The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-08-30
Wright Denies
Alleged Fraud
Says Award Of Sixteenth Street
Contract Was Regular in
Every Manner

Councilman Fred Wright Of the
Third ward Is emphatic In his denun-
citation of the attorneys who have filed
the injunction suit In the matter bf the
Sixteenth street improvement. The com
| plant inslnuates in unmistakablt
| terms that the members Of the street
committee were In colluson with the
contractor and that fraud character
| lied the award OF the contract.
An Astorian representative found
Councilman Wright at work yesterday
on the Fifteenth street Improvement.
Asked to make statement Of the facts
! In the case, Mr.. Wright said:
Il have read the newspaper accounts
OF the suit flied In the injunction case,
and am In position 10 state positively
that the allegations. with the single ex-
ception Of the error made by City Sur
veyor Tee in the estimate Of the exca-
walton, are wholly false. AS to this or
ror ! will say that It was not discov-
cred until two days after Mr. Robinson
and myself, constituting majority Of
the street committee, entered into the
contract with w. A. Goodin. The err
ror occurred In the estimate made for
the crossing at Irving avenue. The es-
timate differs from the amount of work
to be done by 700 or 500 yards. Mr.. Tee
discovered his mistake and at once ac-
quainted us with the matter. The con-
tract had then been signed. The al
legation that we knew Of this error is
maliciously false.
I'm every manner the Improvement
was regularly undertaken. II Is charg-
ed that no regular survey was made,
but this, too, is untrue. Mr.. Tee made
his official survey and set out his grade.
stakes which can be seen today.
&. 1T Is set forth that the street COM
mittee held no regular meeting. As a
matter OF fact. ChairmanBurns and my
self were present at the time the bids
were opened a week ago Monday. We
had advertised the time OF opening the
bids for three days. and several per-
sons were present Monday afternoon.
There were three bona fide bids--not
one. as the complaint says. The bid
ders were Messrs. Goodin, Palmberg
and Gerding. All the bids we're regu-
lar In form. accompanied by bonds. Mr..
Goodin's offer was lowest, and Chair
man Burns told him to go ahead with
the work. / might explain that con-
tracts are usually signed few days af-
ter the bids are opened. The lowest re-
sponsible bidder gets the work, and
then the contracts are drawn UP. The
Sixteenth street contract was drawn up
by Deputy City Attorney Curtis and
presented to me for signature two days
after the bids were opened. Mr.. Rob-
inson signed it the same day. learned
later that Mr.. Burns did not attach his
signature. though for what reason
l cannot say, as he told Mr.. Goodin in
my presence to proceed with the inn
provement.
AN the bids opened were below the
surveyors estimate. / am engaged In
street repairing and know what am
talking about when I say that the es-
innate was reasonable. Much of the
street is rock and the cost Of excavat-
ing 1t is greater than is the case where
loose earth is to be graded. Mr.. Goodin
told me that he would not have been
able to make his low offer had it not
been that he could use the rock for paw
ing the street. and were it not that he
contracted for his cement at very low
figure. The contract price is quite
reasonable.
The insinuation that I, as member
of the street committee or as a private
citizen. was involved in any way, at
any time, in any questionable trans
action, affecting the improvements of
streets or tnything else, is deliberate
and malicious ealsehood, and am anx-
ious to brand the authors of the insin-
uation as wilful and malicious falsiflers
/ will stake my reputation for honesty
against any of the demonstrators.
1T is stated that have been in the
employ of Contractor Goodin. This is
likewise false. have never in my life
worked a single hour for him. For the
past year have been employed by G..
G. Palmberg as his foreman.
You can quote me as saying that the
suit is merely the result of an effort on
the part of the property owners to
throw the cost of the improvement on
the city. This sort of business is what
placed the city of Astoria 100000 in
debt"
Mr., Goodin expresses regret at the
failure of the demonstrators to ask for
a temporary injunction. Had this been
done. he says, the property owners
would have been liable for damages.
The suit is the talk of the city and
property owners are manifesting great
interest in its outcome.