New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-02
MECHANICS AND WORKIsGHEN
MEET AT 10 PAX TONIGHT.

MEET AT To PAX TONIGHT.
The caH in the papers explained that the object of
the gathering was to oppose the contract system Of
the Corporation.
JosEPH w. Toos was called to the Chair. He ex-
pressed his synpathies with the workingmen of New
ork City, who had hitherto been used as tools to ele
vate other men TO power, who, when they have OBJ
tanned it, Get them aside. He expressed his approval
OF the resolutions and called upon all workngmen to
carry out Their spirit. Had they done so last Novem-
Der this meeting would not have been called lCheesl
Mr. CHARLES SMITH read the following resolutions,
which we unanimously adopted:
Hheye0s has been stated the public prints that the Com
moneI Of Streets and Lamps has submitted 10 he Common
Council proposals contract to eileen the streets Of the
City and Hhea' the streets are not now n'de con .ct Dat
under the direction Of the pr ocr the Corpora
and VIeas we regard the con rsct system as enc Of
the grt sgant which labor has to contend and
psym' drawn foo the labor and in usy Of the Ct and
Bheas the City hs- red the contract system OF cleaning the
Tresy by which the Corporation has been compelled 20 pay
twice or the he and second
time 10 the workr gmen who called perform the
work neglected by the conr cto and UhreGi Ne people Of
he Cir almost aree 10 opiuol City
bet condition cleanliness hsn it Is al
ent when cleaned by day. bo under the direction OF eff
e Mt Head Of Depa msnt and apernendent and all
experience has proved the pesent contract system of the Copo
ration to DC ie uIs IN eye IA =, 3 ga
grow fat public pundtr and the earnings Of honest bor,
Ressired That we the workngmen # the City ofvewYor
do hereby earnestly and heartily pc tet against the making If
work 20 be- done for the Copoan believing do that
snch cor alike injurious labor and the Payer and
ouy all experience shows that lnder H. for the most prsie
expenditure .fmoney the CRY gets he wort work @,
hesoire9 That appeal 10 the members Of the Common
CouI 70 paue they contract for cleaning
the streets Of the City especially OF the
lat contract Of hi. krd hsd be paid over hat
h. the City under the present order Of things cleaner
than it ever befrwe refer III oft1e City In
peeor the conclusive proof Of he present sanitary con-
Rer.d That the Mechanics and woItinsmen OF the City Of
NewYok look 10 the Common Cousei Tor protection ans.
m pon dy % remrmbr who are our ien is and wao are
our foes We shall hereafter judge BY their acts aud not BY
fair opport unity earning living for ourselves and FAM les
b1s sue to accept ny IN S ' b
noop Of our earnings We oeny the night Of the Leg
Ss s bran s nS and sSel Of men
oc We have been bought aud sold long enough BY ouP
politicians e.,,n.,, 4 d .,,,,. =. .s,
to the Mayor and severay 10 the Board OF
and Couucmen. And that Commit &c Of one ro each wa
men bis Ward with references 20 carrying gu, me objects OF
this meeting believing a. We 90 Una. ne naeIr y l4
mite with us in eOt destroy asyen that entails
on evil the Corporation and those VIII do the "ork tire
MIR. s. proceeded to address the meeting, declaring
thar the contract system of the Corporation was a
means by which the poor man was reboed 10 NIL ncn
ricl ens pockets. Not only are the contractors and
the Corporation TO be blamed, but the speculao rs IN
corn ard -four are men on whom the vengeance oil
| God will fall heavily. ~,
| A VoIcE-So it ought. [Cheers.
Mr.. S.-They grind the face of the poor without
mercy yrinnlg the last cent from them without re-
more lCheers. Mayor Wood contends that street.
sweeping must be done contract; but Whatever tue
law NAV saw on that subject, II does not prescribe
that i, shall be do1e by sweeping machinery. Jap
plsuse But there is something rotten III Tue state
of Dem, ark There officials who have shares IN
this sreet-sweeping machine business. Applause
Last Winter they got the contract bills signed the
streets were not swept and they put the money IN
their own pockets. Shame He concluded by CALI
il Q upon the meeting TO carry out the resolutions, re-
membering that, az Ben Franklin had SAID; II you
help youn elves God will help you. Applause
Mr. WV WEST was the next speaker. In the States
called Save-States men are sold by auction TO the
highest bidder, and they are regarded as property
and acquire the rights Of property but here working
men have not only to do the bidding of their owners,
but 10 nav them for the privilege OF being their slaves
We have the privilege of voting II Is true, but they
direct how 10 vote, AND we resist ana refuse OOe-
djenee 10 them they al and forthwith discharge
Us from their service and numbered among the
cast.aways of the earh-pennile,s and andess with
ont apy s bis on the earth in the heavens There
are other offices in the City, other employment more
worthy of their talent and genius than street weeping
fthe MAY could appoint department OF physici aus
10 doctorih Inc Police-( a VOICE." To poison them j
il will be- lust as right for the Mayor TO appoint a
BOARD Of Shoemakes 10 shoe them Cheers and laugh
teri There are City Tote belonging TO the Corpora.
ton which in reality beloag the citizens. Nov If
these were placed in the hands OF the people they could
huild houses for themselves ard when they had paid
rent enough TO pay them the houses should become
their OWN instead of psyng enormous neus for snch
! had accommodation as they now had 70 put up with.
| He concluded by moving additional resolutions en-
| bod,ing bis views Of city government, declaring he
H. his of workipgmen 10 the City properly referred 70
! il his speech.
The PRlsIpEST offered resolution protesting
against any contract beng given TO hessfs smith,
Sckel X Co, the proprietors OF the sueet-sweepns
mscbire, which was unanimously adopted.
Mr. BRADsHAw here came forward aud addressed
the meeting. He commenced by declaring that the
working-men Of this City constantly the dupes OF
POLITICAL iobbers and aspirants 10 Off He had come
forward as an independent citizen 10 expose the du-
pcity Of those who bad called them together on ne
| pr, sent occasion.
Noise and tumult followed this announcement. a
score Of voices cried out. Hear him, bear him
while the promoters # the meeting began 10 ho't and
howl and rush was made toward the speaker 70
/ hoist him from the platform. night ensned- anl
some hard blows were exchanged, IN the midst OF
which ii beesme impossible for the reporters who had
all the evening been subject 10 the gre,test annoy
anc,s to r,main at the table appropriated for them
Itlad become dark and no lights were supplied. Ia
the confusion Of the fight many paper belonging 70
the reporters were torn to pieces At length hr.
Bradshaw. having defended himself with hrs hst ana
friends coming TO his rescue drove the orgnators oil
he meeting away and left M Is IN possession d 'ne