The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-24
THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE,
Organization Effected and VIM.
Pridham Made Chairman.
The Committee Recommends One
Dollar Day for Labor,
And Specifically Insists That This Is
Simply n Relief Measure-LIst
OF the Men who Go to
Work Thursday.

committee appointed by the council in
handling the selection of the unenl-
ployed to be put to work, thus relieving
them Of vexatious burden.
The committee met at 10 O'Clock with
the labor commission in the council
chamber. Mayor Rowan called the
meeting to order, and stated it's object to
be to arrange for organization.
Mr.. Nickel said that the committee
was appointed to assist the labor COM
mission, and any plan they would eug-
gest would be concurred in by the labor
commission. The plan now in use was
not proving entirely satisfactory.
Mr.. Munson explained to the meeting
what the commission mad already done
and the way in which the labor commits
sion had worked.
Mr.. Hutton asked if the committee OF
citizens was to organize itself.
Mr.. Nickeli said it was his idea that
the committee would have an organiza-
ton of its own. He said the labor COM
mission in starting out thought they
would have about 200 men to provide
for, but they had found there were
about 900, and the work did not 60
around. The labor commission had also
found that they were being imposed on
and he was Satisfied some change was
necessary.
Mr.. Hutton asked if there was any
fund set apart for this purpose.
Mr.. Nickel said fund had been Gre
ated to which money would be trans
ferred from time to time.
Mr.. Munson said his idea was that
probably $1,000 or $4,000 could be gotten
out to go into this fund.
DIR. George W. Weeks wanted to know
il 1t was the idea to give work to any but
our own citizens.
Mayor Rowan said it was the idea to
provide for our own citizens first.
DR.. Weeks said that if the committee
acted as auxiliary to the labor commits
sion it would not clash. He thought
the committee could furnish the labor
commission with information.
William Pridham thought no labor
should be given at first to those who
have any resources. If there are 700
people to employ and not money enough
to put them all at work at so day,
the 81 q day basis is the correct one.
After some further discussion the
committee went into organization and
.
Superintendent LIE Grand OF the city
parks presented quite a long and inter-
esting plea for men to be put to work in
the parks. In the course of the COM
munication he said:
''Of course we cannot do now the cul-
tivating, watering, moving, etc., for the
summer months. We cannot set out
our tender Towering and bedding plants
and shrubs. All this work must be
done at the proper time.
"In the present condition OF the park
funds we cannot pecuniarily help in the
good work go earnestly started by our
honorable councilmen, but we can give
employment to all the workingmen
you may be kind enough to send US, in
wedding the lawns, rip-rapping the
banks OF our little lakes, building
bridges, rockeries, grading paths, roads.
etc. During the next two months in
each of our parks. with the exception
of the two or three smallest ones, we
can employ from 10 to % extra men,
and in Elysisn park for an indefinite
period, work could be given to 400 OF
300 men, and many teams.
"We may kill two birds with one
stone-relieve the sufferings of the
working class and make rapid progress
in the development of our parks. San
Francisco, at our very door, gives us a
remarkable example of how, out oil
shifting sandhills, thoy have made the
beautiful Golden Cats park
DR.. Weeks moved it be the duty oil
the committee to investigate the needs
of the unemployed in their wards and
report to the labor commission.
Mr.. Hutton thought this would be too
nh 'xryOr h frr ft,ao
DIR. Weeks said be thought the only
duty of the committee was to report the
cases needing work to the labor commits.
sion.
The motion was carried.
Mr.. Copp moved that the committee
recommend that in view of the number
of applicants and scarcity of money the
rate OF wages be fixed at the same as in
San Francisco, 81 per day. Carried.
Mr.. Simonton moved that it be the
sense OF the committee to employ all
worthy men who have been residents oil
tae city six months, and that no worth
less characters be employed. Carried.
Mr.. Pridham was elected permanent
chairman and Mr.. Everett was eelected
as clerk for the committee.
DR.. Weeks moved that the secretary
be instructed to furnish the committee
men the names of applicants in their
wards and that they be not put to work
until report from the committeeme
was received.
A recess was taken until 2 O'Clock.
and when the committee reasaembied, a
subcommittee consisting of Messrs,
Copp, Simonton and Weeks was APP
pointed to confer with the contractors
and explain that tine action of the COM
mittee in placing the rate at 81 per day
vas not to be taken as lowering the rate
If wages in the market, but was only q
relief measure.
Mr.. johnson moved that the price OF
abor ss fixed by the committee be not
taken as affecting the regular price oil
labor on public works.
Mr.. Copp offered as a substitute the
following resolution, which was adopted
Whereas, The best kind of help is the
Kind that helps one to help himielf, and
Whereas, More men demand work
han can possibly be employed by the
,ity, and
Whereas, 1t seems wise to reduce the
Price per day to the same figure that is
being paid in San Francisco, viz, 81 per
lay, 80 as to reach with the same
mount OF money double the number oil
men; ana
Whereas, Large numbers OF men are
Ibout to be employed by sewer con-
iractors on parts of the sewers about to
10 constructed;