The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-03
STONECUTTERS DISCUSSED.
COMMITTEE POSTPONE ACTION
ABOUT THEM

variety OF Opinions as 10 whether TINS
Man should he Discharged Because
They Are Repubucsns-"rhe Times
Editorials Referred TO-
The Committee on Grounds and buildings
of,be CITY Council held meeting last even
inc which was attended by all the men,
,.ors. Chairman r. NJ. Taylor presided.
Tho ouar,er,y statement Of the eNpendi-
,,res On the new City Hall building showed
a balance on hand Of $i6,S62.6'. A report
on the estimates for Improvements in the
Duhlic marks amounting 10 S5l,S5O, was re-
ierred 10 the Finance Committee.
After the transaction Of some other
,ou,ine business, the committee took uT
IN, further consideration Of ,ae resolution
,nstrucung the City Engineer to DISCHARGE
the Republicans employed on the ne" '''y
Hall as stone-cutters' ,....,.., a..
Mr. Turpin wanted 70 know Wnat th'
committee intended to 40 IN feSaIu !" Wv
matter. c.,.., C,,,.ho,,
should pre cent his report. The latter gen
sIeman stated that he had banded
a list OF the employ d workmen a.
Air Lamb. chairman OF the Democratic Cen
traI Committee. 10 ascertain the political
Affiliations Of the w0rkmen. but That MT
lamb had told him that he would not be
ready 10 present a report at that meeting.
Mr.. Phillips thought IL should not be DIM
cult 10 gather the Necessary information
lie had looked over the list himself 70 as.
certain what men from his district were
among the doubtful ones, and he had found
that he knew the politics Of all but one
man.
THOUGHT II UNFAIR.
Mr. Turpin next took fhc floor TO explain
bis standpoint in the matter. He thought
that the proposition 20 discharge all those
,aborers who did not contribute 20 The
Democratic campaign fund was very IN
fair test, and no good could come from any
further action in the matter by the commit
tee. They had passed aresOlutiOn instruct
ing the City Engineer To discharge all Re-
publicans and the matter should now be
left to the discretion Of the Engineer II was
only the question Of "a few weeks Of addi-
tional work for the parties in question, and
while he sided with the committee that Re
publicans should not be employed by a
democratic administration, he did not
think that il was the proper way 10 make
the change at this late Juncture.
Mr.. FERGUSON fully agreed with Mr.. Tur-
pins views, and the latter added that If the
committee insisted on the carrying out Of
the resolution some one else who had ten OF
fifteen Democrats in his employ might, by
the action Of the committee, be- induced &c
retaliate and discharge his employees.
Mr. FERGUSON called attention 10 the
force employed on The Texas machinery
twO.thirds Of whom were Republicans, anC
who also might run the risk OF l0Osing theil
positions.
Mr.. Curtis insisted that the men should
20, If they were Republicans, even if only
one DAYS work should come in question
In his opinion this was the only way IL
which the Democrats could hold on 10 the
Government.
DEMOCRATS AT THE POsTOFFICE.
Mr.. Turpin objected to this, saying thai
such action would give Postmaster Russell
a Just cause for the dscharging of hi.
Democratic employees.
Mr.. Curtis thought that MIR. Russell
would not hesitate TO turn out the Demo
era If he could only do so, and he really
ought 10 80 it. There was no question il
his mind that Mr.. Cleveland would be Pres
ident to-day had he turned out promptly al
hrpuuiNdhH WIN NC iuVh tht lifHlututir
chair.
Mr.. Curtis assured those present that he
only wanted TO know il the men in ques
ton Were Democrats or not and they should
only be turned out II they were Republicans
Mr.. Phillips moved 10 lay the matter OF
the table for one week, while Mr. Fergur
son offered substitute to postpone the mat
ter indefinitely.
AT this juncture Of the proceedings Mr.
Taylor requested Mr.. FERGUSON TO take the
chair in order that he might himself make q
statement on the subject. He assured the
members. that he was not weakened, but
an out and out Democrat. and If the WORK
on the new City Hall was to be stopped
that night by the discharge Of III,
Republicans, he would be in favor
OF shutting down rather than allow
these men to work any longer. llC
pointed to the past and TO the
action of the Administration, which would
be still Democratic II MIR Cleveland hat
not done so much mugwump business
MIR. Tay Tor closed his remarks by sayln
that he bad come 10 the meeting determine,
to turn the men out, aud he was surprised
to see that two of his colleagues were 81
weakened.