Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-07-28
STOLZ WHOLLY WITHOUT
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for sending after those who had signed
the petition, asserting that the chair
man of the street committee, city en-
gineer and street commissioner could
furnish the information, aided by the
records in the recorders office.
Bell did not allow anyone to bluff
or badger him. He commenced his
statement by explaining that the rea'
son he signed the petition was that he
understood the city charter was being
violated and the street improved out
of the general fund when it should
have been constructed at the expense
of the abutting property owners. He
had expected that the committee would
make thorough investigation.
Chairman Slater made some remarks
the substance being that the commit
tee wanted facts, and thought the pc
titioners might aid in throwing some
light on the subject.
Attorney Smith took hand and
wanted to know who told Bell the
charter was being violated, whether
he had investigated the street himself
and what he knew about road build.
ing
Bell explained that he had not inves-
tigated the road but wanted the com.
mittee to do so. He knew something
about road building
Boise, a member of the committee,
offered as the cost of the improvement,
which it appeared had been rumored
to be as high as $1,000, the price of 80
yards of gravel and 500 bridge. The
committeeman did not figure in the
cost of the city's horses, the men en-
ployed at day labor rates or the heavy
cost of transferring material from
South Commercial street. He repeated
the misleading statement that the men
were employed by the city by the year.
Bell iolted Stolz's defenders again
when he recalled Cornelius testimony
to the effect that it was cheaper to get
gravel at the bunkers and save the
cost of loading than to take the ma.
terial donated. This would mean that
there was considerable cost to the city
attached to the loading of material do
mated on South Commercial street and
used on Mission and Wallaer streets.
Cornelius was slow about giving in
formation which would clear up the
mystery Of how much the fine Waller
Mission street Improvement actually
cost the city He said each team
hauled four loads day and his re
port showed how many loads were
hauled. "Let Bell figure it up" he
concluded belligerently.
Men Are Paid by Day.
The task of extracting from Cor
nelius the information that the mer
were really employed by the day was a
long one Bell kept at it until he got
the facts.
Cornelius said that if it was possible
he kept the men going every ray, rair
or shine. He also made the old claim
that he could get one-third more worl
out Of the men than could contractor,
who paid so cents more day ant
! worked the men nine hours.
There was some more testimony b,
Stolz and Cornelius as to the use o
, the steam roller, Cornelius told hov
the steam roller operator was employe,
. on other work when the roller was no
in use and Stolz explained that tn
steam rolled had not been uset
since the summer before, Stolz want
ed the steam roller limbered up an,
put in shape and so had it used ou
!, there for a few days. It developed
however that after fixing up walle
street the steam roller needed repair
and it was taken to the machine sho,
where it was fixed up. One par
broke just as it neared the machin
shop.
Former Mayor Testifies.
George Rodgers, ex.mayor, was call
e ed and testified as to the purchase o
3 certain lots from Stolz. He denied tina
1t the transaction had anything to d
e with the street improvement or tina
g tho $40 mentioned in the county rec
T. ords was the true price of the lot,
c He said they sola for $3.50 and Stol
had made payments on them. Their