Evening star., 1896-09-09
THE STEPHENS SCHOOL
Work Will Be Resumed on the Building To-
morrow.
An Adjustment of the Differences
hearing Before the Commissioner
Today on the Matter.

Work upon the Stephens public school
house will commence again tomorrow
Forming. The contractor and his bonds
men, together with the auditor of the Dis
trict, nave pledged themselves to see that
the subcontractor on the work receives
every cent his contract calls for. This was
the result Of conference this morning at
nearing given by the Commissioners to
the laborers and material men, who com
piaihed several days ago tina: they had
not been paid -:
The laborers and material men, who yes
tercay represented to Commissioner Trues-
dell that Contractor Cabell, who is build
Ing the Stephens school, was indebted 70
tnem for work performed, ana material
furnished. appeared before the CoIuiifns-
s.oners this morning to discuss the mat
ter The contractor, his bonds1nen and the
o-ssrGnsled laborers. represented bj, com.
mittee of five, were also present. ~ :
Inc case was carefully considered and
every detail examined. including the bills
paid and those due. 1t was found and ad-
hitteo by the parties interested that the
contractor still owed the subcortrac:or
s5oo.o7 But. as pointed out by the auditor
thls amount was not due and payable until
the building was completed. The subcon-
tractor who did the brick work wanted to
Le PAID in full to date in order to satisfy
the claims of his laboreEs, who had not
peen paid for a month. The Commission
ers positively refused to interfere In the
matter. They stated that the auditor would
see to it that whatever money was due
would be properly disbursed. Aside from
that they could do nothing The law did
ict impose upon them the duties of dis
bIrsing officers and they could not and
would not undertake the payment Of la
ocrers on contract work They held the
contractor and his hondsmen liable for the
faithful performance of the contract. If it
was shown that the contractor was de-
irauding his laborers, the auditor would do
ms Utmost to adjust matters. But between
contractor and subcontractor the Commits.
sloners had nothing to do.
Joseph Johnson, who acted as spokesman
lor the laDorers, stated that the men he
represented had worked through the month
gI,,a Gr august upon the representation of Mr.
paid the 1st of September. His fellow
Workmen We're In a bad condition on ac-
count OF the delay. Rents were due. and
grocery pills remain unpaid. Unless they
sae Iste SO! some assurances in which they could
put faith they could not continue the work
Mr. A. q. Chler said he was one of the
Dondsmen of the contractor and furnished
the lumber. He was acquainted with the
case. The fact was that the subcontcactor
hau h;. o9en pald up to date all that was due
nlm. When the contract was completed
ne would be entitled to final navment in
the settlement of his contract. That time
had not arrived. When 1t did he wonld
guarantee himself that every dollar dne
paid. eo'i'iact "ouio oe
Inc auditor then made q statement and
reaa au me Dill OF the subcontractor. which
nI..t tns SSAceptlon OF small item, was
s..n,a,s au,,.sleu py the contractor He said he
would guarantee that what remained dme
the subcontractor would be Maid him out
OF the nnal payment. This seemed tn sat
isiS tue Aaoorers, and the hearing closed.