East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-09-04

I'm Body.
The biggest practical joke ever
played in the west happened this
morning in Pocatello, says the Trib-
une of that place The joke is on the
city council. Four hundred Short
Line hands appeared at the city hall
at 1880 to work out their poll tax, in
lieu of paying cash. They appeared
in response to orders issued by Street
Overseer j, F. O'Keefe, under au-
thorlty OF a city ordinance recently
passed, levying a city road poll tax
of 81 against every able-bodied man
in the city between the ages of 81
and so. The ordinance gave the OPP
ton of paying cash or working two
days on the city sereets.
Overseer O'Keefe attempted to ne
gotiate with the Short Line officials
and arrange to have the tax deducted
from the pay checks of their en-
ployes. Acting on legal advice the Of
ficials refused 10 make such an ar
rangement, and as a result every man
employed in the machine, car and re-
pair shops in this city, together with
nearly every member of the rip"
crew and coal heaving gang appeared
at the city hall in body.
Mike Gates appeared with his
gang of Italians, 65 strong. The
Greeks, under the leadership of Will
liam Carvillis, numbered 110. The
shop hands and round house gang
brought in the total to close to 400
men.
Naturally Overseer O'Keefe was not
prepared for such a contingency. No
tools were at hand for the men, and
they swarmed for over an hour in
front of the city hall before the over
seer finally appeared with a wagon
load of shovels and rakes, purchased
from the Bean Hardware company.
They were distributed as far as they
would go, but a great number were
ped for work trailed up West Clark
street, singing and playing horse,
making burlcsque of the affair. With
merry quips they would drag a few
shovels of earth from under and then
pass on to the next corner. No one
was in charge of the various gangs,
although for time Overseer O'Keefe
made superhuman efforts to be every
where at once. Mayor Loux appear
ed on the scene and acted as gang
boss over a crowd of mixed Italians
and Greeks. The men under him,
however, would persist in wandering
away, and the mayor finally give up
the job.
The men who were not provided
with tools circulated among those
with shovels and rakes and offered
gratuitous advice as to exactly how
street work should be done. Half
the population of the city soon gath
cred at the corner of West Clark and
North Arthur avenue to enjoy the
fun.
The Short Line shops were left
completely deserted for the day. Even
the round house men Joined the
street workers, so that the road had
considerable difficulty during the day
in getting out engines. Officials of
the road naturally feel chagrined over
the affair, but were helpless under
the circumstances. The men were
ordered to work on the streets by
Overseer O'Keefe under authority of
the council, under penalty of a civil
action in a court of competent juris-
diction to recover the "a tax. There
was nothing for the men to do but
work out the tax, and this they ap-
peared at the city hall to do. The ac-
ton of the city council in taking such
action as ordering the men out of the
shops Tor two days, allowing them but
50 per day, while most of them are
drawing from to S5 per day in the
shops, is the subject of much criti-
cism on the part of the citizens in
general
1t is apparent that the city council
has blundered in this matter, and II
the order of the street overseer had
been observed by every man upon
whom he saw fit to serve notice, the
Oregon Short Line system would to-
day be tied up completely.
Along about 10 o'clock the men
were finally spread out in small
gangs over the city and did some
really good work, cutting weeds and
opening up cutters under crossings.
At IL o'clock a big gang of about 100
appeared at the head of West Center
and marched down to the intersection
of Arthur. No gang boss was in sight
and the men, finding nothing to do.
devoted themselves to singing and
toshing. A big crowd gathered, and
finally Overseer O'Keefe appeared.
He ordered the men up North Arth-
ur, but became In political argu-
ment with one of the shopmen and
work was suspended for some time.
I'VE are the men who put YOU
fellows in office" shouted one la
borer, "and this is the thanks we
get"
Overseer O'Keefe at noon announce
ed that good work was being done,
that everything was quiet, and the
men would be expected to reappear
next Tuesday to complete their work
Monday being Labor day.
The notice given by the street over
seer was in the following form.
"Pocatello, Idaho. 1907.
"Mr,'',,,,,....., Pocatello, Idaho.
Dear Sir: You are hereby noti-
fled and required to report to the
Overseer of Streets of the City OF
Pocatello on the 5oy ~