Evening journal., 1914-08-11
BRIDGE WORKNEN
CLANOR FOR PAY
Cries Fail Because Levy
Court Is In Star Chamber
Session
MAY GET THEIR
HEARING LATER

ofter they went into office some time
ago, had a reputation for holding
star chamber" sessions resorted to
that method again this morning, when
the court, upon motion of Commits
sioner Burris, convened behind CLOSED
doors, 70 thresh out the public busl-
ness. The court met about Ills
o'clock this morning, and before tile
minutes OF the previous meeting had
been read, Mr.. Burris moved that the
court take recess for so minutes to
prepare some bills.
AT first this motion was not second
ed but after President Hollingsworth
several times called for some one to
second the motion, Mr.. Gooding did
So
Mr., Burris then requested the mem
oers TO meet with him in the upper
court room, and all the members,
with the exception OF Mr. Fouracre,
did So
Mr.. Burris, in explanation, said
that the court has a large number OF
road bills to dispose Of
commissioner Fouracre declared
the unusual proceeding OF the court
was a surprise to him. and the only
explanation he could see was that
they were retiring TO discuss the
Ihird street bridge muddle between
the court and the Atlas Bridge Com
pany. Mr.. Fouracre declared that This
subject should be discussed in public
so that the public could know what
IS being done. He refused to partici-
pate IN the secret session"
NOrkmen Demand Wages.
While the Levy Court members
were IN star chamber" session. a
delegation of angry workmen who
nave been emplyed by the Atlas
bridge Company on the Third street
prldge, appeared at the Court House
and took seats on the Court House
steps, where they declared thew
would remain until they had received
the money due them as wages
We need bread" was their war
cry, and many angry exclamations
were made when they learned the
court mad convened in secret, as they
Grained tney had been promised that
tney would be given a hearing by
me court In open session in order
tnat they might give voice TO their
complaint in public.
Inc men say they have received no
pay since July II, and as result i
number Of them who have large families
dependent upon them are in distressing
We want bread, aud "show Us how
70 leea our families" were the cries that
eehueu through the Court House corridor
peioTe the men finally seated themselves
on the court House steps. there TO "re.
..lf
TO u.s."
While the recess had been taken oplv
Tor thirty minutes, il was after 10 "a
o'clock before the members resumed
theiE seats in the Levy Court chamber.
u was some time later before they
settied down to business and while
Waiting Commissioner Burris engaged
IN debate with Julian G. Walker.
tne court attorney, over the bridge
cneck trouble. Mr.. Burris proclaimed
the action Of the Farmers Bank m
holding up the check as a "cheap
BLUM and he declared be would moi
allow the bank to dictate to him. "Tbe ,
Farmers Bank is not running mel"
ne exclaimed. Mr.. Burris intimated
that he had received advice from At |
torney Robert II. Richards as To what |
course OF action to pursue in the mat |
ter. Following this discussion the
members separated into small groups 1
and discussed the matter in a lowered |
voice, apparently being at loss as TO |
what action they should take
Mr.. Burris later stated loudly that |
II the men are entitled to the money |
due them he stands ready TO nav them I
Al l2.4s O'Clock, before any business
had been transacted in public. Mr.. Bur I
rls moved that they adjourn until $50
O'Clock this afternoon. Several Of The
members were out of the room at the
time, but the motion prevailed and the
court adjourned. Not even the minutes
OF the previous meeting were read in
public meeting. The members were m.
communicative about what business was
transacted at the "star chamber ses.
sion, the general answer being that
they hadn't done anything"
Commissioner Smith stated that "it
will come out at the meeting this af.
ternoon.' Despite their avowaI to re-
main on the Court House steps "all
night, # necessary, until we get our
money" the angry workingmen, when
they learned Levy Court had adjourned. \
left for their homes for dinner, some Of
them mutterlng that there wasn't much
TO eat there anyhow"
Following the adjournment repre-
sentatives OF the newspapers asked
Mr.. Burris If the Third street bridge
muddle Is getting any nearer the
Instead Of getting better 1t is get
ing worse every minute" he replied.
II will keep on until the taxpayers
u Wilmington get into 1t, and hone
hey will, for then things will be
opened to the public that have been
covered up long enough"