St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-13
The Special Committee From the City
Council Consider the Proposed
Radical Changes.
Representatives of the Trades and Labor
Assembly and Labor Organizations
Present their Views.
An Abolition of the Contract System
Now in Vogue Demanded for
the Next Year,
While they are Not Yet Ready to Make
Fight for the Much Mooted
Eight Hour system.

tives of labor organizations yesterday to dis
cuSS the questions involved. AID. WalSh'S
resolution, which cOmpOseS the foundation
OF the proposed radical changes in the labor
system of tn. city, was not touched upon.
Aid. Walsh as chairman, read the reSolu-
lions as follows:
AID. GIBSON'S MOTION.
Whereas, The council of this city, by its treat
ment OF the motion establishing $1.5O per day as
the lowest amount that contractors shall be al
lowed to pay for laborers during the season OF
1886, has shown that it is the friend OF the labor
ing men of this city and desires to improve their
condition far as lies within its power. there
fore be it moved that we go on with the great
work and specify eight hours as the time that
shall constitute days labor.
AID. LAwRENCE'S MOTION.
Whereas, 1t is not practicable to regulate the
price of labor paid to persons laborlng upon the
public works of the city of Minneapolis when the
same is let by contract and
Whereas 1t is for the best interests of the city
of Minneapolis, well as of every citizen thereof,
that living price be paid to persons laboring
upon the public works of the city, and that resi-
dents of the city be employed to perform such Ia
Dor in preference to non residents, and
Whereas, large amount of sewers is to be
constructed during the year 1885, now therefore
Be it moved by the city of Minneapolis, That
during the year 1886, all sewers constructed by
the city of Minneapolis be constructed by the city
engineer and that the laborers upon such sewers
be employed by the day, and that all competent
laborers be paid not less than s15O per day, and
that in the employment of such laborers prefer
ence be given to residents non-residents.
Michael Mogan, representing the Trades
and Labor assembly. addressed the conven-
ton in regard to the Gibson resolution. The
assembly is somewhat in doubt as to the
legality of the question of the eight-hour
system, but he felt certain that the matter of
awarding contracts can be regulated by the
city. The assembly had closely watched the
1la,ri f;aco ff b,1 onf
have come to Minneapolis from other cities
and received contracts, to the detriment of
local industries. Mr.. Morgan said that ras-
cality had been going in in the matter OF pub
lie works, and the remedy for the evil, in his
mind, lies in the abolition of the contract
system.
Myron Packard, representing the Carpen-
ters' union. followed in the same strain. He
felt that the city should do all its own work,
thereby helping the poor men through the
hard winters. He had often thought
that the city should employ poor
men, living on the bounty Of the city through
the supervisors of the poor, in keeping side
walks clean during the winter. He advocated
also the proposed elght-hour system. The
carpenters union had sent a delegate to
Washington to lobby for the system in Con-
gress. He did not believe in the principle of
employing strangers upon public works.
They come to Minneapolis, get their wages
IOf In0lT WOrh duu CARRY IL uOmc WILL tucLu
at the end of the season.
Con DeWan, representing the Stonecutters
association, spoke regarding the proposed
stone-cutting on the stone arch bridge, and
advocated that the stone-cutting for the
bridge be done in Minneapolis in
stead of other cities as had been pro-
posed by some. He also opposed the con-
tract system. but whether by contract Or by
the day under the direction of the city en-
gineer he urged that it be done by workmen
who live in Minneapolis.
Aid. Gibson here took the floor and said
that ne had discovered that the wind had been
taken out of his sail He had anticipated a
good strong breeze to come to the aid of his
ship. but he could see that the members of
the trades and labor organizations were in
clined to be a little lukewarm toward the
eight-hour system.
Mr. Morgan replied that the proposition
had been received with favor and enthusiasm
by the trades and labor people, but
they were in doubt as to the
were afraid that the council would defeat
Aid. Lawrence's motion owing to the eight
hour motion handicap. He said he knew that
during the season in which the city improve
ments are being prosecuted Minneapolis lab
oring men are daily discharged and new men
are given employment through the Minneap-
oils employment bureaus, and the money has
been divided between the contractors and the
bureaus.
Mr. De Wan stated that evidently the COM
mittee is unaware of the fact that the stone
cutters of the city have only worked eight
hours a day for three years. and the glass
blowers work even less number of hours per
day. Mr.. MOgan announced that a public
meeting had been arranged for to be
held in Harrison hall on Monday evening for
the purpose of discussing the questions in
volved in the two resolutions
Ala. Johnson-What particular objection
have the assembly people to contractors do
ing the work?
Mr. Mogan-We object for the simple rea-
son that the contractors employ men as low
as possible and drive them to work to their
utmost. Contractors have employed men the
past year for S1.25 per day.
You would not expect to do away with
private contracts? For instance, if citizen
wants to build a house, you don't expect to
prevent him from having it done by con-
tractS'
Eyes; we expect to do away with contracts
of all kinds. We will do it eventually through
means of cooperation.
'Dont you consider that principle of
contracting?"
Eyes; but it regulates the wages, and it is
the only way in which it can be regulated.
1t will do away with the employment bu-
reauS."
Mr.. Packard also scored the abomina-
ton of the employment bureaus, and cited q
number of instances which had come under
his personal observation. He also urged
competent wages 1t is human nature for a
man to do deal more work for 81 so per day
than they will for S1.25, and they will better
earn the larger wages. Therefore it will be
economical in the end for the city to abolish
the competition contract system. He pre-
dicted that in the course of few years the
system will be a thing of the past. People
will arrive at the fact that it is
cheaper to pay reasonable wages,
because more and better class of
work will be done. John Lally of the Sixth
ward had not been sent as a delegate from
anybody and. therefore, probably had had
no right. He feared, however, that the
strong gale which is now prevailing will soon
die down and the good which will result will
amount to very little. He thought the COM
mittee is attempting too much. Each reSolu-
ton has its particular virtue. But he OPP
posed the abolition of the contract system,
because as soon as the city undertakes to do
its own work system of jobbery and steal
ing commences. His attention had been
called to certain work which was done at the
Lowry hill, where seventeen teams had been
employed and eighteen bosses to superintend
the work. He mentioned a number of in
stances of similar purport.
Aid Johnson remarked soto voce, that Mr..
Lally's remarks were fraught with deal OF
good common sense.
Another laboring man quickly took issue
with Mr.. Lally and charged that Mr.. Lally is
not laborfng man. All the Eastern cities
Mr.. De Wan alleged that the engineer had
stated the work can be done as cheaply by
the city as by contract
Aid. Morse corroborated the statement.
Mr.. Mogan had no hesitation in alleging
that the city contractors are ward politicians
IL