amount of $80,000, only so much
which read as follows:
“Specifications of labor and ma-
terials required in the erection and
completion of a special fire-proof
record vault, lining and doors, de-
signed to be built for Lavaca county,
Halletsville, Texas, by Diebold Safe 10rdef to determine the difference in
tween same filled with our patent
filler.”
Doors and Fittings: The first
step or jambs to have our improved
rubber packing, etc., and will be
furnished with our patent double
action worm gear pressure bars, etc.
Locks & Bolt Work: The bolts
on the outer door will be checked
and guarded by two of our combi-
nation locks, susceptible of 75,000,-
000 changes of combination, etc.
Finally: The work to be com-
pleted and delivered to the county
on or about the-dav of-A. D.
189—.
Present vavlt to be moved and
removed, etc., and refilled with
Diebold’s pateut fire-proof filling.
These specifications can not pos-
sibly admit of competition in bids
for the work, because the Diebold
Safe & Lock Co. is the only concern
controlling the patents required,
yet he refused to listen to a new
member of tbe court, Mr. A. H.
Weller, who made a motion to re-
consider, and it was then that I
stated that if a contract was let for
a steel vault under such circum-
stances, I, as county judge, would
never sign it. I yet say the same
thing. Lavaca county wants and
must have a fair, square deal in the
letting of contracts. Mr. Meyer,
while closing his ears to every sug-
gestion. good or bad," made by Mr.
Weller and myself, the new mem-
bers, who a:‘erepresenting the peo-
ple of Lavaca county, was able to
hear the whispers of the two repre-
sentatives of the Diebold Safe &
Lock Co. who care nought for La-
vaca county and who were here for
the purpose of getting their fingers
into the coumy treasury.
Mr. Meyer intimates that unless
he can have his way, no court house
shall be buTt. This shows clearly
his policy, which is “rule or ruin.”
He also forgets to state that he
voted to build the new building on
the site occupied by present one and
that the vote was unanimous. I
am persuaded to believe his mem-
ory is becoming weak from long
service, especially as he continually
asserts that he is an o:d member,
therefore should be looked up to, etc.
Mr. Meyer proceeds to state that
an independent steel vault will cost
some three to four thousand dollars
more than will one constructed in
the building. So I will ask whence
his information? The architect,
Mr, Heiner, who is getting good pay
to ad vise us in this matter, requested
that bids be taken both ways in
necessity for acting as instructed
by the representatives of the Die
bold Safe & Lock Co. rather than
for the best interests of Lavaca
county, hence we objected to con-
tracting with them for a steel vault
Mrs. O. H. Deutsch and daughter
returned from New Braunfels Fri-
day.
The Flatonia Record changed
hands last week, R. S. Menefee go-
to cost $9500, especially when if:'"8 0111 a"d J- A. Menefee taking
there is fair competition for theic^r*e w,th Miss S. A. Menefee as
& Lock Co, Canton, Ohio, L. T.
Noyes, agent, Houston, Texas.”
In the reading of the details of
price, but Mr. Meyer refu ed, doubt-
less knowing more than Mr. Heiner
about the business, to have bids on
the specifications as above named, j anything except a Diebold Safe it
the following is found: “The space j Lock Co. vault, which can be built
between the iron shells to be about | by but one company. No one
8 inches at sides, and 10 inch floors ! wants, except in Mr. Meyer’s inl-
and ceiling, to be filled with Die-j agination, an ornamental house,
bold SaFe & Lock Co’s PATENT, | and Mr. Weller and I are anxious
hard drying, fire and damp proof! and so are onr constituents to have
filler, etc.” a safe place for the records of La‘
work it can and will be done for
not exceeding $6000.
Not one modern court house in
twenty has an independent steel
vault, and as Mr. Meyer is so afraid
of fire I defy him to name one court
house, built as our architect sug-
gests ours be built, which has
burned or in which the records
have been destroyed, and unless he
can do this, why continue to per-
sist in a determination to make a
donation to the Diebold Safe &
Lock Co.
Mr. Meyer can not, it seems, rise
above the building of a bridge and
forgets that there is a vast differ-
ence in building court houses and
bridges, and when certain patents
are called for only the owners of
said patent devices can do the
work.
Now, as to Mr. Meyers assertion
that I used insulting language to
him, permit me to say that he evi-
dently does not mean what he has
been made to say, because we, since
that time mentioned by him, have
been on the very best of terms; he
has spent a night with me; I went
in his buggy to the poor farm with
him; promised to go out to see him,
(and intend to keep my promise
for I am not angry with him), and
we have also swapped pigs.
His assertion that no one mem-
ber of the court should rule it, is a
good one, and I hope his actions
hereafter will go to show that he
meant what he said, and that he
will persuade himself to believe
that new members have rights as
well as old ones, and that combina-
tions should not be formed against
them and they be given to under-
stand that anything, even though
it be for the best interest of the
county, if advocated by them, will
be repudiated.
In conclusion permit me, Mr.
Meyer, to ask you if it is not a fact
that you, during last week, were
again visited at your home by a
representative of the Diebold Safe
& Lock Co., and if so, then please
explain the purpose of this visit?
You started this tight against me,
and I am willing to let the “galled
jade wince.”
Now, Mr. Editor, I beg pardon of
your readers for inflicting this com-
munication upon them, but under
the circumstances having been
without provocation assailed, feel it
my duty to state my position to
the tax-payers of Lavaca county,
who I feel sure will endorse my
action in this matter.
Respectfully,
D. A. Paulyb.
editress.
By an accident the Gazette
failed to mention last week that
Mrs. Knolle of Brenham, had been
visiting A. Moeller and mother
here. Mrs. Knolle contemplates
moving here.
INCARNATE....
1 WORD ACADEMY,
SHINER, TEXAS.
Boarding and
Day School.
Conducted by the Sisters of the
Incarnate Word of Victoria.
For terms and particulars, ap-
ply to the
Rev. Mother Superior.
WiNDoW-SHUTTERel “Space he-
Fresh Beef, Pork, Sausage and
Barbecued Meat always on
hand.
H. Richter.
The latest styles in dress goods
at O IT. Deutsch’s.
The most goods for the least
vaca county,’ yet \vs do not see the money at the eheap cash store.
Over Stocked.
For the next fifteen days I will
sell my hacks, surries and phaetons
at greatly reduced prices in order
to make room for another car load.
C. L. Williams.
Just received at G-. E. Ruh-
mann’s another car of steel Star
windmills which he will sell at
unusually low prices.
Fifteen 10 cent loaves of bread
for $1.00 at Etnler’s lunch stand.
A beautiful line of silk parasols
at O. H. Deutsch’s.
For Kent.
The little room next to Koepke’s
barber shop. Apply to C. I. Jaeggli.
Lime, Lime, Kalk. Vapno, Rosen-
dale and Portland Cement for sale
by Flato & Green.
Fine straw hats for men and boys
at O. H. Deutsch’s.
A half car of piping, fittings and
pumps just received at G. E. Ruh®
mann’s.
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Ward, Charles W. Shiner Gazette. (Shiner, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 3, Ed. 1 Wednesday, June 16, 1897, newspaper, June 16, 1897; Shiner, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1111912/m1/4/: accessed May 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Shiner Public Library.