The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-07-12
LIT IT BE FULFILLED
"Salt Lake Work for Salt Lake
WOrkmen."
CONTUMACY OF THE BOSSES
Laborers Working for Imported Contractors
Are Forced to Quit without Getting
Their Wages.

"Salt Lake work for Salt Lake work
men,
This was the legend which appeared on
the Liberal banners in the last city cam
paign; and it was upon this theme that the
Liberal orators waxed eloquent. 1t was
certainly an alluring bait and probably a
good many horny-handed sons of toll were
caught by it. But, like all Of the beautiful
promises made by Boss Powers during that
memorable campaign, this was made
only to De broken, as was demonstrated as
soon as the Liberal government commenced
letting contracts. The big street sprink-
ling contract went to Omaha men
and has stayed there, while more
of the other contracts went in the
same direction. After awhile one member
Of the city council. who had conscience,
entered protest against the wholesale
breaking OF solemn pledges and introduced
resolution containing the essence of the
ante election pledges. Just one member
voted for il, and that was the man who
introduced it. This sweeping reputation
was too much for him and he resigned.
The heaviest contract let, perhaps, was
for the construction of the Parley's canon
conduit There were number of bidders
Tor the work, but the contract did not go to
the lowest bidder, nor did it go to Salt
Lake men. Outside contractors plucked
the plum, and when the operations
were commenced, these contractors
brought In their gangs of imported labor
ers and established their camps. This was
salt Lake work for Salt Lake workmen."
The contractors sent in their bills to the
city with regularity and coolly pocketed
their thousands, and it was only last Thurs
day that they were paid Sl4, 06S.50, in good,
hard money, ION account" In the mean
time, how nave the workmen fareds ANY
lawyer In the city can answer the question,
because for weeks past their offices have
been besieged by squads of conduit laborers,
all OF whom had the same grievance. They
had been employed on the conduit by sub
contractors and after working some days
were given their time checks but when
these precious bits of paper were presented
for payment the laborers were CURLY in
formed that there was no money. As q
rule, this was all the satisfaction they OBJ
tanned, although in rare cases few dollars
was paid ION account" The original
contractors claimed that the sub
contractors were alone responsible
but the whole arrangement is an
outrage because the contractors received
good prices for their work and were always
paid promptly. II there is no money with
which to pay these laborers, then there is
certainly something rotten in Denmark
For claims OF the laborers, as rule, were
not large enough to justify the leborers in
bringing suit and as the men could not ad-
vance the costs anyway, there seemed to
be no means Of redress.
AT last Let of them who objected to this
wholesale robbery, pooled their issues and
engaged a lawyer TO look out for their in
terest- AT the last meeting of the council.
they sent in a petition asking that an
amount sufficient TO liquidate their claims
be held back from the money due the con-
tractors. 1t appeared to be another case of
''Your cause is just, but | can DO nothing
for you,o as sub contractors and other
obstacles stood in the way.
One Of these workmen was met by a
HERALD reporter. He had quit the conduit
aud was working for local contractors.
show much was due you when you Quit
the conduit:' was asked.
Seven dollars and sixty cents"
''Did you get any of it.'
Eyes was more fortunate that most
of them'
''What did you realize on your claim"
''I got So and considered myself lucky"
'What excuse was given for not paying
you in full!o
''They said no funds that's all / know
about it."
Another result of this Liberal idea of
s'Selt Lake work for Salt Lake workmen'
has just been developed. Du Bots & Will
Jams, two OF the contractors, have given
their contract up and their bondsmen. H.
A. w. Tabor and Joseph H. Smith, OF Den
yer, have taken it of their hands.
1t is safe to say when the next municipal
election is held, the Liberal party, should
it be able to keep out of the grave until
then, will be mum on the subject of ''Salt
Lake work for Salt Lake workmen.''