New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-22
LOCAL PARTY ISSUES.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS DENOUNCED.


A MAss-MEETING OF woRKINGMEN TO PROTEST
AGAINST THE REDUCTION OF CITY WAGES
JOHN KELLY AND MAYOR wICKHAM BLAMED.
About $500 workingmen crowded the large
Na OF the Cooper Union last evening in answer TO call
ruhlshcd by general committee of the aborers on all
tbe city works The object OF the meeting as expressed
IN the resolutions which unanimously adopted, was
N protes against the action OF city officials In reducing
the wages of the laborers FROM 81 TO 81 60 per day
prominent among those the platform were Thomas b.
Nssterton, Patrick Walsh john Ennis, Michael =.
Murphy and Michael Smith, all of whom among the
foremost in the labor movement Of 1870 together with
Theodore Tomlinson, Michael Martin, ]. b. Mcclellan,
sylvanus Haight, David j. Twohey, John d. Billings
Major Cunningham. and c. T. Adams
While the resolutions read the Secretary was very
frequently interrupted also the speakers when
ever the names Of Mayor wickham and John Kelly were
mentioned At the mention of the Mayors name groans
and Kisses mingled with various cries of opposition were
freely INDUCED in when the first speaker G. w Brooks
was speaking Of the salaries OF the Mayor and other
officials from all parts OF the. house came such cries as
ssomebody remember this in November" "shame!'
and many more. When MIR. Brooks mentioned the fact
that he had been in the past advocate Of Tammany
Hail. IL seemed as II there would be an outbreak Part
Of the many throwing up their hats and the
voice of the speaker for few minutes drowned in
the Kisses and groans and shouts in all parts OF the
house.
. little after O'Clock, Andrew Godan, acting as Chair
man. announced the purpose Of the meeting briefly and
called upon the Secretary James Thorburn TO read the
resolutions These demonstrated against the reduction
IN the my Of department workngmcn on the ground tha
g. per day barely adequate for the decent support OF
ho lust dignity and reasonable comfort OF an American
workman" The responsibility for this undcmocratic
policy Of debasement, injustice and oppression was de-
elared belong To John Kelly, who "shoud measure
the adequacy of the reward OF labor and the workman
from the standpoint OF what he and not from that of
what ne is" Mayor Wickbam, the simple and passive
instrument OF John Kelly" also declared to he en-
titled to his share Of the responsibility. In conclusion 1t
was resolved THAT his majesty John Kelly he requested
10 abdcate his leadership he has survived his useful
ness" The resolutions adopted unanimously and
hailed with loud applause.
W Brooks, being called for by the audience, said.
with other things, the following
Now, gentlemen the subject on which you have been
brought here is fraught with peculiar interest ana
requires little attention to detail IL has been re
classes Of the people were being paid by the taxpayers
Zoo much int their labor WAS not of TG Ge
Of New-Yorks were anxious to economic, ana
The CITY dd ascioS cent de I5cf
Is fair that il there is to be economy in the admins
should strike s first blow at the root and source Of the
power and life Of the municipality Applause Is II
usi generous and Americani ICrics of no! nowJ
The salary OF the Mayor is S12 900 year Kisses Do
they want TO economic in the City Government Why
take out OF you my friends with Your " Per DAY
Take the 20 per from 0O0 and instead of saving
$50 from you, they 100 from the Mayor lap
pausel And with that So 400 they at the rate
Of - per day the wages Of six laborng men for year
The Mayor has a clerk at 5000 per years 20 per cent
of will pay five laboring at 81 day for the year
The Corporation Couasels office has $4,000 year; 20
per cent Is $1,000 Take his 20 per cent ana it Will
pay seven and half labOrtng men 81 per day
iof a wear So go through the list. need not detain
you with the details | find that the result Is that the
Total salaries of the departm, ns amount to SI6960O
year, not taking into account any salary below SZooo
and including Judges and the district Attorney. ind
that 20 per cent Of that is 1888 800 which find at the
rate ~ per day would pay 4s4 aborers for one year
Immense applause
Mir Brooks was followed by Mr.. j. B. Mcclellan, who
smoke in warm terms OF the cause of the wO1kngmeD
and said he there humble taxpayer TO protest
against the action Of the City Government