St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-13
AID. KAIN,S RESOLUTION.
Reasons for is EntrOductiOn--N OH
inglnen'S Opinions.

Reasons for Its EntrOductIon--N of n
inelmen's Opinions.
The resolution introduced by Aid. Kan
at the last meeting of the city council hA-
ing the minimum price per day for WORK Oh
,ity contracts. is looked on as step IN the
proper direction by the wOrklngmen OIL Vn0
city. In an interview with Aid, KAN yes
terdav he was asked by GLOBE reporter
as to the resolution and the cause Oh us III
PRODUCTION. be SAID:
"Weu. I am opposed to the whole con-
tract system, and when 1t was Drought 10
nv attention that certain contractor was
offering but 10 cents per hour, ana was en-
deayOring to enter into contracts win Ia
borers for the winter at the rate of So per
week. | thought ii was time 10 take actlon-
It was not nv intention to injure or do any
thing in this matter that would work an in
Jury. or do an injustice, to any man doing a
legitimate contract business in this city. but
| am fully determined to show up certain
avariciouS gang of contractors who are bid
ding so low on city work that they have to
beat their men down to a considerable less
than living wages. There are. however, in
this city class of contractors who Will not
take work unless they can afford to pay
their laborerS at least S1.25 per day, and
they are the men who ought to get the con-
tracts. But | have recently learned that
one of these low priced contracts have been
thrown up. and it is to be hoped it Will go
to some one who will pay living wages for
their labor"
but some of the contractors claim that
they are not justified in paying more than
81 per day during the winter season."
at is true that they are taking advan-
tage of the winter season to commence con-
tracts and offer this as an excuse for cut
ting prices Now, l can't see where either
the city OF contractor is benefited by these
low-priced contracts. II we should succeed
in establishing uniform price for labor on
city work it would be as fair for one con-
tractor as another and the only difference
would be that in estimating the cost OF a
certain Improvement they would be obliged
to figure the labor at $50 per day instead
of at IS cents and 81. as has been done III
numerous cases in the past. Nor IS the city
benefited in the least, because II these men
are not provided for in this manner they
will have to be assisted by our public or
private charity. AS an evidence OF this
fact the board of control at every session
receives numerous appeals tor city aid, and
aside from all questions of policy, man
who is able and anxious to work to main
tain himself and family, and who does So
should not be subjected to the humiliation
of appealing for charity"
when will the special committee meet
to consider your reSolution?
Il think the committee will meet about
Dec. 49,
OPINIONS OF wORKINGNfEN.
c. W. StevensOn-I think the resolution
move in the right direction, and one look
ing toward the abolition of the contract sys-
TEN. | consider it a shOrt-Sighted policy
for a city to let its work at such low fig
ures that its laboring population cannot live
and then appropriate money for their re-
lief. | am a member of the workingmen's
committee appointed to meet with the
council committee, and you may rest as
sured will do everything in my power for its
passage.
\. l.. Robinson-The resolution is a
necessity. in my opinion. Wages have
been cut down from year to year and from
day to day, until they are now so low that
q large proportion of our population is
hardly able to snbsist, and through no fault
of their own, for they are, as class, sober.
industrious men. and work when they can
yet work to do. l hope that the resolution
will pass. and also that the entire contract
system will be abolished, not only on city
and state improvements, but in our state
prison.
!. F. Cronin-I consider it a move in
the right direction, and hope that the con
tractors will quit the business altogether.
as the money paid to them as profit. in my
opinion is useless expense. If not paid
to the men direct by the city, it might bet
ter remain in the city treasury.
Henry Gemehle-The resolution is just
hn ity-
should now take active measures to secure
its passage by the council.
J. A. Johnson have but recently
learned of the full import of the resolution.
but consider it a step in the right direction.
The contract system has been, and is the
curse cf the WOrkingmen. Nothing would
please me more than to see the resolution
ratified by our council.
Philip Fisher hope that the resolution
NAV become Il law. Pauper labor is the
ruination Of any community. Show me a
city where the wOrkingmen are receiving
good wages and will show you prosper
Gus. thriving and enterprsing people. If
the workngmer do not have money no one
else has any. as labor is the only true
source of wealth.
Frank Casserly-It is well that something
has been done in this direction. l hope the
council will adopt the resolution or do
something that will relieve this class of
people.
{. A. La Fayette-The whole contract
system should be abolished, and this is a
good move to show the abSurdity of the
present system.
T. Hourihan-All we want is an oppor-
tunitv to show the public that the contract
system is wrong and working an injury to
the city: then they viii come to our sup
port and endorse our action.
J. ". Piper-The resolution is sensible
one. | hope it will pass The laboring
man should get as much as the resolution
demands. and not a cent less.
Mr. Jordan-It's just the thing and
should have been introduced long ago. l
hope il will pass.
f. r. Harroun-The contractors make
money enough and should be compelled to
pay their men reasonable wages. hope it
Will pass.