The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-02-19

he shall file written contract in the
recorders Office ofhis county, Which,
if he fails to do, he is forever depri-
we'd Of the law under consideration.
Sir, suppose mechanic is hired by
the day to complete piece of work
for man living twenty miles in the
country, he is compelled, TO secure
his rights, to send written contract
to the recorders Office every day,
which must be filed. Does the gen
tleman from Morgan (Mr. Thomas J
call this securing the rights of me-
chanics? He said that it appeared
to him to be bill for the benefit of
lawyers. He would like to know
what the daily laboring mechanic
would have left of his wages after
paying his lawyer for drawing his
contracts?
1t is true that builders and heavy
contractors would not be afflicted so
much by this bill. When taking
large jobs in towns and cities, they
have written contracts, and it is but
little trouble to file them as requir-
ed. Much of the work done on hea-
Wy contracts is done by the day.
assure you, sir, that in all oar towns
and cities there are ten of that class
of mechanics TO oae of the large con-
tractors and builders, and as good
and as intelligent men as we have in
the State, many of whom have large
families who depend on them for
their support. The gentleman says
he has had experience, and, there
fore, knows the effect this law will
have. /, sir, have had experience
too, having been engaged in the
building business for the last ten or
fifteen years at city where there
has been as much business in this
line as at any other in this State. |
have been called upon to appraise
the work of mechanics when their
employers have refused to pay them
in many cases, and these are always
a set of gentlemen doctors, lawyers,
and gentlemen at large, hanging
about our towns and cities, who en-
ploy mechanics to work for them
they appear like honest men. The
mechanic is only wanted week or
two; he shoulders his tools and goes
to work, and the gentleman finds
that it will take three months TO fin
ish the job; but when he wants nom
ey to supply the wants of his family,
and calls on the gentleman, what an
swer does he get? "My dear sir,
my money is little short to-day,
but | will send it to you next week"
The next week the mechanic pre-
sents the gentleman the bill for lis
work, and what then? The bill is
examined, it is found that it amounts
to large sum; the reply is, that
the work is not done well, that the
bill is too large, and that he will not
pay it. Has the mechanic any rem
edy ifthis bill becomes law? None
at all, sir. But under the present
law, he takes lien on tue work
which he has done, and thus brings
the gentleman to terms at once.
The bill is paid, or compromise Of
fectcd. The work is examined and
appraised by competent Judges,
Which the mechanic is always will
ling TO have done. Three fourths
of the cases which arise under the
present law occurs where gentlemen
wish to cheat the mechanic out of
his just claim, in my very humble
opinion.
1t has been urged, sir, that under
the present law innocent purchasers
suffer. AS understand the present
law, sir, it only holds good against
the property three months after the
work is done, or the contract fulfil
led by the parties. Any purchaser
should require the evidence of
good title, let him inquire of the me-
chanics whether they have been
paid, it would be but little trouble.
Are the members of this house
willing to vote for law which would
deprive a large majority of the me-
chanics of the State Of all the bene-
fits flowing from this law? | trust
not, sir. Trusting in the good sense
of the house, | move to lay the bill
upon the table.
The bill and substitute was laid
on the table by large majority.]
The Bcginuing Of tho Ycnr.
The Chaldeans' and Egyptians
year were dated from the autumnal
equinoX,-The ecclesiastical year
of the Jews began in the spring;
but in civil affairs they retain the
epoch of the Egyptian year. The
ancient Chinese reckoned from the
new moon nearest the middle of
Aquarius. The year of Romulus