St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-03


Per Hour-Reardon Kicks in
Vain on "Bosses."
All the members of the assembly,
with the exception of Mr.. Sandell, at
tended the adjourned meeting yester-
day afternoon. The object of the ses-
sion was TO consider the personnel of
the committee vino will have the dis
tributon of the 5 900 which is to be
expended to assist those now out of EN-
ployment. The resolution introduced
by Mr.. Doran at the meeting Thursday
night placed the disposal of the money
II the hands of II. H. Hart, *. c. Jeffer
son, w. l.. Wilson. Mayor Wright and
two members from the council. After
some discussion the matter was referred
to the special joint committee on unem-
ployed labor, and it was 10 consider the
report of the committee that the meeting
was held yesterday afternoon.
The report of the committee was that
the money be expended under the di.
rection of the special joint committee
of six from the council, together with
the mayor, comptroller and city engi-
neer. The report was adopted, after
which the same committee handed up
the following:
The special joint committee on unem-
ploYed labor also respectfully report
that they have had under consideration
the question OF raising funds aside from
the 50, 900 mentioned in the foregoing
report, but after consultation with the
attorney and comptroller we find that,
under the law, it will be impossible to
divert any moneys for the purpose men
toned. We find that while the law
cOntemplates that there should be eX-
pended on the streets and sewers of the
city the sum of $4,000 each year. ow-
ing to the large amount of delinquent
taxes only about $4,000 will be avail
able this year.
We had hoped that some means
might be devised whereby the remain
ing $50, 900 could be expended, as we
believe the condition of our streets re-
Qulres this amount and even more. Be-
sides, il we were able to accomplish
this, it would give work TO a large num-
Der of our needy citizens; but the law is
very strict. and your committee find
that we have no alternative. We must.
therefore, content ourselves with the
$4,000 mentioned i'll our previous epOrt.
anu Iul IuCl outu w NC tAbCIuCa III
giving employment TO our needy citizens
must be raised by private contribution.
AT WHAT RATE?
The report having been read, accepted
and filed. Mr.. Doran introduced reso-
luton instructing the special committee
that the expenditure of the $1,000 only
the current price of wages should be
paid.
Mr. Johnson suggested that Mr..
DOran be placed on the committee and
then he could see that the money was
rightly spent.
Mr. Doran explained that he did not
want to crticise, but the present wages
paid to laborers by the city was Is %
cents per hour, and as this was intended
as a relief flu nd it would be advisable
to have the small amount expended i'll
the most judiciOus manner.
Mr.. Reardon thought the idea OF Mr..
Doran good one, and went little full
Their by saying the wages of the city la
Dorers should be lowered. The city en-
gineer had reported that only about
$1,000 was available in the street and
sewer fund, and the $4,000 mentioned
would only make about $1,000 in all.
This money should be made to go as far
as possible, and he was ready to vote
for a resolution making all city laborers'
pay 10 cents per hour, eight hours to
constitute days work. Mr.. Reardon
wanted it understood that he was not in
favor of cutting wages, especially of the
labOring men, but this was a time when
to 1al no rn
as far as possible.
While the city attorney was drawing
the resolution To suit the members, Mr..
Doran inquired OF the city engineer if
il was not possible to do away with
some of the overseers i'll the street de-
partment, owing to the small amount
now in the fund. The city engineer
said he had discharged all the foremen,
and that the street commissioners were
| now doing the work of the foremen.
AFTER BOSSES SALARIES.
This was the chance Mr. Reardon had
evidently been waiting for, as he was
on his feet in an instant, and demanded
| to know why all the men who were get
ting $3.50 per day had been discharged,
| and the six street commissioners who
| drew 500 per month retained. The
| fund, the city engineer had said, was
nearly exhausted. and yet the men who
needed the money the most had been
! let 90 and the bosses kept at work. If
there was no money in the fund. why
| keep six street commissioners to eat up
the little there was at doing nothing?
City Engineer Rundlett explained it
was necessary to have some one to look
after the streets and sidewalks, and
| now that the foremen had been dis
| charged the commissioners were filling
the positions.
Mr.. Reardon said he was not in favor
of paying men 500 per month when the
work could be done by Others at $3.50
per day. OF the 100000 spent IN labor
out of the street and sewer fund this
year he said he could prove that fully
80 per cent out of the amount was
q, paid to men who received more than
Sl.50 per day. LII order to test the po-
| SitiOn of the members he insisted on the
passage of resolution directing the
city engineer to discharge all but two Of
the street commissioners.
Mr.. Doran objected strongly to this,
and said the commissioners were hard
working men and needed to look after
the city's interests,
Mr.. Reardon thought they could be
| discharged as commissioners and hired
| as foremen at $3.50 per day, and could
at that salary protect the city's interest
| just as well.
With the exception of Reardon aud
Daily, the members stood to the gun for
| the commissioners, ard the resolution
discharging them was sent to the CON-
mIttee on streets, Mr.. Reardon stating
| that the money would all be eaten up
before the committee had agreed on a
| report.
The resolution fixing the wages of
! civ IaDOrers Oh the streets and sewers
| at 10 cents per hour was then voted on,
Messrs. Daily and Van Slyke being the
two who voted against ii.
SUMMIT AVENUE BRIDGE.
The resolution of Mr.. Lightner di-
recting the corporation attorney to take
necessary steps TO compel the Chicago,
| Milwaukee Il st. Paul railroad TO bridge
its right of way over Summit avenue,
and to construct approaches the width
OF said avenue, as established when the
railway was constructed over the ave-
| Tho nit