St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-18
RECOGNIZING LABOR.
The Position Mayor Ames of Min
neapeiis Assumes.


mayors of Minneapolis addressed the city
council, one delivering his farewell address
and the other his inaugural. Both recog-
nized the importance of the labor move
ment, and dwelt with considerable stress
upon its relation to municipal affairs. Mayor
PillSbury, in conservative way, remarked:
While the wages paid by the city should be
generous, they should not be excessive. For
while the immediate effects Of very high wages
might seem to he good, the ultimate effect
would be injurious by inviting the unem-
ployed of other cities TO come here in large
numbers, and to such an extent that the uu-
due competition of persons seeking labor
would greatly depress prices. and the very
thing sought TO be avoided would be brought
about To certain extent the laws of sup
ply and demand as they affect labor, may be
modified somewhat by wise legislation. The
interests of labor and capital are mutual, and
any effort to array one against the other
without just cause is reprehensible and
should be frowned upon by all good citizens.
In all cases where differences exist there
should be mutual forbearance and an under
standing should, If possible, be brought about
by the parties in interest. And If il cannot
be brought about in this way, then let it be
accomplished by a submission of the matters
in controversy to an arbitration of fair
minded, conscientious men, and not by strikes,
lockouts and boycotts.
MAYOR AMEs
spoke in no uncertain tones, and his sug-
gestiOns will be recognized as timely and as
offered in kindly spirit. which gives the
assurance that under his administration the
interests of the producers, as well as the
taxpayers, will be protected. He said:
The most important question now
before the people of the country, and one in
which the acts of your honorable body must
necessarily become an important factor. is
that of the rights of the laboring classes. The
wage workers compose nine-tenths of our
population. Their ranks contain a very large
proportion Of the brains and intelligence of
every community. They have for years Ia
bored under the disadvantages incident 10
bad leadership and Reorganization. These
are fast being overcome and the mighty host
is now appearing, Invested of intended wrong
and demanding that capital, while it is thor
oughly protected and given fair returns, shall
not crush its producers into the dust. While
1 do not belong TO either of these great con-
tending forces, believe there is much justice
in the demands Of organized labor. / believe
that organized labor is the irmest friend that
capital has, and, believing this, i will stand
by it as long as its representatives are con-
sentative. And in this connection, with
desire only for the public welfare,
] recommend to your honorable body
that an ordinance be passed making
eight hours days labor for all employees of
the city, and that upon all public works labor
| cease at o'clock on Saturday. 1 further
| recommend that no work be done by contract
which can be properly carried on by the day
| under city officials and that no wages less
| than $l.5O per day be paid any employe of the
| city. ! do this knowing that the work here
tofore done could have been carried through
on these terms at less cost to the city than
has been done in the past. If there are to be
| large profits realized by contractors, / favor
| a system by which
THE WAGE WORKER
| shall have these profits instead. Every dol
lar which goes out as l suggest will return
| through the hands of our business men, and
| the whole people will profit thereby. 1 also
recommend that no contracts be let to nom
residents for city work that can be done by
our own citizens, provided, however, that this
| may be deviated from when it can be proven
| that the bids are exorbitant or the result of q
combination to rob the city. 1 am decidedly
| in favor OF the passage of an ordinance in
opposition to the present contract system
where it can be followed out without detri-
| nent to the public good; and of placing the
heaviest penalty by fine and Imprisonment
| upon any city official who shall receive any
bride, be interested in any contract from the
| city, or allow dollar of the peoples money
| to go wrong through his hands / desire that
your honorable body shall, by enacting prop
erly framed ordinance, aid me in stopping the
| formation of rings and combinations for the
purpose of raiding the public treasury.
next ask Of you, gentlemen, that economy be
practiced in every branch Of the city govern
ment. Tho people are becoming tax-ridden
and cry aloud for halt. The limit of per
cent, allowed by law, has been reached and
| it is time that
RErRENCHMENT AND REFORM
became something more than political war
cries. While admit there are many public
necessities to meet, on account of our wonder
! full growth, still believe with proper econ
omy upon your part you can meet all the pos
| tive demands and still keep within our le0iti
mate resources.