The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-23
MILLION PROFIT
v. NJ. BACkUs AMI OTHERS GET A
BIG TEXAS SEWER CONTRACT.
The Entire System VIII Cost Several
Millions and VIII BE Completed
In 400 Working Days.

Victor Backus, ex-treasurer of Marion
county, left Sunday afternoon for San
Antonio, Tex, where h. and several other
Indianapolis citizens have the contract to
construct a system of sewers costing sew
eraI millions of dollars. MIR. Backus and
his friends are receiving congratulations
upon securing a contract that means a.
profit of half a. million dollars. The sewer
system seems. from reports in San Antonio
papers. to nave been a factor in the
local municipal campaign, and the Mayor is
accused of having shown less regard for
the interests of the unemployed labor of
the city than he did before the election.
The contract had been let and the efforts
of the local laborers was to secure the
work for bona fde citizens at not less than
$50 a day. A mass meeting of citizens
was called and a mmit was appointed
to visit the Mayor and ask why the con-
tractors were not required to live up to
the terms of the contract, not only in the
hiring of men and the giving of a large
local bond, but also of the buying of the ma
terial in the San Antonio markets. At a
mass meeting, April 4, there were four
hundred persons present, mostly working
men, and the committee reported that it
and had submitted twenty-one questions
to him, leading off with Why was the
contract not let to the lowest bidder, and
who bought the contract of the success
full bidder A specimen of the searching
character and bitter tone of the queries
may be gained from the following:
"Why was $3.50 a day and nine hours for
a days work on the sewers promises to be
paid to labor by your Honor and aldermen
and other officials and campaign agents
during the election campaign not fulfilled
in compliance herewith and existing city
why were the pledges and promises
made if, in fact, they could not be fulfilled
or never were intended to be complied with?
sfVNhU we If nnf Gtin1ll1 fed and inserted
in the sewer contract that nothing less
than $3.50 a day be paid and that nine
pliance with the promises during the sewer
bond campaign preceding the sewer bond
election. which was the simplest and most
'sHow was it possible that this question,
which was remembered and considered SO
campaign and the last city election, for the
purpose OF catching votes. could be forgot
mention and insertion would have given it
valid effect and the desired RESULT"
The COMMITTEES reported that it found that
but that the firm of Wilding. Marshall,
Backus Sc Hines turned up as the contrac-
more specifically the committee could not
report upon all it's questions. Then Mr..
Backus was called for to define his position
about that promised wage scale of $1.50 a
day.
The report in the San Antonio Express
says that when the rotund form of the In
dianapolis contractor was seen climbing
upon the stage. he was greeted will ire
mendous cheers. Mr.. Back9s said he sup
posed the men wanted to know what the
contractors were going 10 do and he replied
that they were going to build a system of
frst-class sewers within four hundred work
ing days, He assured the crowd that he
was anxious to employ None but local labor
ers and he gave, as evidence of his sin
cerity that he had that day employed a local
foreman who knew all the workingmen of
San Antonio and that no outsider could slip
through under him. The account continues:
..Then Mr.. Backus said: Now, Iwant fifty
men, good men who can work, TO stand up
and give their names to the secretary. They
can report to Heller for work tomorrow
morning, or Monday morning, as they
choose. I would prefer tomorrow. Now, If
there are fifty men in this hall who want
to work let them stand up
Twice fifty men jumped UP as if trying to
escape from a wiiggling electric wire. And
each one shot his hand as high as he could,
some fearing lest they be overlooked, stand
ing on chairs waving their hats.
"When Mr.. Backus concluded ne was
loudly cheered and he held a perfect levee
when he descended from the stage"