The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-02-06


of municipal crookedness shall exist,
In any department or In any official
Of the city Of Astoria. was firmly de.
ciied by the city council last evening.
when In relation 10 the matter Of street
Inspector Harry and Collector W. A.
Goodin. wherein the latter alleges In
sworn statement that he paid Me Barry
the sum OF t20 TO use his influence with
the street committee of the council 20
obtain IN exorbitant price for certain
extra improvement work, a committee OF
ihree Was appointed 10 investigate the
charge and ascertain whether any crime
had been committed and the city de-
frauded out Of rghtful funds or not.
According TO the allegations Of W. A.
Gocdin, IN a sworn statement presented
10 the city council last night, u was
privately agreed between himself and
Inspector Barry, that II the Inspector
would use Dis influence with the street
committee TO obtain the best price pos.
.ible for doing the extra improvement
work ON exchange street between Sixth
stree west TO Fifth street, then south
on ffth 10 the drain also some work re.
lating TO the extension Of the drain,
he would divide whatever profits ac-
cured ,hcrefrom with the Inspector IL
Is further alleged that Barry induced the
committee TO allow SOS for the work
and after the work was completed. the
profits amounting 10 $40 Barry was
paid $40 his share Of the Doodle. The
money according 10 the statement was
paid In the form Of check for the
.aid amount drawn on the Astoria Saw.
ings bank.
The above j. the girt Of the charge
brought against Inspector Barry. The
matts~ came before the council last
night when resolution awarding con.
tract to ". A. Goodin for the improve
mcnt Of Birrh street came up, Council.
man Hansen arose and stated in no un.
certain terms that he believed in view
Of the charge made against Inspector
Barry by ", A. Goodin, aud OF the
pmsent unsettled status Of the matter,
Il would no, be polite to award Mr.
Goodin the contract. 4 heated dis.
eu.sion was at once provoked. some
councilmen thinking one way aud some
another. Councilman Morton was on.
posed 10 taking any cognizance Of The
charge made by Contractor Goodin. lie
said. In my opinion this matter Is
nothing for the council to consider. II
as ! understand II, a complaint will he
filed IN the courts In a short time by
the city attorney, then We should wait
until the court has acted Then vsrat
right has anyone to look into this mat
ter, which Is simply private transae-
tion between Mr. Barry aud Mr.. Goodin
City surveyor Tee having gained per
mission TO he heard on the subject stat
ed that no imitation Of the charge had
been made 10 him. and he believed II
any charge was made, il should have
been pres pted direct to him. There j.
colluslon between the city attorney and
the contractor II is all scheme" he
said, and | consider shrdlu shrdlu
aid "and ! can substantiate my words.
Inspector Barry, who was seated in the
rear OF the room, here interlected few
heated remarks 10 the effect that il
wass all put mp job To oust him. He
blamed City Attorney Smith. Things
were becoming quite warm, and for a
minute it looked like something more
strenuous and forcible than words might
occurred between the inspector and City
Attorney, had not the Mayor interposed
with his gayel for order Other council
men spoke on the all absorbing ques.
lion and as matters seemed to he get
ting worse instead of better, Mayor
Wise suggested a committee be appoint.
I'd to investigate the subject and cport
to the council. Acting on this advice
Stangland moved that the
Mayor appoint committee Of three TO
This motion was passed.
and after considerable labor, as no one
seemed anxious 10 serve on the COM
mittee. Councilman Morton, Lebeck and
Bclland were appointed. The city at
Iorney was mentioned to serve also,
10 advise the committe In their action.
There was some slight objection to this.
rs il was intimated that the attorney
was interested in the outcome. What
will be the end is not yet determinable,
though 1t Is forgone conclusion that
the whole matter win be thoroughly
'ifted and the guilty parties, II any
brought TO account.