The morning call., 1892-05-12
MeLARENFS gold WATCH.
1t Was Paid For by Subscriptions
of the LabOrers.
They Were Practically Assessed Two and
Three Dollars Each for the Superin-
tendent's Testimonial.
san FRANCISCO. May 9.


Editor Morning CALI Please hnd iEclosed
short notice cut from yesterdays CALL CONCERN
Ing The presentation 10 the superintendent OF
Golden Gate Park.
But as il does not give the full particulars
thought would drop you few lines. Not only
did Mr.. McLaren receive gold wateh ana
chain, but also the other members OF MS Idmlly'
VIZ: his wife and son. were also made presents
The former Of "a gold ring and The latter gold
sleeve buttons
4 he assistant superintendent, one MIR. Garden,
went around among those employed IN the PARK
and took up subscription amounting 10 S30O.
The sums for which The men nut their names
down ranged all The way from $50 10 81
1t seems TO have been rather premature nre-
sentatIOD, as Mr.. McLaIen Will not leave before
The middle or last OF June.
immediately after the subscription had Deen
filled out, there were 40 OF The lab0rers laid on
some II not all OF The poor fellows ale sun lde.
The affair may have been instigated by ieelings
OF respect and appreciation by some hlghs alarled
individuals IN the park but tnere they ought
10 nave stopped. have been told by one OF lDe
81 day labOrers that nearly all oil The men look
upon the taxation as a great imposition Dut tney
also Know that auy objection on their part or
failure to comply would only bring dlsIaVof on
themselves. Nearly all OF the men nave large
families to support out OF their scant earnings
anc besides that 1t ought 10 be taken INTO con
slderalion that they lose great deal OF Tune
during wet weather, also all holidays
One man. who has family consisting OF WiIe
and eight children put his name down Ior " %
as he was afraid to offer any less. My informant
also put his name down for the same amount,
although he has physicians bill Tor member
OF his family due since last December, Whlcn, up
10 date, he has not been able TO pay.
l think In justice TO the hard-wofklng men
some one ought 10 say word III thelr DehalI. II
seems strangely Inconsistent that person re-
ceiytng large salary, no rent TO pay, ana with q
very small family to support should take from
lie less fortunate, oYerburdened ana struggling
sons OF toll. Re speetiully, SUBSCRIBER.
NOT oVERsTATED.
"a Subscriber has hardly overstated the
case in saying that the men look upon the
taxation as an imposition.
''Of course we don't have to pay it," said
one of the park gardeners to CALL re-
porter yesterday, "but then" Here the
gardener shrugged both shoulders and
winked one eye IN a manner more eloquent
than words.
''Who collected the money for the Nc
Laren testimonial?" asked the reporter.
1.-The foremen of the different gangs and
departments do that. They 60 around with
little books and ask each man to sign his
name for any sum be likes"
do the men ever protestY"
They know better than that"
''How much did you giVe?"
'Three dollars. That's what the others
gave, and | couldn't pat my name down for
any less than the others. Now, mind,
mister. I'm not kicking. I've been here a
good many years, you See and can afford to
pay little now and then in order to keep
In good graces. | don't mind telling you,
however, as long as you're not going to
print my name, that the movement to
present Superintendent McLaren with a
little testimonial was not altogether a sp0n-
taneous affair"
"Were the men consulted about the mat
ter irstY'
"Not much. OF course it got limited around
what was on foot, so we knew what TO
expect when the foremen pulled out their
little books on US. / don't suppose any Of
the men begrudge the MeLarens their little
presents. but know it came rather hard to
some of them"
Was the money deducted from your
wages?"
"Oh. no; wepaid it Yourselves after we had
cashed our warrants"
MEN WHO WE'RE DISCHARGED.
"How about the men VINO were dis
charged after they had subscribed to the
fund.-"
Il guess they didn't pay their contribu-
tions at least they we're not compelled to I;
but there are some men, you know, even
among labOIers, who viii pay every cent
they agree TO whether or no. | suppose
those kind paid up just the same. Then
there are some men, too, who would think
it wise to pay the 81 or SO for the sake of
keeping in the good graces Of foreman
be another place TO fill some day, don't you
see."
"Are these contributions levied very
often?'.
well, not so often out here; but have a
son who works in the Street Department.
He is being taxed all the timo for presents
to this or that official"
Another lab0rer who handled a shovel on
Strawberry Hill yesterday was a little more
forcible in his remarks TO the reporter.
IT'S shame he said Il work hard all
day here and earn every cent get. | have
big family that needs all the money l
make. As far as | know, McLaren is a
pretty good fellow, but if he wants a gold
watch and chain, why don't he spend his
own money for it? I'm under no obligations
TO him because l work hard for 81 a day
here; at least, / ought not to be"
ibid you object when the foreman came
to you with the subscription liSt?"
"Of course | didn't. / knew better than
that just put my name down for 81 and
said 10 myself, here's another days hard
work for nothing"
Other men interviewed spoke in much
the same strain. Many were very cautious
in their words, but none were found who
did not in some way express at least regret
that their superintendent should have
wanted watch ard chain just at this time
of the year, when their own needs are be-
You'd the limits OF their meager salaries.