The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-20
THE ARGUMENT FOR DAY LABOR

THE ARGUMENT FOR DAY LABOR.
When the question whether the ex-
cavation of sewers should be by day
labor or by contract was before the Com
mittee on Streets Monday night, In
answer to questions addressed to him
by members OF the committee, the City
Engineer stated that laborers engaged in
digging sewers hardly made more than
twenty-three working days in a month
in good weather. while there were about
four months In the year when no sewer
digging could be done. This was In
answer to questions by members Of the
committee who favor digging sewers by
day labor at a cost 10 the city Of double
what they would be If dug by contract,
and II embodies the argument which these
gentlemen make for their proposition.
which is this: They say laboring man
who digs sewers can work only twenty
three days out Of each month, and cannot
dig sewers at all during four months OF
the year. Therefore the city. in hiring
this man, should not pay him each day
what a laborer could be hired for that
day. but should treat him as a person
who is going to be in her service a whole
year, that will consist Of only one hun
dred and eighty-four working days, and
he should be paid for each Of those one
hundred and eithty-four working days
a sum that will make them all bring him
as much as he would get If he worked
elsewhere at regular rates a year con-
ssting of three hundred and thirteen
days.
The fallacies involved in this argument
are as numerous as the words necessary
TO stating 1t. The sewer hands are not
hired by the year. Any one of them
leaves when he pleases and may be dis
charged when the city Dleases. Hired,
therefore, for short periods, there is no
reason that they shall be paid the rates
given to those who bind themselves to
remain in service for a long period. If
the sewer digger sees an opportunity TO
improve his situation by quitting the
city's service, he does so at his pleasure.
Again. the committeemen's argument
assumes that the sewer digger, because
he cannot dig sewers during four months
of the year, will therefore be unable TO
get any employment during those four
months, which is TO assume what will
not be granted. II the committee Is going
TO pay him regular rates during those
four months. 1t is probable he Will not
loo, out for other employment during
that time. but If it only gave him regular
rates during the eight months it en-
ploys him, he would hustle around and
find employment during the other four
months.
But. grant all that the committeeman
claim. and what does it amount to? 1t
amounts TO this. that sewer diggers be-
long to an unfortunate class Of poor peo-
ple. who can get employment during one
hundred and eightyfour days only OF
each year. Therefore say these commit
teenen, the city OF Richmond should
give to all sewer diggers within her limits
a free donation of public money for each
of the other one hundred and twenty
nine days Of the year that they are un-
able to get employment. But there are
poor dress makers in the city who miss
employment some days Of the year, and
there are poor carpenters and black
smiths and draymen and porters In the
same fix. VIII they make donations out
Of the city Treasury TO all these Tor the
days on which they miss employment?
II they are prepared to adopt as a prin-
ciple Of action that they will give so
much money out Of the public Treasury
each day that he misses employment, 10
each poor person in the city, we shall
know lust where we stand. But we can
not see how they can adopt as principle
Of action that they will make these
donations to the sewer diggers and then
refuse them TO other laborers who are
unable TO get work.
II these gentlemen VIII reflect they
will see that their doctrine leads them
into all kinds OF absurdties. There is
but one principle of action in such cases
and that is to get for the city all that
her money will buy. This is the princi-
ple upon which they conduct their own
private affairs. They are simple and
naked trustees for the city, and trustee
Is bound in morals as well as law to do
the same for those whom he represents
that he would do for himself.