The evening times., 1898-07-27
THE ELLIOTT HEARING.

Story of the Discharged BricklayeF
Told to the ComnissiOners.
The District Commissioners this morn
ing accorded a hearing to President
Spohn. OF the Central Labor Union, and
committee of representative labor men.
in the matter Of the recent discharge Of
George Elliott. a bricklayer. employed on
the new school building in course Of .rec-
tion at the corner of Twenty-fourth and
F Streets northwest. Elliott was dis
charged by Foreman Doyle upon the de-
mand of Inspector Gormley. who claimed
that the mechanic had been disrespectful
to him during the course of the work.
Mr. Eliiott's friends endeavored to show
that the discharge was the result of per-
sonal spleen on the part of the inspector.
Elliott is said to be a good bricklayer and
has family to support.
The question of the discharge was con-
layers Union. which brought the matter
to the attention Of the Central Labor
Union. This body passed resolutions
condemning the action of the inspector as
an outrage upon the personal liberties OF
the citizen.
The discharged man made a statement
at the hearing today. He said that he
was working at an archway opening on
the new building when inspector CORN
ley came up to him and asked where
certain course in the archway should be-
gin. Mr.. Elliott stated that he did not
know, as that was supposed to be part
of the knowledge of the foreman and,
being a little irritated, ne turned and
said to the inspector:
How the - do I know where it be-
gins? 1 only follow the lines"
Elliott claims that Gormley, in reply
Ing to him. said: You needn't get so
flip or I'll discharge your
Elliott then said that the inspector did
not know anything except what was in
the book of weights and measures. and
the latter Immediately ordered his sum-
mary discharge. Continuing, Elliott said:
Il did not think the inspector was JUS
titled in discharging me. and. having
family dependent upon me, felt the ac-
ton severely. I then wiped the floor UP
with the inspector"
The gist of Gormsley's testimony was
that he had discharged Elliott because he
thought the manner in which he had been
addressed by him was a sufficient reason.
Elliott later secured work on the Pea
body school and was discharged by or
der of the Engineer Commissioner of the
District.
The labor union was informed that the
second discharge was due to a COM
piaint by Gormsley and maintained that II
such was the case Ii was equivalent to
''blacklisting" a union man as a result Of
personal spleen.
IN his opinion upon the second dis
charge. Engineer Commissioner Beach
said today:
at was reported to me that Mr.. Eli
oft had been employed on the school
building at the corner of Twenty-fourth
and F Strests. northwest, and that he
had been discharged for improper con-
duct to one of the inspectors. It was re-
ported ,clait afSer the discharge Elliott
had secr.ad work at the Peabody school
1t has been an invarfa.ble rule that when
an employee Is discharged from work on
any District work that he cannot be
re-employed by the same contractor on
other work in a different part of the
city while the first work was still in prog
ress. although he might secure work un-
der another employer. I therefore, or
dered Mr.. Elliott's discharge from the
Peabody building in accordance with the
law"
The matter Is under consideration by
the Commissioners and a decision will
be announced later.