Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-04-16
AN INTERESTING Session
Proceedings of the Regular
Weekly Meeting of the
City Council
Resolution Passed Relative to
the System of Contract
ors' Boarding Houses
Report of the Special Commit
tee on the Sewer
Difficulty


council was held yesterday afternoon
Mayor Wilson presiding, Councilmeu
AllertOn, Aubery, Christopher, Darling
Donovan, Kinghorn and Monahan pres
ent. The minutes Of the previous meet
ings, both regular and special, were read
and approved.
A petition was presented, signed by A,
B. Cranson, w. j. Simmons, j. II. Lang
don and about twenty others, stating that
they were unable to find employment and
asking that the council provide means
and work.
Mayor Wilson did not doubt but that
the signers were good men, willing to
work but his attention had been directed
by steamboat men who wanted wood.
The raw material had been offered free of
charge but no one could be found who
was willing to cut it to the required
length. The mayor also noticed a great
amount Of charcoal being brought in by
boats. He suggested that this charcoal
ought to be made here and this industry
alone would give number of men en-
| ployment.
Councilman Donovan said that since
| the commencement of work in Fairhayen,
| two years ago, no man has been refused
employment. He had been stopped a
! number Of times by strong, able led
men asking for something to eat. He had
taken them to restaurants and given them
a meal and had told them to call at his
Office and he would give them work Mr.
Donovan affirmed that not one Of these
men had ever called or applied to him for
employment.
Marshal Parker stated that Mccoy &
O'Brien had instructed him.tO send them
| fifty men. He found plenty Of idle men
but they refused to work.
| Colonel Hakes said he had tried to find
a number OF men but was unable to do so.
The petition was laid on the table.
City Clerk Egan reported that the Fifth,
! Sixth and Bennett avenue assessment
| rolls were filed with him by the city en-
| gineer. Also the Fifteenth street assess
ment roll. Referred to the committee on
streets.
City Engineer Alerton reported that the
sewers had been repaired and completed
at a cost Of Sl2l25. The amount was au-
! thoriZed to be deducted from the final es-
innate Of X. Schmidt, contractor.
The city treaSurer's quarterly report
was referred to the executive committee
! Street Commissioner ThOles reported
that he had obtained bids for moving rub
| bish and buildings left on Fifteenth street.
/ and that the lowest estimate had been
| SlO5 Referred to the committee on streets
with power to act.
The street commissioner was instructed
| to construct box drain TO carry off the
water Of the spring at Fifteenth street
and Knox avenue.
The street commissioner was instructed
| to notify the superintendent of the Flee
! trio Light company to remove all rubbish
! left on the streets by employees Of the com
| pany within six days.
al IL too lS
contract filed the following report:
The claim on difference Of measurement
! amounting to SllJ, was waived by the
contractor. The claim Of SSG6.lO for
! house functions was rejected; arch cen
ters amounting to s.; rejected. Gather
ing brick amounting to 81: rejected.
Setting CRATES for gully inlets, amounting
to $50, committee allowed SIS. Extra eX-
cavatiOn, amounting to ESQ. Amount
allowed, s26S.5O Manhole covers,
amounting to $50. Allowed SO The re-
port was adopted unanimously.
| Mr.. j. A. Kerr, on behalf Of Mr..
i Schmidt, entered a. protest against the
report Of the committe
The city clerk was instructed to draw a
| warrant In favor Of K. Schmidt for
81 ,423.64, when he files the necessary pa
pers releasing the city from all claims.
A Communication was presented by
Chas. +. Loweth, civil engineer Of ST.
Paul, Mimi, relative to the proposed
sewerage system. Referred to the city
attorney.
The following resolution was introduce
ed by Councilman Christopher:
| WHEREAS, Complaints have been made
that under contracts made by the former
council, that employees Of the contractors
were compelled to board at boarding
houses established by the contractors;
therefore be it
Resolved That the city attorney be in
structed to insert in every contract here
after to be made clause which will In
sure to employees the privilege of board
ing wherever they may choose.
| The following amendment was intro.
duced by Councilman KinghOrn AnC
which will protect them (the laborers
from the necessity Of applying to employ
ment agents and paying an agents iet
before securing employment from sucf
contractors.
The introduction Of the resolution pro-
voked discussion during which Council
man Kinghorn stated that the working
men would vote against the bond propO
sition If some action was not taken II
the matter.
Councimen Christopher thought thai
the council should place Itself on recOrC
on the proposition.
Councilman Aubery said that a thor
ough canvass was being made against tn,
. bonding proposition by aboring men VIII,
compel working men to board at the
houses.
Councilman Monahan stated that h.
had tried TO induce several laboring mel
to register but they refused. They state,
that they had applied for work but wer
Informed that they would be compelled u
board at the contractors boarding house
The food furnished was not fit for hu
man being. Married men were unable :
secure employment on account Of thi
system.
City Attorney Howard said he had tn
/, matter under consideration and woul
like to have the sense Of the council o
= the proposition.
Mayor Wilson said the council ha
always done everything within its powe
to aid and encourage workingmen.
The resolution and amendment wa
adopted unanimously.
Ie(The evil which the resolution endeav0f
to correct was first practlced by Burlin
game and is now carried on by the con
tractor on Mckenzie avenue. One sYstei
Is not 90 allow men to earn more none
- than will pay for their board. thus keeT
ing the labOrer In debt TO the contractor
The system Is pernicious one, and III
l. council recognizing this fact, voted fC
;" the resolution unanimously
ss A resolution was introduced, acceptin
the sewer constructed by ContractC