The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-02-22

sons for resuming work upon the gray
ity sewer and to urge that other work
be opened up.
las part of the argument in favor
Of the city taking charge of the work,
a measure most earnestly advocated,
statements were made regarding I'M
paid time checks yet unpaid; allega-
! tons of dishonesty made and the
boarding house system vigorously de-
nounced.
John Stubs was the principal
speaker on behalf of the workingmen.
It is safe to say that if the laboring
men would select some other mouth
piece, their cause would be more ia
yorably considered.
Stubs talks too much. Makes too
many wild assertions.
Mason, Morris, Watson, Corum,
Lynn, ClaWson, O'Meara. Young and
Mcmillan We're present, the latter oc-
cupying1 the chair.
Contractors Morris, Wilkerson, Wat
son and Fox We're present.
John Stubs informed the commit
tee that the laboring men desired that
the gravity sewer should be opened
as soon as possible. While they
wanted work they also desired to pro-
test against the old methods of the
contractors in employing WOrkmen
from the outside, to the exclusion Of
Salt Lake workingmen. He knew
whereof he spahe. for he has visited
the work and noted the methods. The
Salt Lake laborer compared faVOrabl
with the Workingnan Of any country.
When the contractors hired men last
fall it was with the understanding
that they were to be paid at the rate
of S1.75 per day, but when pay day
came they we're paid at the rate OF
S1.50 per day.
Not only this, but advertisements were
inserted in Denver papers asking for
men; the intention being to get out
side men who would board at the tent.
Stubs said the Workingmen wanted
the city to take the work. There was
S15, 600 outstanding in time checks.
The storekeepers will not trust the
men any more, and they are IN dis
tress. The city ought TO take the
sewer and finish it. a condition such
as prevailed should be abolished.
Stubs suggested the cutting Of high
Salaries, as measure Of relief.
He quoted WatermaSter Wilcken and
Superintendent Daley on ditching and
.
yon, and urged that the work be
started at once.
He closed by offering to furnish evil
dence of the condition Of the working
men by those present.
Another workingman, Eli Reese, re
lated that their case was critical Hun
dreds of men were destitute. They
needs Of the occasion demand imme-
date action and he hoped the council
would take steps at once.
Stubs got the floor again and tead
several time checks which were unpaid
and called for relief from the council.
Contractor Morris.
Elias Morris addressed the audience.
calling them 'fellow workingmen."
He said that when the gravity sewer
began a company was formed to do
the eXcavatiug and back filling. The
city granted permission to Sub-let this
work, which was done.
When operations began the question
of wages came up and it was decided
that S1.75 per day was the proper
standard. The fixing of wages at $3.50
per day was an act against his advice.
He denied that his firm owed any man
for labor. The firm had stood off ma
terial men to the amount Of thousands
of dollars in order that this might be
done.
He denied that the firm had ever adj
vertised for men in the Denver papers
and said that he was not interested
in any boarding house scheme from be-
ginning to end. Neither had he sold
any goods on percentage.
Stubbs-Do you dispute that Hob
son was not engaged in this business
Morris-If he was l did not know
of it,
Continuing. Mr.. Norris said that the
contractors were ready to allow the
city to take all the timbers belonging
to them and go ahead at once. He was
willing to do anything in his power
to give work to idle men.
Want Salaries Gut.
Jesse W. Fox said that the sub-con-
tractors had been yictimized by the
principals. While they were unable
to pay the men which worked for
them, the original contractors were
owing them. When they, Fox, Wat
son & co. came to draw their money to
pay their men they found that they
were charged with damages. 1t looked
as though the original contractors had
sub-1et to other parties in order to
have some one to fleece.
Stubs again got the floor with a de
I tense of Contractor Mcdonald on the
same lines. The whole works was a
swindle, he thought.
Contractor Watson's Views.
Contractor Watson said that while
he respected Bishop Morris, he
thought some of his statements a little
far fetched. II the sub-contractors
had had a fair show and had received
all moneys due they could have paid
off ell their men. AS it is they have
| exhausted all their resources and can
pay no more. Four or five thousand
| dollars was Wrongfully withheld from
! his firm. He never discounted a mans
paper in his life, not one five cent
piece, and asked the council to adjust
| the matter anicably. He did not
shirk any responsibility. He declared
| that the original contractors had
thrown all matters Of responsibility
upon the sub-contractors.
| Mr. Watson spoke earnestly and de-
c1ared that he did not care to expose
the affair fully but he did not propose
| to have his character aSsailed. 1t had
| been charged that he had paid his
men in scrip. He had done SO. But
I it was scrip he had worked for and he
| paid the men with it because he had
nothing else.
| Mr. Morris said that when he said
he did not owe any one present, he
! did not mean the contractors present
he referred to the Workingmen only
He admitted owing the sub-contractors
| and promised to share every cent with
them when payment is made by the
city
| One Jones said Hobson guaranteed
him $500 for work done on back hlling