The Jersey City news., 1891-09-16
Official Notice Of Their Intention
to Strike-Mr. Cords Pre-
sents Their Grievance.

1OACNO w QuAO WOAhs NhASA w ~AS SA~S
city water supply will be cut off for a
period at least.
fnis communication, signed by al but
four employees at Belleville, was read by
Clerk German:--
To the Honorable the Board Of Finance Of Je'-
GESrLEMEN- the employees of the Street
anu Wafer Board ut the Bel.eyille Pumping Sta
tlon, appeal to you to pass our pay rolls for the
last tour % months; and ano IN the future TO
enueavor 10 let us have our money as quickly as
possible after the Street and Wafer i,oard has
passed the pay rolls raking advantage of the
present cri is the money eldeFs have advanced
their percentage from per csnt. 10 III per
cent.
Gentlemen, we cannot aft ord to pay such an
amount, ana we sloulu not be required 10 DO SO.
We are paid .ow rate o. wages ior the WORK we
perform. For Instance general workman Re-
ceives S55 per mouth. The amodnt left to him
alter paying ~ PR cent. commission Is easily
Wages $55 0o
10 per cent commission. -. ....... $5 60
Ranroad fare. ...... .......,............ ~
Iaavin o him S44 80
Gentlemen, we know that you can, and we
have full and implicit confidence tn II you Will
enable us to obtain our money more regularly
in the future so that we may not be the victims
Of unscrupuious shyloclSs VINO ars growing rich
through Our misfortuneS
Very respectfully,
The employees OF the Street and Water Board
at the Beilevills Pumping Staion
signed by William r. Coris, the eight other
eng neers; twelve firemen, nine coal passers, two
muchinists, two masons, carpenter, olacksm tn
and helper, and eighteen general worKmsn, in
cluding all except four of the employees, and
these four include those who have no person al
interest i'll the matter
Accompanying this was the following COM
muncation from Mayor Cleveland:--
MAYOR S OFFICE CITY HALL,
JERSEY CITY, September Is, 1891.
To the Board of Finnace:--
GENTLEMEN: Enclosed Us a communication
from the employees at Belleville, to wnom have
replied that the matter named the.ein is not
within my Jurisdiction
Very respectful ",
OREsTEs CLEVELAND.
To the Honorable orestes eteaseland. Mayor of
jersey City,
SlR:-Tne undersignede-a- COMMITTEES of the
Employees of the Street aud Water Board at the
Beeville Pumping Station, most respectfully
pace before your Honor copy OF psution,
TO be presented to the Board OF Finance at its
next meeting September 10. 1t was pre-
sened at the last meeting of the Board but
not accepted, as It was then unsigned We
would request most earnestly that your Honor
take an interest in our affairs as 1t IS OF the
most vital Importance that these pay rolls
should be passed at this meeting OF the Board.
We have been selling cur pay heretofore to
note shavers at three per cent discount. Taking
advantage of the present deadlock they have
gradually raised it to ten per cent and have
now notified us that they can take no more,
even at this outiag eous rate. AS we have to
pay out railroad fare in advance, we Will, in
few days. be forced to quit work II conss-
u,ence the water works will be closed down.
Such is the situation and we appeal to Your
Honor to take snch steps as may be necessary
for our relief. And, also, to have such provision
made in the future that we may receive our
wages more regularly. 1t IS an awful neon
yenience not to be able to tell our tradespeople
and landlords when we Will oe aple to pay
as pay day it would save US great misery and
also a great deal of money. We would not then
be- viewed with suspic,on by every trades man
when we enter his store, as they cannot under
stand why it is that in large city, where they
pay h, avy taxes, the c'ty's employees are not
Your Honor as Chief Executive of this large
city, we look to you for relief
Hoping that our simple request for the very
your entire appreciation, and that you will assist
us in every way in your power, we have the
honor TO be
Very respectfully
Your Honors ncss obedient servants,
WILLIAM Il. CORDS, Chairman.
RICHARD BAMBRlcK,
THOMAS j. ScuLLY,
BErIEvILE. N. j., Sept. IA, 1891.
MIR. CORDS TELLS THE STORY.
Mr.. Cords was extended the privileges
of The floor. 80
dent Edelstein.
"Lack of pay" responded Engineer
Cords. No salary for four and a half
months.
"That is not the fault of the Finance
Board" said President Edelstein. calmly.
1hs pay rolls of the Water Department.
are too large, We can not pay SIC 900 IL
month. for we have but $4,000 for that
purpose. If you can tell us where we can
cut $4,000 down to $4,000 you will help
u.s."
Mr. Hitler NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. talk
ing to mechanics. They can't understan-
finances"
II want him to understand why he
isn't uaid.n President Edelstein.
Mr.. Hillier:-"Dou't saddle it upon the
backs of the Finance Commissioners.
Put the blame where 1t belong ngs -on the
shoulders Of the Street and Water Com
"Pni not good at figures" continued
Engineer Cords "Bnt | know this:-
My grocer or my landlord might let me
hang 'em up-that phrase may sound
peculiar to you, gentlemen. But the
railroad companies won't let us hang EN-
up. We must have railroad fare. We've
worked for our money, and we want 1t.
Some of us live fourteen miles from our
homes. The claim brokers usually fleece
MS to the extent of from three TO ten per
cent.
SHAME" exclaimed Commissioner
"But know OF two men the purchase
of whose claims was refused at the rate
of fifteen per cent. I am one of them.
We are obliged to have railroad fare"
said Engineer Cords.
1T is a shame" remarked Commission
er Kenny. sBut the fault is with the
Street and Water Board 1t has been told
Jnat it must reduce the expenses of the
Water Department We estimate that
the years receipts of that department
will be S625. 600 Three hundred and fifty
nine thousand of this amount is neces-
sary to meet the Indebtedness of that de-
partment interest on water bonds, etc.
The amennt left enables us to pay but
$4,000 4 month for the expenses of the
Water Department. We cannot pay $l6,-
OOn a month The Street and Water
board, on account of arrears in this de-
bartment for the past five or six years,
made Jersey City boud herself In the sum
Of $3.50. COO That department ought to
be self-suprortirg irstoad of going be-
hiud many thousands year The Street
adn Wafer Commissioners made promises