Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-05-31
MUST PAY LIVING WAGES.

The Contractor on the Brooklyn Sewers
Must Employ Home Laborers at Not
ELess ThanY&1.5O a Day. t3, = 81
g Mayor Kilduff presided at the meeting
of the road and sewer boards last night.
Before opening the bids for the construc-
ton of sewers in Simon, Porter, Fourth,
South Leonard and Summit streets and
Washington avenue the mayor brought up
the matter of home labor and said that
while the contractors were obliged to en-
ploy home labor he could see now they
could find an easy way of evading it by
offering such q miserable pittance in re-
turn for labor that no man could afford to
work for it. He thought that any man
who worked all day with a pick or shovel
should receive at leastS $50 day and this
he did not consider all that man should
receive for such service.
Messrs Cross and jackson thought that
something of the kind should be done, but
did not know how the matter could be
managed SO that the contractor could give
work to men who are looking for chance
to earn a little and who are not worth over
81 90 or 81 25 day.
The mayor asked Contractors Gaffney
and McManus, who were present, if they
would agree to pay 81 so per day to home
laborers. Mr. McManus was free to say that
he would. He is now paying $1.75 and in
some cases 81 per day to his help. Ex-
perience had taught him, he said, that the
better wages he paid his help the more
money they made for him.
Mr. Gaffney admitted that he intended to
pay some men less than $3.50 and others
more than that Then followed a very in
teresting debate on the rights of labor and
capital in which the mayor proved that he
had better knowledge of the labor ques-
ton than some people who have often
been heard on the subject. He argued
that no man had moral right to employ
labor below certain standard of wages,
even though those who had it at their dis
posal were willing to sell below the market
price. He finally forced Mr. Gatfney into
the admission that he could afford to pay
81 so day without changing his bid and
would do it.
The bids were then opened as follows:
John ". Gatfney, S11 400 81; Edward Nc
Manus, So $50. 6S; H. Kellner, $11 945. 60.
When the result of the bids was announced
Mr. McManus said that he had made a mis-
take in figuring up some of the bids and
thought he could not afford to pay 81 so a
day to his help at that price. but would
stand by his statement if the board de-
cided to hold him to it. The )ntract was
awarded to Edward McManus.
The board then adjourned to the dis
trict court room to hear property owners
relative to proposed changes in Washing
ton avenue, Charles and South Leonard
streets.
John Dodds, who owns the property at
the corner of Washington avenue and
Bank street, was the first person called.
He was satisfied with the present condition
of things in that street. He would claim
considerable damages in case the proposed
changes should be made. He had a tree
in his yard which would have to be re-
moved and which he would not sell for
$500. There is not another like it in
town.
Margaret Jerome was then called. She
said she would claim damages. Mayor
Kilduff asked her how much her property
is worth. Five thousand dollars was the
answer" How much are you taxed for?"
asked the mayor. Mine hundred dol
there must have been some mistake, that
is if the board of assessors did their duty
in your case" With this remark the
mayor cast sly glance over his shoulder
at Alderman Kiefer of the board of as
SCISSORS, who occupied seat in the rear of
the chairman.
Other property owners were heard as
follows: Mrs Charles Rick, st Johns par
ish, by. n. j. Welton; A. Carroll and
Timothy Sullivan. The following We're
not represented: William Brickel, John
Wagner. Thomas Egan, Holmes, Booth &
Haydens and the New England anv
Naugatuck railroads.
The Charles street property owners were
easily handled with the exception of John
Byron, who was not prepared to say as to
what extent he would be damaged. Rev
J. H. Duggan appeared for st Patrick's
church property. He approved of the pro-
posed change and thought it would be
great boon to all residents in that section
of the city. He told of the great cry that
had been raised by some people when the
bridge was first talked of across the Manga
tuck river at that place. They dreaded
the expense, he said. But he wanted to
know who would be willing to dispense
with that bridge now.
With the exception of John Clohessy
and John Dwyer there was no particular
objection to the proposed changes, pro-
vided the city should leave their places in
as good condition as they now are. The
board voted that the hearing on Washing
ton avenue be continued to June 20.
Contractor jackson was allowed $25 for
expenses incurred owing to the delay occa-
stoned by the city in commencing the
work on South Riverside street.
The matter of surface water on Round
Hill street was referred to the street in
spector.