The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-21
HE WANTED TO SHAVE
City Contractor Tries to Dis
count His Own Time Checks.
FORCED TO PAY MEN IN FULL
Comptroller Parry Has . Siege With
Ignorant Contractor and His
Drunken Cashier.


der, the contract for the construction of
lateral sewer on Renton avenue. Lateral
sewers are paid for. under the local i'm
provement district system, from the prop
erty benefited, and the city acts as trustee
for the property owners in paying for the
work. On the 5th of each month the con-
tractor on such improvement receives an
estimate from the city engineer on the
amount done on the sewer during the pre-
ceding month. The amount awarded him,
less 80 per cent reserved for thirty days
after the completion OF the work, to secure
laborers and material men, is paid the con-
tractor on the Goth of the month by the
city comptroller.
Costello who is unable either to read or
write. or even to sign his name, has
pushed the work on his contract up to
date. and employed large number of
men. giving them his own private time
checks in payment. These the men took
to Comptroller Parry. understanding that
he would cash them.
The comptroller. however. has no
authority to cash the time checks of
contractor, and informed the lahorers that
they must look to Costello for their pay.
They were also informed that Costello
work done during the month Of August.
A number of material men filed liens
against Costello for sewer pipe. brick and
other materials furnished during the
month.
When Costello called at the comptrol-
ler's Office yesterday TO receive his pay he
found crowd of angry laborers, who held
time checks and men who had bought
~ 81 . Tar al
all waiting to receive what was due them.
They could get no satisfaction from Cos
tello, who seemed entirely ignorant of
business methods, and who could not even
identify his own time checks, some of
which were signed with his mark and
others by his foreman and timekeeper.
Comptroller Parry. wishing to protect the
men, informed Costello that he must pay
the laborers and material men as far as
possible before receiving his own checks
from the city. The claims amounted to
about 500, and Costello had $500 due him
from the scrip of the local improvement
district.
Matters stood thus for several hours.
Finally Mike Noon. West street saloon
keeper. who is supposed to be a silent
partner of Costello, appeared on the scene
and announced that he would cash the
time checks This was agreeable TO the
men. who wanted their pay, not caring
whore it came from, and Noon soon
brought up from bank large sack con-
tanning $500 in silver.
The number OF laborers clamoring for
their money was about forty, and the
space in the comptroller's Office was too
narrow to accommodate them. Accord
Ingly Mr.. Parry had them repair to the
rooms of the board OF aldermen upstairs.
where Noon. in drunken state, placed
his sack on table, SAT down in front of it,
and Costello took q seat Immediately to
the right They then announced that
they were ready TO cash the checks. A
police officer was called in to prevent dis
turbance. and Mr.. Parry was there to see
that the men were paid in full.
The first claim presented was bill OF
about s275 from the Denny Clay Company.
Noon was too tinsy TO count out the
money and Costello did not know enough.
but each in turn attempted TO place the
correct amount on the table. Noon would
plunge his thumhless right hand into the
sack, pull out a few dollars and stack
them up, ali the while mumb!ing and
growing in maudlin tones. Costello
into heap. This was continued until the
coin had been counted and recounted at
least twenty times, and not until two
hours and half after presenting the bill
was the company's agent able to secure
the money. tie finally pocketed the half
cart load of silver, drew sigh OF relief and
walked away.
Then laborer came up for his money.
He ct once met with a rebuff. Five per
cent Of. or you don't get nothing, was
the way Noon greeted him. The laeorer
refused to submit 10 the discount, and the
impatient men, with darkened faces.
crowded In = threatening way about the
red-fAced cuStodiaa OF the funds. They
we're all angry, bat some appeared willing
TO take what Noon would offer rather than
be delayed any longer. Comptroller Parry
proposed that each man should receive the
LAST cent, and pushing his poFtiy hgurs to
place al the table opposite Noon. learned
over toward him. and, shaking his index
/ finger AT the sslooukeepsr, said IN de-
cided tone;
These men must re paid You can't
hold thelr money ont on shsm any longer.
Now cash these checks or II send Tor your
eondsmen Immediately.
Mike Noon Vas obSurste- "Eiye per
cent. OF aud you can have your money,
he repeated. Then he continued: Il look
at il from business standpoint The city
Will ray the eff in scrip. and III have 10
get II discounted before can get mr. own
money"
A; taIs moment = rather heAvy-set,
ruddy-fAced nan entered the room and
edged his say up "a the table IL Vas
George HaFEg. He had overheard part
of the conversation and comprehended
the situation Al glance. lie was not long
in expressing his mind. he said indig-
nantiy:
4 am enc OF CoStelIo's eondsmen. and |
want yoa 10 gay these iahorers iGe fal.
amount 81 their claims The city council
hSs sala that they mast &c paid
Tie check was again thrown down IN
front OF Noon. snd formal demand made
upon him. The czshier stil dennrred.
Mr.. Parry again crowded TO the fFoai;
Pay u; pay every eent Of u, or III send
/ for ka Sweeney"
Ssseney Is the other hondsnen and, a.
tie nrnnoa OF his name. Moon weak
sRsd. whining oas aa apology IN tais
STRAIN;