The New York herald., 1876-08-01
DISTRESSED VORKINGNEN.
Mass Meeting IN Tompkins
Square Yesterday.
Representations Made by the Men to the
Heads of Departments.
THE ANSWER GIVEN THEM.

OF yesterday, reAsscmbled yesterday morning 10
Tompkas to their protest against the neg
lect OF the heads OF the city departments to provide
work for the thousands who anxious to earn their
bread see their families suffering untold prvahons for
want ofthe OF life II had been rumored that
the meeting might presage riot such once before
dsSraced 1ompkns square. and largo force OF police
were present while others were held IN reserve.
Happily there occasion for the en-
ployment Of the police, for the men
were orderly and extremely mild In their utterances
considering the bad plight in which they undoubtedly
are Speeches made by Mr.. John Ennis, Thomas
F. Roach, William +. OConnor and others, the burden
Of which the necessity for the workmen standing
nrm and united in their demand for employment and
the propriety OF avoiding all threats OF violence The
speakers counselled frmness and moderation and the
exercise OF the elective franchise ia the next election
Independent Of party Affiliations. The following pre-
ambo and resolutions adopted amid cheers and
committee, consisting OF the following members,
appointed their spokcsmen during their subse-
qucnt visit to the Mayor and other olllcals-vz-,
Aessra John Ennis, Thomas +. Roach William Nc
Govern Joseph Burke John Eagan, Richard Connolly,
William OConnor, James Howe and James Connolly
Whereas the condition of the working question
ofdeep Importance all times but especially al the
present moment when at least soooO men out OF en-
SSis charity Whereas !. 4 sad thing to many
our street. day After day sesreSinS for empsymsn;
xnsre.s this great evil the deoendcnce Of class
o mind in the ,spen.. and AZ tho sane
lsborer bound to and his offspring which
sts "s a S sy he s S % a S. to
by want of proper ciohing and whereas city
borne BY the people sossrnsd in s,ss. degree anti
living present, costing vast amount Of money to ali
"a Simply b III many & cases % G morbid taste
LEGISLATION for the public prnci
Xhir
shall be provision prohibiting the Intervention any
Resolved. Thai she WORKING men. meeting
ssmSisa respeesuiiy request His hono Mayor wckham.
on the Board Of Adsr%sn to % special Ds s
take their combined wisdom may be most
the workingmen and their families further request
that ~: Homer M the Mayor viii use his authority and ru
In our opinion that is whore the evil lies and
Alter the meeting had adjourned at tho square the
laborers, numbering between 400 and 500 formed in
procession, and, headed by the committee and the
Stars and Stripes, proceeded TO the City Hall Park
They formed on the southern side, and were met by
Captain Leary and large force OF police The Cap
lain Informed them that they could not be permitted
10 enter the building body, and requested them
send their committee IN. THIS request complied
with very reluctantly, but on entering tho Mayors
office they found that Mr. wickham OF the city
And acting Mayor Lewis temporarily absent. The
mitee then proceeded 10 the rooms of Commissioner
Campbell. OF the Department OF Public Works To
him they explained the object of their visit Mr.
Campbell assured them thai his duties were merely
executive, and that he had no power to give them
work Ho stated that he had recently given large
amount OF work by contract, and that at the no
had been pushing tho public works tho appropriation
or the year would soon be exhausted.
President Lewis acting mayor. subsequently received
the committee very kindly and expressed his sympa-
thies for their condition, but he merely acting
he unable give them the rciief asked for
He assured them that the Board OF Aldermen had every
disposition TO give them work. and that the RESPONSE
biy rested with the heads OF departments
The committee then waited on Comptroller Green at
Me Finance Department They were then invited
Into the Comptroer's oicc and Mr.. Ennis presented
thc subject the part OF the committee stating that
there great suffering at this time among the
laborng classes, who wished to ascertaia If possible
where the responsibility Tor lay 1t had been stated
that money had been collected from tho assessment
for Riverside avenue and was now lying uselessly
The bank
When he had concluded Comptroller Green said that
The representations made OF general charac
ter as to make 1t somewhat difficult To know how
spond II apparent any person the least OBJ
servatioh that great many persons were
pl0yment. among whom we're many, very many
ctabie mechanics and laborng men who were de-
Birous OF working, but found IT Impossible get any
work to do That was the condition not only Of the
cry OF New York but Of every city and town in the
Union. general paralysis existed all The
try Some attributed u 10 one cause and some to
other 1t was very apparent however, that this gen.
ersl sagnation OF business was on and that had
10 deal with II best could HIS function Comp
troer Of the city to raise tho money and pay
those who were entitled to be paid To certain de-
partments is entrusted the management OF certain
works to be performed. These departments have the
power to go on with the works, and 1t
was their business do when they thought
proper and not his TO employ the laborers and
the works II the departments went on with
works and the claims lawfully contracted II
presumed that they would be promptly paid, as they
always had been. 1t was not true that money had
been collected from assessments ior The Improvement
o Riverside avenue; but whenever The work should be
proceeded with under the law moucy would be pro-
v'dcd TO pay for It The Comptroller said should
proceed facts only Misreprcscnt short
lived and corrected by the truth He did deal
IN demagogism. 1t is test TOR all to ascertain and
stand ON the basis truth misrepresentation can
do good, ana he did wish hold hopes and
expectations that may prove nlusory good deal
has hoon In nf
Tompkins square. sufficient sum OF money
had been already expended on it by tho De-
and afford breathing place Tor the poor that
vicinity. The Comptroller also stated that the pay
rolls OF aborerr OF all the departments when correct
have been promptly PAID and there none In his
department now unpaid While he was desirous that
paid he was equally determined that 20 unjust bills
should Be allowed aud none paid which bore the ap-
pearance OF robbery. " he could hop it.
Mr. Ennis here remarked that the Comptroller
would be sustained by all good citizens IN this determi
The Comptroller said that he had been engaged for
many years In the Department oi Parks IN carrying
on works for developing and Deauying the city, aud
be knew OF no compliant that the various works un-
der his charge had not been carried with fairness
70 the laborers and economy TO the CITY,
In the present general paralysis Of our Industries
nnd trade must forget the class OF people who
Are taxpayers OF moderate means, who furnish tho
means OF carrying on the city government and paving
Ill It's expenses There many living The east
hide OF the city and the west side, IN the Ninth
other wards, who are barely abs to keep roof
their heads and pay the calls on them Tor The
taxpayers OF small means suffering from loss OF
business aud occupation, and ind It dcuIt to keep
their heads above water Their interests should be
considered and II 10 demanded that all high salaries
and jobbercs should be pat down, and thar every
dollar expended by the city an equivalent should be
received. The city, you know. sad he, has been
robbed OF millions OF lis money; It's debt great
and taxpayers have to sulcr The city OF New York,
as your chairman has said. IS great and rich city,
but 10 Affected by those aipcrvsding influences winch
have prostratcd the whole business OF the country.
He regretted ngy the dcstituton and suffer ng
that crsted and the difficulty experienced In procuring
employ ment. The public Industries were trihipg
compared with the great OF private enterprises
and businesses which all suffer from this con-
ution OF affairs lhc Comptroller concluded by say
Ing that IL would give him great pleasure to do what
1ver he properly could aid OF setting the wheels of
Industry motion aud to bring about better state of
hngs than exists with US at this time.