The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-28
NO INCREASE IN SALARY.
STREET COMMITTEE DECIDES THAT
HANDS ARE PiID ENOUGH.

Many Members speak In Opposition . TO
Raising the Pay oi the Drivers OF City
Carts An Ordinance Recommended Al
lowing the Taylor Company Franchise.
A called meeting OF the Council Committee
on Streets was held last night in the City
Engineers Office. This meeting would have
been held on the 2sth. but that day falling on
Saturday the committee met last night. AS
several members cannot attend meetings Sat
ur1ay night.
Apettition wasread from MessIs. Charles and
William Miller asking that they be reimbursed
1873 The paper stated that when the new
store atthe northwest cornerof Broad and Fifth
streets was built one foot OF the lot at the
corner was not used in building, hut j. now
used by the city as pavement That
the foot Of ground wa worth 1925. according
10 the last assessment and a. the city Is using
il. the Messrs. Miller think that the city
should pay for It. The matter was re-
ferrcd 10 the ward committee, City Engineer
ana City Attorney.
STREETS IN FULTON.
An application was received from the Rich
mond Cedar Works that the city pave certain
streets in Fulton. which are now well nigh
lnfftS~lblf. anu WHICH, arr uN'N ''uNAhuilN ~
the operatives Of the works. Referred 10 the
annual tom" Of the committee.
An ordinance was recommended allowing
the Richmond and Danyllle Railroad Com
lany to erect "a switch track across Dock street
10 &. H. Pages coal-yard.
An ordinance WAS recommended allowing
NJ. T.. A. Catlin 10 swing q sign over the side
wax, and Mr. Adolph Gill to erect an iron
balcony.
Contnacis we're opened from Messrs Thomas
Barry. 4. Rick and j. \. Weinbram d Sons
jon paving certain alleys The matter was
left to the city engineer To deterInine who j.
thc lowest bidder. which will be done to-day
: petition was received from Captain An
drew IlzZni and others asking that the city
irtNe with gTauolIthic pavement the corner ~
Si,th and Broad streets.
DELICATE POINT OF LAW.
Colonel Cutshaw stated that some years
ago Captain Wilkinson refused to pave n cor
her oi Il street. though his house was situated
a. the corner the captain arguing that rs ms
house did not not front on that portion of the
street bee was not required by any ordinance
Io pave H.
ia Other words. me- felt only bound to pave
to where hi~ mousse ends. or where the side
street pavement commences. The matter was
carried To- Tue City Attorney, and he decided
that the CITY could not make Captain Milkln-
son pave the corner.
front g. four stores on Broad street with
granoliihir. and want the city 10 pave the
conner aud pay *17 for the the work. The
matter was referred 10 the ward committee.
with the power. it they saw proper. 10 order
the work to be done.
HANDS oN CARTS.
4 report was received from sub-commt-
tee. which stated that twenty-one drivers for
the CITY carts started To work at $50 O'Clock
t,.t Q l. Itg O.
and harness them, and are ready 10 begin
work 10y O'Clock.
II can he said here that upon inquiry by q
TINES reporter. IT was ascertained that these
men answer roll-call at $50. but after they
feed thcir mules they are allowed 10 60 home
10 breakfast before o'clock, a. Is also the
case with what is known as the shovel
bands. " who assist the drivers.
Mr.. Belvin moved TINT the report be LAID on
the table
Mr. Curtis offered rs a substitute that all
the cart hands who work twelve hours be paid
7l.7j per day.
Mr. GRAY offered as a substitute that when
the men do not work Cthey do not work n
rainy weather. they receive no pay for such
lost time.
Mr.. j. W. Carter, speaking on the question.
said that if at the present time the city was
more able to pay the men he would cheerfully
vote for the increase. but that now the city
needed al the money she could get. and that
now the men were receiving more pay than
lanorcrs our of the city employ.
Mr.. Curtis said that the laborers on the
new CITY Hall were paid :l.62& per day for
parimcnis men are paid more than Is paid for
the same class of work 10y private corpora
tione and that the question was not entirely
what work could ice done for, but should not
the men make living.
MIR. BELyIN SPEAKS.
Mr. Belvin said that it was not fact that
the men went L. work at lalt-past O'Clock
and stopped al half past o'clock; that they
only actually worked from until half-past. 3.
when the drivers who drive for private
concerns" he continued. fill their places
they have 10 have their wagons ready al the
front door by Z o'clock in the morning and
are never through delivering before half-past
& or at night The men working
on the carts for the city work less
than the same class Of men any
where in the city. | have inquired
into IT, and when You raise the price Of COM
mon labor so high. You put skilled labor IN
very awkward position. To some degree the
desires of your constituents should be re-
garded and am quite positive that all my
constituents will say that these men are re-
ceiylng Just compensation
Mr. Curtis said Gn answer 20 Mr.. Belyn)
that if he consulted his constituents. or at
least some of them. he could cut down ex-
penses in every department Of the city, and
save 100000 every year that might be de
voted 10 street improvements; that there Is
useless expense AT the das works, useless ex-
pence on the new City Hall, and all depart
ments have expenses that are supertuous.
THE OPPOSITE SIDE.
Mr.. H. l.. Carter said that 10 look az the
question from another standpoint the shovel
hands do not 60 TO work until 7 o'clock and
stop at half-past III the afternoon. while
the drivers 90 10 work at half past ; and
never stop until fully half-past o'clock that
the drivers certainly work longer and still are
paid no more than the shovel hands.
Mr.. Gray withdrew his amendment. the
Street Committee having no power 10 stop
paying the men for rainy weather. II Is done
under an ordinance passed 10y the Council.
Colonel Cutshaw's opinion was asked. and
he stated that he did not think the demand
for more pay n fair one; that the pay now
was more than is paid for the same labor 10y
any one in the city. and that to increase the
expense would result in the city doing away
with the hands and carts altogether.
inasmuch rs the expense account
would be so largely increased that the Council
would say, What Is the use of paying so
much for this labor when il can be done for
so much less:' The result would be that the
work would be given out by contract, the
mules and carts sold, and the hands, who
now get dollar and "A half "A day.