Evening journal., 1914-08-12
COUNTY MAY Finish
THE BRIDGE Contract
Resolutions to This Effect
Presented, But Action is
Deferred for the Present
LEVY COURT IN
ROW ON POINT

After several weeks Of wrangling over
the Third street bridge question the
members Of Levy Court yesterday after-
noon partially arrived at a solution Of
the trouble, when they received a report
from Consulting Engineer Greiner, in
which several recommendation were EN-.
bodied, and upon motion Of Mr. Groves
voted to comply with the recommends
tions.
These recommendations arc that the
Levy Court Immediately terminate the
contract with the Atlas Bridge Company
and take steps to employ another compe-
tent contractor to finish the work upon
the Third street bridge, and practically
eliminates the Atlas Bridge Company
from further work upon that contract.
a resolution was presented by Commits.
eioner Goodlne supposed TO carry out
Engineer Greincrs suggestions as en-.
bodied IN his report, but the resolution
put the matter of employing d new con-
tractor entirely into the hands Of the
consulting engineer and county engineer
without giving the Levy Court any say
in ihe matter. and as this was not en-
tifely favorable 70 several Of the mom-
hers further action on the resolution
wae deferred until Friday. AT that
time II is understood that The resolution
win he adopted but the reading will be
changed somewhat. so that the selection
Of a new contractor for the work stall
be made subject TO the approval Of the
Levy Court.
II was late last evening before the
nr4.sf HuolIt~ saf f41nl 4A~ -. 4{,s, ..al .f..r
ing the session Commissioners Burris
and Scott wneed a strenuous battle to
have the present check for S265l 80
drawn 20 the favor of the Atlas Bridge
Company, which Is being held hy the
Farmers' Bank for a note OF 50 600 OF
the Horriean Contracting Company, de-
clarrd null and void and another check
for the amount be drawn and the money
used to pay the payroll Of this Atlas
Bridge Company. The men employed
upon the bridge, they stated, had not
been paid since July H. and some of
them are in actual want.
Another star chamber" session
was held by the Court yesterday az
ternoon following a similar session in
the morning.
The Court was scheduled to meet
at ESQ O'Clock and at that time ne
members assembled IN the Levy
Court chamber without the formal
fly Of calling the meeting eo order,
however. the members retired to the
upper courtroom, where .dhey remain
ed in session behind c.6sed doors for
one bour. The sub &t under discus
sion was the Thir Fstreet bridge mat
ter
Al. $50 o.siock the members re-
turned to che Levy Court chamber
and took a6heir seats.
bn taFllNING JOURNAL. reporter
askea Commissioner Burris II the
members had come 10 settlement
at the secret session regarding the
bridge affair.
''Is IS ten times worse than ever"
replied Mr. Burris
Men Ask For Pay.
Shortly after the members return
ed to the courtroom the delegation of
workingmen, who returned in the af-
ternoon. filed into, the room and
voiced protest against the delay in
the payment Of their wages.
rhe men had gathered at the Court
House early In the morning. and
threatened to remain until they re-
ceived their wages, which they have
not received since July II. The men
are employed by the Atlas Bridge
Company on the work.
The men presented pathetic APP
pearance as they filed into the room,
the haggard, anxious expressions on
the many faces clearly showing the
hardship they had been forced to en-
durc as the result OF receiving no
money for a month.
The men, who numbered more than
thirty, had no spokesman to present
their case. appearing in a body, with
every man his own spokesman.
One workman, with the traces OF
anxiety plainly marked upon his face,
asked for Mr.. Burris, and when the
commissioner answered him he asked
what chance there was OF receiving
their money.
Il can't do a thing in the world for
you" replied Mr. Burris. Il tried TO
get them to do II but / can't"
"Where shall we 90 after our
money!? shouted one Of the men.
THE Farmers Bank has got your
money" said Mr.. Burris.
"Our board bills are going on, said
another worker. "and you said If we
made out a slip and brought it in we
would get our money. I've made out
my slip. now where is my money!"
Il have the payroll right here" re-
piled Mr.. Burris, "but I can't do a
thing
One OF the men declared that they
intended to get together and compel
the county to pay them for all the
time they are compelled to remain