Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-06-28
LAZY BERTHS FOR PARTY WORKERS

Scandal Eollows-A Charge That "a
Workman Paid q. Per Week to In
spector Solloway for Fuvors-what the
Men Employed at the Filter Say.
Edward Lang and Charles Paxton,
two workmen employed on the new
water filter at the city mills pumping
station, have revealed u queer state of
affairs in connection with the construc.
ton of the new filter at that point The
men arc corroborated in their statements
by another workman and an investiga-
ton of the matter lends additional con-
tirmation TO the disclosures.
According to the men, the majority of
whom are ward politicians and Repub-
lican workers, political jobbery has been
in progress at the filter plant for some
time. The men are employed under the
Hastings-Pickels regime and if any
doubt existed about politics getting into
the Water Department after Messrs.
Hastings and Pickles wentin, the sooner
that doubt is removed the better. Lang
says that among the workmen employed
on the filter all are Republican workers
bat about three, and that politics is an
important factor in the work.
Lang lives at No. $50 Windsor street.
He is no longer employed ON the filter,
having been discharged about week
ago. He tells the following story:
while was employed on the filter l
heard the men talking among them
selves about the way things was going
on out there and heard them mention
about DOODLE and | asked what it
meant. l was told that Doc Andrews.
one of the workmen, had gone to
Charles w. Solloway, the inspector
having charge of the men, about two
months ago, and asked him to give
Solloway 50 week out of his wages
The workman approached was Edward
q. Pierce. Andrews suggested that as he
was making $40 per week he could afford
to give up 81 every week to Solloway;
that he was member of tue union and
II they found he was working ten hours
day instead Of nine they would kick,
and he would have to knock off the
extra hour. Well, Pierce agreed to give
up So week and he afterwards told
about it to Charles Paxton and Harry
Hoffman. In this manner the affair got
noised about until all the men employed
on the filter heard about it. All the
rest of US got laid off now and then,
while Pierce and Andrews found steady
employment We naturally kicked about
il. About two weeks ago [ sat down
and wrote a letter to Mr. Hastings,
one of the Republican members OF
the Board of Water Commissioners
about the way things were going on out
at the filter. wrote him long letter
explaining the whole matter, but have
learned that the matter was never
brought up before the board at all. /
felt sure that if it came to Mr.. Porter's
ears there would lie an investigation and
| wrote to Hastings with the hope that
he would take some action, but he
didn't. Things have been simply rotten
out there on the filter. About 10 men
have been employed most of the time,
nearly all Of them being Republican
politicians.
"rhere is Jack Spring, d. B. Conner
Doc Andrews, whose work in the Re
publican party is well known. Besides
the Solloway family was drawing $41 q
week for time. One of Sideways sons
is boy not of age yet, but he is draw
| ing $3.50 a day just the same as the
men. The other son was getting $50 o
| week until he was sent TO New Castle
| by Judge Ball for assault and battery
Then no one ever hurt himself working
out there. 1t has been prevailing Gus.
tom for the men to loaf on the city.
Cumming under the pans is frequent
occurrence. That is, the men get down
under the arch where no one but Solo.
way can see them and then loaf on the
city. But that is trivial matter. What
the meu call the Doodle business ha;
| caused the commotion out there. Charles
Paxton, who had been employed on the
| filter for some time was discharged or
Saturday. / understand the reason fol
his discharge was that Soloway accused
him of talking about the SO week
matter up around Republican head
quarters. The bad feeling among the
workmen has existed for some time
The Republican nomination for sheriff
had something to do with it, also. Th,
men were all cut up in this fight ant
during the mud-slinging about Repub
lcan headquarters the affair out at th,
filter was brought up. am done vot
ing the Republican ticket"
Milville Andrews, better known al
"Doc" Andrews, was seen at his board
ing place, No. 1907 French street, anc
asked whether or not he had suggested
to Edward Pierce that he pay 81 a weel
to Solloway. He said;
"Yes, suggested it to Pierce, bu
only in the way Of loan. | knew
Solloway was hard up, and as Pierc,
was getting $50 week asked him II
give up So week to Solloway Blu
the money has been all paid back bu
about ST. Sometime ago 'Ez' Lukens
who lives in the Tenth ward, was work
ing at the filter. He went arount
among the men to get money for Solo
way, but he only wanted 1t to get DRUM
on. | didn't give him any, but | know
Solloway wouldn't accept it, anyhow
OF course know about the talk amonl
the men. Well, have nothing agains
Solloway. He treats me all right"
Edward q. Pierce lives ut No. Q
Buena Vista street, in the Ninth ward
He is a stonemason and belongs to tn
union. He was seen Thursday after
noon and asked whether the story o
Lang that he had paid money TO Solo
way was true. He replied that he had
"Under what circumstances did yoI
pay the money!" he was asked.
swell, you see it was this way. Abou
: seven weeks ago doc" Andrews and
were working down under the arch a
the filter. Andrews suggested that as
was getting $40 week | could give S
a week to Solloway; that as | was
, member of the union was only Above,
, to work nine hours day. II the uniol
, heard of il would have to knock Of
} the extra hour, but if | continued I
: work 10 hours why the other men woul
be allowed to make 10 hours. Also,
on the other hand they only worke
/ nine hours day they would lose l
cents day, or receive $1.35 instead 3
Ell hO tho reuular Drice for a day.