Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-05-22
MASS MEETING.
a Protest Against the Reduction o
Wages.

4 Protest Against the heducttOn OF
Wages.
Circulars were distributed about the
streets yesterday, calling for a mass
meeting of citizens at the Courthouse, in
the evening, at o'clock, to protes
against the action of the contractors
under the Cable Car Company in reduc-
ing the wages of the men who are g.
work upon the extension OF the road.
These men have been receiving 50 day 4,
and are henceforth to receive only 81. rs.
At the appointed time several hundred
men assem- bled in the street north of the
Courthouse. The meeting was Gale d
to order by George Teller, who asked j..
D. Bailey to act as president. Mr.. Bailey
was introduced, and made brief speech
He said that the meeting was called to
protest against the reduction of wages
made by Mr.. Wright, the contractor for
the Cable Company. Mr.. Wright
claimed that while only $l.25 or
81 80 was paid for similar work
in Chicago $l.75 was enough to
pay here. "But," said the speaker,
we are not in Chicago but Los Angeles.
Even if men get 50 day, when the lay
offs are taken into account it will not
amount to more than 81 so. We are net
making any strike; we are simply pro-
testing. The strike really comes from
the other side. When wages are cut it
| amounts to a strike on the part of the
employer. The cut will save to the con-
tractor about $50 q day-nothing to him
but great deal to us. A married man
with family cannot live on $12 week.
If this company cuts, all the other con-
tractors will follow suit and all workmen
will find themselves in the same boat
with us. The merchants will find this
PRODUCTION to their disadvantage, for we
lcannot pay our bills. Los Angeles has
been comparatively free from labor
troubles thus far, but this step is in the
wrong direction and evil results will fol
low.
The speaker concluded by introducing
Mayor Hazard, who had been advertised
in the handbills to speak at the meeting
The Mayor stepped forward and ex-
planned that there had been something
of Observation-Disclosures he had been
asked first to preside at the meeting, and
when he had felt compelled to decline,
owing to the official position which he
occupied, he had not expected to be
called upon for speech. Nobody
regrets more than do" said he, "that
the contractor should have seen fit 10
make such cut. 1t has become law
OF the city that eight hours should con-
stitute days work, and to the men
EN- ployed on the streets we have never
paid less than two dollars a day. l dc
not know that l could have been oil
any service in averting the reduction,
but if l had been asked | would
gladly have called upon the contractor
and spoken in your behalf. do not
blame you for thus standing up and pro-
testing. 1t is unfortunate that the prece-
dent should be established of paying lese
than 50 a day in this city," The Mayor
then went on to warn the men that
whatever action they might take, they
should not resort to violence. He re-
minded them that the cable company
was putting a good deal OF capital into
the city, and affording employment TO a
great many men. He thought times
would soon be better and there
would be work for all. Some
one in the audience threw out a
hint that the Council ought to
begin on the sewer building, and the
Mayor responded by assuring him thai
this would come in time. It was moi
possible to borrow million and a hall
Of money without going through the
necessary legal proceedings.
After Mayor hazard, George Teller
spoke q few minutes. He proposed that
| Mayor Hazard be requested to act with
the Committee on Grievances.
| Short and stirring speeches were made
by Mr.. Blennerhassat, Jesse Butler, j.
Mutually and James Vinette. The latter
gentleman offered the following resolu-
ton, which was adopted:
Resolged, That we desire that the City
Council shall faithfully carry out their
pledge to the Eight Hour League, and
| that all contracts on the public sewers
shall contain a clause compelling the
contractors to work their men only eight
hours.
The following Committee on Grievances
was appointed: George Teller, ]. OH
Lynch, A. S. Holloway.
The meeting then dispersed.