The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-28
POOR MEMS PLEA.
Street Contractors Who
Do Not Pay Up.
KEEP ALL BUT PROMISES.
Cases Where the City Will See
the Men Paid.
FIRE COMMITTEE TAKES ACTION.
A System of Public Work That
Needs to Be RemOdeled-A
Plan Suggested.

Two cases in the same point-a very de-
pIorable point-one in the Justices Courts
and one before the Fire Committee of the
Board Of Supervisors. we're emphasized
yesterday.
For the past several days the justices
courts have been haunted by men making
inquiry Of the judges as to whether they
have any recourse against certain con-
tractors doing street work who refuse to
pay them their wages.
No less than four men were encountered
in one courtroom yesterday on this errsnd.
They were told in every instance that the
best thing they can do to better their con-
dition in the premises is to leave the mans
employment.
One of the men, A. G. Morse, stated that
he was, and had been, in the employ of
Contractor Hogan, who is doing the grad
ing ON NJ street, between Eighth and Ninth
avenues He said that he had been work
lug for over two weeks and had received
for his labor only 50 the first week and
So 80 the second. while the wages prom
ised him was 81 per day besides his board.
Morse said that all the men in Hogan's
employ were treated in the same way, and
many of them considered him lucky at
getting 50 80. especially as a comparative
newcomer
This man Hogan is the same who is
constantly in trouble with the Society for
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, for
the reason that he will not properly feed
and care for his horses. A short time ago
he was arrested for driving horses that
were not shod properly, and the tips OF
their hoofs had grown so long that they
could scarcely walk.
Il was in charge Of a team" said Morse,
''and the last day l worked for him the
team had to be laid off, as it was worn out.
There had been no hay in the stable for
three days. The stable is never provided
with any bedding, so that the horses have
to lie on the hard boards or stand up. and
horses will generally prefer 10 stand up all
night under the circumstances. There are
from eight to twelve teams at work there.
l consider that they are treated very
cruelty. AS for the men, who never get
their pay. of course they can quit if they
don't like it. 1t is different with the
horses. Some of the men. however. after
working month or SO in this fashion, and
Hogan comes to owe them con sidera BILE
money, keep on in the hope that he will
pay them some time or other, and fear
that If they quit they'll get nothing. One
man has been with him over a year on
those grounds ana the debt only keeps
growing"
This man Hogan is big, healthy, red
faced man, and his physique and fighting
qualities enable him to carry on business
in this fashion" said another of the men.
He is seldom without black eve. how
ever. The most straightforward thing
ever knew him to do happened the other
day. He was driving down Market street.
man in the buggy with him, when he
spied another and very reputable con-
tractor on the street, ard hailing him
pulled up to the sidewalk.
7 sxn11 IN rviy T.
job, won't you?'
"'What do you mean? You hire more
men than L have; why don't you give him
a job yourself p
but this man needs money, and you
know | never pay my men anything said
Hogan"
But that times are hard and men willing
10 work for almost nothing such things
could hardly be.
'Fhis contract of HOgan's on NJ street
is not taken in his own name," said r. J.
Barry. young attorney who had been
consulted by some of these men, and who
had taken the trouble to look up the status
of the matter.
st stands on the books in the Superin-
tendent OF Streets Office in the name of
Thomas Madigan. That Is the way with
most of the street work. 1t is generally
done by thoroughly Irresponsible parties,
Madlgan gives bond 10 $500, upon which
are the names of Fred Leffi-r and James
| DUFFY. | know nothing about either
Madigan or his boudsmen, but do know
that in most Of these cases the whole thing
! is a professional bit of juggleTy. In the
| first place man goes about and gels the
! signatures of prOperty-owners asking for
street Improvement. When it is let be
bids so low That honest men are unable to
compete. Then be gets some straw bonds
| men and the contract is MS. his next stem
| is to let the contract to some one else who
will do the work. aLd, it falls into the
| hands of men like Hogan, who do not nav
| their men or feed or bed their horses. and
| by that means are able to pay something
| for he contract and still make money
| themselves"
SIT is very difficult thing to reach. +"
said Chairman Day of the Street Commit.
tee, when spoken to about this matter.
we hold back the nay Oh these street
contracts for thirty days, in an effort to
| see that the men and material are paid.
but we can go no further than that. The
work on the streets Is assessed to the
! property-owners and We have no further
| Jurisdiction"
The case before the Fire Committee yes
terday grew out of The same conditions
an attempton the part of sub-contractor
10 defraud his men. In this case it was
work done on engIne-house 4, the property
OF the city, and in which the city had Ill
| rect jurisdiction. George German, John
Donovan and Silva Denaud had claim
against Fred g. Curtis, the su b. con tractor
and the committee decided TO hold back
the entire amount due until the claims
| were paid. Clerk Russell says his life ha
b'en made miserable by the camorings OF
unpaid Workmen on city and semi-city
work. He says the only way to meet the
evil is TO hold back the whole amount due
contractors on such work until all claims
| against it are paid