The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-26
Abortive Meeting of the Com
mission Last Night.
THE INJUNCTION a sueBEAR
Jndge McBride's Action Has Seem
ingly Overshadowed any Conclu-
sion That May be Arrived At.


a solution today than 1t was on Saturday
and Notwithstanding the earnest endeav-
ors of the commission to arrive at sat
isfactory conclusion, nothing has been
accomplished up to this morning. Early
yesterday morning a gang of about fifty
men, employed by Sub-Contractor Kuhl-
mann of the Excelsior Pipe Co., laying
wooden pipe, quit work, intimidated by
the threats made by the Italian laborers
who have been engaged in digging the
trench for the pipe. In causing stop
page of this branch of the werk the Ital-
ians imagined that by exposing the ex-
pensive wooden pipe to the danger of be-
ing rendered unfit for use by action of
the weather, they would be able the more
quickly to bring about settlement and
to bring the contractors to terms. De-
spite all Mr.. Kuhlmanns efforts his men
weakened and quit work early in the
morning.
Yesterday was the Itallans' regular pay
day, but they did not seen any more ex-
cited than they have been since the
operations stopped Several gangs con-
tanning from twelve to twenty men were
out hunting water commissioners all day.
Nest of the members were found and, af-
ter being compelled to make consoling
| speeches, which not one in fifty CT the
| laborers understood, were allowed to re-
| tire unmolested Though towards even
| ing some bitter talk was indulged In, es-
| pecia.Cy in the vicinity of the camp on
| the hill, there was no actual outbreak
| The men seemed to be pinning theiI
| faith to the commission, and were con-
| fident that the outcome Of last nights
meeting would mean relief for them. The
| three police deputies are still stationed
! at the works, and at O'Clock this morn
| ing reported everything quiet.
Yesterday mornings steamer brough
Messrs. Benin and Hamshiw and thSi
| three bondsmen down to the city iron
| Portland. Immediately after breakfas
| all the members of the party bega
| to busy themselves interviewing attor
neys and commissioners. The commls
| sion met at 2 d. m., to hear what the
had to say, but the bondsmen were no
| quite ready to talk, so by mutual con
sent the meeting was adjourned to "a
D. m. At that time the interested partie
| With their attorneys got together agai
| and talked matters over with the com
| mission till very late hour. No cor
| clusion was reached however, and
was nearly midnight when the meetin
| adjourned without having accompl!she
| ANYTHING. 1T Is impossible to say wha
| arguments were used by either side, bu
| all the propositions made must have bee
| oyerslhadowed by the injunction issue
by Judge Mcbride, which no doubt ha
the effect OF stultTfying every suggestio
that was put forward. However, ar
other attempt wlE be made at l o'cloe
this afternoon to reach some tanglb
and effective plan whereby the none
can be obtained and dlsIbursed.
The water commission last night at n
conclusion of the meeting authorized N
following statement for publication In II
Astorian:
"The city Of Astoria has contra'
with the Pacific Paving Co. for certal
work and the city has employed no Il
borers. The Pacific Paving Co. srb-co
tracted some of the work and the sui
contractors of course employed labore'
as also did the Pacific Paving Co. itsel
The city en- the 2Oth of September, audi
ed the estimates of the Pacific Favlng c
up to date, and, as result of those est
mates, authorized the payment to It
$i2,slS92.
"The Pacific Paving Co. drew of tn
amount s5,Sls92. Then it desired
draw 1905 in coin, but as It had filed a
signmeLts In favor of other parties f.
about $1,000, the commission kept ba'
that amount until the court should d
termine to whom 1t should be paid. N
r balance OF the s7OO5 was subject to II
order of the Pacific Paving Co., but t
) Pacific Paving Co. refused to draw it
Z account of the dispute over the 5000
'In the meantime at the instance
/ one Hackett. the circuit court issued Z
injunction restraining the commlssi
0 from paying out any more money un
the court should direct. Under the co
: tract only ninety per cent Of the wo
: done is paid. The ten per cent is he
until after the work Shall be complet
as guarantee that the work shall
finished.
u IAN assignment, however, of this I
per cent has been filed with the comm
); sion, but the fund is not available un
~ after the completion of the contract in
a..