The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-03-24
LETTERS FROM TIE PEOPLE.
The Chief is not responsible for
views expressed by correspondents.
An Explanation.

views SXpfGSSE0 NY ISopoilaSitoo
An Explanation.
Donaldsonville, La, March "a, 1917.
Editor Chief:
To fully protect myself, and at the
same time feeling that the taxpayers
of the parish of Ascension should
know the exact reasons why | am no
longer supervising the construction
of the gravel road known as the AS
cension-St. james highway, now be-
ing built in this parish, / am taking
this means to make the explanation,
and in connection with this, | wish
to say that I stand ready to prove
that my explanation is correct one
The board of supervisors that con-
troll the construction Of the above
named road is composed of the fol
lowing gentlemen: Geo. B. Reuss,
.Jasmin Tobias, Alex. Bloomenstiel, T..
Fl. Landry, and E. N. Pugh. These
gentlemen entered into an agreement
with me to construct the said road
for a certain compensation, knowing
all of the time that was merely SUI
pervising the work for them. The.
agreement was perfectly agreeable
and acceptable to the committee and
myself, and Immediately upon accept
ance of the proposition | proceeded
to place an equipment on the road ana
then commenced actual constructors
of the road. I had not started more.
than a day or two, before | was m.
formed there were certain objections
to NV doing the work. Upon learn
ing this became little worried, and
for a time did not know just now TO
proceed. In the meantime was m
orned that Mr.. E. N. Pugh was UNI
der the impression that twas illegal
for me to proceed with the work. I'M
mediately upon receipt Of this IN
formation, went to Mr.. Pugh's office,
in company with Mr.. Petersen OF New
Orleans, and asked Mr.. Pugh what
the trouble was about. | also stated
to Mr.. Pugh that / would like to know
lust what course to pursue, as ! did
NOT care to undertake this work I'M
less I was assured that could pro-
coed without being molested. Mr.;
P11gh's answer to me was, 60 ahead
and build the road" Mr.. Pugh beng
a member Of the road committee and
also an attorney, I lost no time IN
proceeding with the work. The same
instructions were given to me ny tne
rest of the committee.
had not started good again, When
the same question was again taken up
concerning the legality of my doing
the work. A meeting of the commit
tee was called for by Mr.. G. Il. Lam
dry, president of the committee, at
the request Of Mr.. Pugh. At. this
meeting a general discussion took
place as to the legality of my dong
the work without same first beng ad-
yertised. The district attorney. was
requested to be present (and this re-
quest I understand was made by Mr..
Landry through the channels OF Mr..
Pugh) and render his opinion on the
subject. $Ie opined that it was u
legal for me to do the work without
same first being advertised. In con-
nection with this opinion, might ADD
that the district attorney overlooked
| the fact that thirty miles ofaroad con
struction was done in his own parish
| on the very same basis that was go
ing to do the work in this parish, the
| only difference being that the WORK
Edone there was by the parish and not
a road district; and | also understand
that more work Of this nature is go.
|! ing to be done in his parish. How
ever. after receiving the district at
torney's opinion, the committee saw
| fit to disregard Same and instructed
me- to proceed with the work, whether
/ same was illegal or not, as they want
ed the road built as quickly as pos
sible. I proceeded again, only to b.
stopped once more The matter ther
began to become disgusting to me ant
| I asked the committee to relieve M
Of the work This they did, and
want to thank them for it through tn
channels of this column.
= In conclusion, wish to state ina
am builder of good roads and no
a builder of political machines. In
one-half mile of road | built IS opei
! for inspections and speaks for 1tseE
as to my ability as road builder.
I'll. M. WEBER.