St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-26
TINS TOUGH TALK,
Assemblyman Reardon Again
Dons His Old Batting
Clothes
And Roasts the Reciprocity
Convention and Hill
Pageant.
Mr.. Economy Lightnep Goes
On Record for Cheap
Labor.
Talk Punctuates a Quite In
teresting Assembly
Meeting.

over the resolution passed by the board
of aldermen relative to the raising of
the wages of the laborerS in the employ
of the engineers department. The res
olution was introduced by Aid. Jensen,
and passed the body by unanimous
vote. When it was read III the assem-
bly, motion TO refer it to the committee
on streets was made by Mr.. Llghtner.
This was opposed and a lengthy discus
sion followed Mr.. Doran said it was
not the right way to do. Labor was
very cheap at the present time and lots
of men would be glad to get The
job at Is cents an hour. He
saw no reason why favored
few should be given IS cents per hour.
The fund from which the men were paid
was small, and would be exhausted be-
fore the year was out. For this reason
the fund should be husbanded and the
amount made 60 as far as possible. Mr..
ReardOn said he was at the present time
paying from S1.50 to 81 per day for
laUolers, and it was not right to make
the street force work for Sl.40. The
resolution would raise the wages of the
men from S1.4O to Sl.5O per day, and the
pay of teams and drivers from $3.50 to
So This was for eight hours work, and,
all things considered, was not too
much, but only fair wages. Mr..
Johnson said men who were starv-
i,,,r nrOINaniu hn hIrnA of
Sl25 per day. The wages at $3.50
would be small enough. and he sug-
gested that if economy was to be prac-
tced it would be. we'll to commence at
some other place. Mr.. Doran, evidently
desiring to square himself, explained
that he was not in favor Of cutting down
the wages of the men. but he thought
they should be required to work ten
hours a day for $1.50. Mr.. Lightner
desired the resolution sent to the COM
mttee, in order that the matter might
be considered and the compensation
fixed at a fair price. He was not ia
mliar with the price paid for the work,
but was of the opinion that the wages
should not be arbitrarily raised or low
cred. AS he understood it there are
hundreds OF idle men VINO are willing
TO work for 81 per day. Mr.. Reardon
said it was wrong idea to Tx the price
of labor by the necessities of the labor
ing men. He was not strongly in favor
Of the city fixing the time for work at
eight hours when the plan was not gen.
orally adopted. This, however. had
been done by former council and as it
was law the next best thing was to pay
the men fair wages for their time. AS
a parting shot Mr.. Reardon said not
one OF the members of the assembly
who were opNosing the resolution would
object to the passage of resolution ap-
propriating from $40 to $40 for the pur-
chase of scented soap for the use of the
employees in the engineering depart
ment. but they all thought economy
should be used when it came to the pay
of the laboring men. This had the effect
of killing the motion to refer to COM
mittee, and on the passage OF the reSo-
luton all or the members voted for 1T
with The exception of Mr.. Lightner
How Will This Work?
Mr.. Doran introduced a resolution re-
lating to the employment OF police
matron. The wording was objected to
DV MI. JOl1ISUI, WIN odiu MhllO DC was
i'm favor of the measure as it was intro
duced it was not legal. The resolution
was referred to MIR. johnson to change
so that it would he both legal and ac-
ceptabie to him. Later lie handed in
the following, which was unanimously
adopted:
That the MAYOR be authorized and directed
to employ at such times as may be necessary
some woman of good character, who is and
has been bona fide resident OF the city for
n period not less than two years, to act as an
attendant at the central police station for
the purpose of coming for and attending
upon female prisoners, and performing such
other duties as deYolVe upon female attend
ants at police stations; the attendant to be
paid So per month4rom the general fund.
The committee on streets reported
back without recommendation the res
olution appIopriating $500 to adver-
tise the city under direction of an adj
vprtiSlng committee.
Mr. Chittenden in a few remarks re-
itera;ed his story about the great advan-
tages to be derived from this scheme as
outlined by Il. S. Fairchild at other ses-
sionS OF the assembly. Mr.. Johnson
thought the matter was one which was
of interest to the business men in the
city, and failed to see why the city should
appropriate money for the purpose. The
money voted to the Press club was for a
different purpose, and was to advertise
the city. Mr.. Reardon said he would be
obliged TO vote against 1t, but he
couldn't see where the distinction wos.
There was $4,000 to be given away,
and he thought 1t might be just as well
to give i. away IN a lump and not take
up time. Mr.. Lightner, TO test the ques-
ton, moved it be laid on the table. Mr..
Johnson wanted it sent back to the COM
mIttee on streets, at the request, he
said, of Mr.. ChittendeD. This was agreed
to, aud the matter will be gone over
again in the committee.