The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-05
TWO DOLLARS A DAY.
Laborers Waiting Hungrily and
Patiently for Wages.
THE ORDINANCE IS DELAYED.
Unnecessary Hardness In Paying Wage
Farmers The Provisions Of
the Appropriation.

All day yesterday frsm o'clock In the morn
ing untii past In the afternoon. q neatly
usvssto. micdle-ased woman sat 81 the foot OF
the Stairs of the Batter building. By her side
wa. cniid's carriage In when lay ala infant
fatiently she waited. hour after hour, and
passers.oy bestowed glance Ut her, but 1t
nooody's business 10 AJAX why she was there or
Tor wnom she waited As the evening drew on
she simldiy asked for "Mr Smith," bat sac got
no satisiac Ion, anti by a rare caance one man
matted moment 70 ask why she did not go
away from the door,
lew questions elected the story that her
husoano was laDorer IN the employ OF the city
oi Seattle, under upper ntendcnt o. Sewers
sohmiat, nearly all OF last month for 81 a day.
sao had expected his wages at the end of the
nonth Tue days were passing and for some
ressoa which she could not understand there
was no pay forthcoming. The night before her
husband had finished his days toll with very
scsniy supper, ana started on another days
work without Q y breakfast They mad not a
cent Their credit At the grocer's was exhausted.
anu meth, she nor her two children mad tasted
morsel OF food all day
enc told her story without q complaint There
was no whine in her voice or imp ence Ia her
inquiry when IL was likely her husband would
get ms pay. She did not quite comprehend 1t,
ous she quietly ecceped the explanation thst
her husbands " q day had been earned, that
the foreman mad certified to the correctness of
MS time.eard. that the superintendent OF sewers
had made out the voucher for IL, the hoard OF
puonc works had passed upon IT. the auditing
committee, consisting of the mayor,
the president OF the board OF ader-
men, the president OF the house
OF osls gates, and the city comptroller had de-
ciareo 1t 10 be correct; the corporation counsel
nso drawn up an ordinance approprating
money out OF the salary fund of the city treas
nry u pay II: the house OF delegates had passed
the ordnance under suspension of the rules
AFTER three readt=gs, and the BOARD of aldermen
nad read IL twice and referred Il 10 the commit
tee on lance. Tney had adjourned until n, xt
r.iday hight, and by sn, urday or Mo4day next
her nu band could receive his money.
ebe did not say sne was hunsry, but the in.
terence is that after her long last she was. Sne
lives away out at the Indian graveyard near
the brewery In South Seattle. 1t was long way
TO travel W lthout cent and with no hope Of
supper at the end Of her journey. She was asked
why she did not apply to the Ladies' Relief So
cieiy. She did not know. she said but her has
band always worked when he could get work.
ard ne earned enough to keep the family. She
was made happy by receiving q trle of money
sufficient for supper and q breakfast, and went
on her way.
The matter was called to the attention of the
beard OF public works at their meeting In the
evening
Mr. Hebron read from the chatter to show
that the lay had been quite unnecessary, so
far as the passing of laborers' accounts was
concerned That was q matter for the board of
pubic works and the auditing committee.
Even If IL had bten nee ssary. IL was not Just
TO the issorers to wait four days before passing
the ordinance.
Major nehart said 1t was q great hardship
to poor men to be kept waiting so long for their
money. 1t not only placed the men at the
mercy of those who discounted their time
checks, and thus diminished their already too
scan y earnings. but brought discredit on the
entlr city aud iu government. In very many
ways hardness An paving them subjected these
men to oppression. He suggested that II several
days delay was necessary Tor auditing bills. the
council appoint Ger ain day in the month, say
the 10th, when ali employees earning wages on
city works shall be paid.
Mr.. Hebron said the bills had been promptly
checked and presented 10 the auditing commit.
tee on the LIST of the month. The delay was due
to reference of the ordinance by the aldermen
to the finance committee. No obj elton could
be raised to caution in passing appropriations,
but the delay was undoubtedly great hardship
10 the laborers.
The ordinance appropriating money to pay
salaries which 10 now hanging Ire provides for
payment of the following amounts:
folce roll. ..........-......-...-. *i,lSo w
re department. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. A. 8 90
Street depsrg m mt. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 7,94U %
Wnarves and public buildings. ........ sc co