Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-10
THE CITY HANDS AND CARTS
Il IS. CONTRACT LABOR

RICHMOND. Va. February 27. 1855.
70 ne EjGor al ne Dispdfch: The object
Of this communication is To applaud tire
brave and patriotic action of Alderman
Chafin of Clay Wand. who, when the
budget OF appropriations for the city was
brc;.ssht up in the COUNCIL. moved 70 Strike
ont the item approprating $4,000 for
hands AMI carts. crushers and rollers. &c.
II is not every legislative officer who has
the moral courage 10 vote against An In
crease Of salaries OF public officers or 10
abolish offices already IN existence. Now,
Mr.. Chaftin did this very thing when ne
voted to strike out this item OF $4,000. II
his motion had been sustained several ON
cial heads would have been stricken OF ana
the taxpayers saved the amount OF their
salaries, TO say nothing OF what would have
been saved by the abolition ~ the present
wasteful system OF the city in keeping
hands and carts To do the city grading. II
Is the general rule Of other cities To put this
character OF work out 10 the lowest bidder,
after duly advertising for proposals ana de-
sCrihing the character OF the work 10 be
done the lowest hid taking the Job. We
think this the fundamental principle OF
doing business. and ~ should Ire par
ticularly applied to all public work
when practicable; its fairness cannot be
questioned. IL is believed ny many. and
particularly by the contractors of this city.
vino are experts in this business, and who
make their daily bread thereby. that the
public have been ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In
Ientionally or not we do not knoW-when
information has been furnished as 10 the
present rate or cost per cubic yard of grading
and like work upon the streets by city hands
and carts. and consequently the present UNI
Outstanding Of the matter u based upon er-
roneOus figures.
All viii agree that The statement that the
present system OF grading costs the city less
Than regular contractors would do the same
for is in direct opposition To the general
rule of seif-preservation. or that persons
win manage better for a corporation than
they would for themselves. Now, is II not
passing strange that the city Of Richmond
has such viTtuOus officers and employees
that IL can, with its additional cumbersome
system. move "A cubic yard of earth FOR much
less than "A contractor. who Is encountered
with no dead head employees or other para
pheTnalia. as Is likely 10 be the case with a
corporation, and WHO also gives his strict
personal attention TO every detail OF THIS
! his business. by which he earns his daily
I bread, and who has to resort TO the most
| economical measures TO do even TINS ana
/ save himseffrom loss? Now there must he
/ q wrong statement somewhere, as contract
| Ors affirm that ii costs them more per cubic
| yard to move earth than IL is said TO cost
/ the city.
II ii be true that the city does this. II
| would be q smart thing for the city 10 get
/ "a few more mules and carts and appoint a
few more officers TO look after them, and go
| into contracting generaliy-say eNcaNatc
! all the foundations and do all the grading
| in the city. Contractors would then he run
out OF the city. and the Treasury Golfers
could also be filed by the profits of this
| business, and the necessity for an increased
/ levy OF taxes thus avoided. Not being law
/ yeTs we would like 10 know II there Is any
/ constitutional barrier TO the city thus rails
ing revenue. We make this query solely
I nom economical motives. and in the inter
/ esls OF the city.
A further argument that the city does not
move a cubic yard Of earth cheaper than a
contractor, and is thus wasting money Il
the fact. as Is well known, that negro slave
/ were worked for all they were worth, and n
is quite true that work was often done un-
der the whip and lash. Now "clty
figures show that dirt or earth is handled
more cheaply at present than under TIT
slave reguHc, and, II true, IL proves further
that more work is exacted OF the white
laborer in this employment than was re.
qured of negro slaves under the so
called barbarous system of slavery
Leaving out Of consideration altogether
the accepted belief that contract WORK
is cheapest for corporations. VIII any
one deny that II an appropriation o
$4,000 were made for the annual grad
ing and the city should find herself IN
straiiened circumstances that work would
be discontinued until the last dollar was ex
pended, whether the expenditure was actu
ally necessary or not: Under the contract
system " the cloth could be cut according q
the price, and In such an emergency worl
could be discontinued. BY all means Mr.
Chains motion should have prevailed
and IL is sincerely hoped that he will no; lie
the matter drop here; and II IL hoped tina
he will bring the matter up again at
proper time. and to use his utmost endea
vors In inducing the Council TO put this worl
out at contract and thus place his grievous
-bnfdened and tax-oppressed constituent
under still further obligations for his zeal II
looking after the Interests OF the city.
NH iO-it TAXPAYERS.