East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-03-06

Growing out OF the dispute between
the Newport Land g. Construction
Co. Of Hermiston, which has the con-
tract 70 build the Columbia highway
in Hood River county. and J. f. FL
llott, supervising engineer under the
state department, a hearing was held
yesterday before the state highway
department, Governor Withyombe
presiding, in Salem. Col. H. G.
Newport and his son, II. r. Newport
filed charges against Elliott and ask.
ed for his removal. The case was
taken under advlsement.
It will be remembered that II. r.
Newport recently assaulted Elliott
and was fined in Hood River for the
offense. In consequence, Elliott has
started suit for $4,000 damages
against the Newport company and
this is one OF the reasons why the
Newports claim that he should not
supervise their work.
Allegations Of meddling. incompe-
tency and even moral lapses were
made against the engineer. all OF
which he and state Highway Engi-
neer Bowlby denied. r. r. johnson.
a lawyer formerly OF this city, repre-
sented the contractors.
Threat Is Alleged.
Elliott caused the first trouble"
said Mr.. Johnson, "by insisting that
only Italians be employed as masons.
Later it was reported the Italians
did not do the work satisfactorily and
Greeks were employed at half price.
The contractor said II the work was
satisfactory there should be no par
ticular nationality favored. Regard
ing this Mr.. Elliott said to one OF
the men: I'll make 1t hard shedding
for the company unless Italians are
employed"
The lawyer said Mr.. Elliott had In
terfered between the contractor and
sub-contractor regarding the removal
of earth and had informed the men
the company was making a profit OF
Is cents a day on them. Estimates
for a certain wall gave its length at
about 270 yards and a low price was
placed on the work. However. plans
were changed and the length was In
creased to 1892 yards, making it ne
cessary to haul much more rock, said
the lawyer. When H. G. Newport
head Of the company. protested, MI
Elliott said:
you get your contract price. II
q pone ~ my business where you get
the rock"
Numerous Differences Cited.
1t also was alleged that Mr.. Elliott
frequently had men discharged, en-
ployed by the contractor. He would
say:
"This man is incompetent. he must
be discharged"
Although he declared the Greeks
TO be incompetent as masons. his IN
spector had approved their work. de-
clared Mr.. johnson.
"Mr. Elliott tore town a section OF
a wall after his inspector said 1t was
all right" asserted the lawyer. when
asked to discharge the inspector, he
said: "He suits me and will stay.
H. G. Newport said he had been
for 81 years and had new
er had any trouble with engineers be-
fore or been a party to a lawsuit as
a result of his work. He insisted
that Mr.. Elliott was devoid of all
principles of justice and without the
milk OF human kindness"
"He is incompetent and makes IL
unbearable for US" continued the
contractor. HE is continually hound
ing and finding fault informed
Major Bowlby that Mr.. Elliott was
unfair and not a gentleman and Ma
jor Bowlby replied:
"I know him and he is all right.
He caused us strife with our men
from start to finish"
Major Bowlby said the power Civ
IN the state highway engineer was
he same as that given railroad engi-
leers and others. He denied that he
lad authorized the employment of
Major Bowlby Tcstifics.
"Mr. Newport told me in Decem-
,er he believed Mr.. Elliott compe-
ent" continued the engineer. How
,ver. he asked me to remove Mr.
elliott because he would not favor
he contractor"
Mr.. Newport denied that he made