The herald., 1895-02-11
A NORWEGIAN PROPOSES A LAW
He Advocates the Abolition Of the Contract
System on Public Works
'In the Editnr of The Hnrald

System on Public Works
70 the Editor of The Herald:
| have prepared a law on public works,
which has been Endorsed by the Trades
Council, Carpenters Union, Painters
Union. New Era Labor Exchange Knights
Of -Labor-and a number of worklngmen,
and | think it would have been in lorsed
by many other citizens if l had only had
time and opportunity to present it to
them. Therefore I hope you will give it
space in your columns. 1t is entitled An
Act to Abolish the Contract System on
Public Works and to Establish an Eight
Hour Day and Wages, and to Provide
Penalties for the same.
The people of the state of California re-
presented in the Senate and Assembly, do
hereby enact as follows
That hereafter no public work, state,
county or municipal, shall be let out by
contract, but the same shall be done by
day S work, under direct supervision and
control of the state, county or municipal
itv. That eight consecutive hours in each
calendar day of twenty -four hours, shall be
II legal day work on all public work, state,
county or municipal.
That none but actual citizens shall be
employed on any public work. that all
unskilled laborers shall receive not less
than two dollars per day of eight hours;
that all mechanics shall not receive less
than the average wages of mechanics for
day of eight hours; that for any violation
of this act, or any part of it, by any
official superintendent or foreman upon
trial and conviction thereof, they shall be
fined not less than one hundred dollars
nor more than one thousand or, may be
imprisoned from one to five years, or
both, for each and every violation of this
act, and shall not again be eligible to
hnl In1 nfti no /
further enacted that all acts, or parts OF
acts, which conflict with this act are
hereby repealed and this act, to take effect
on and after its passage.
/ do not wish to take up too much
space in your paper, which is now advo-
ing them an opportunity to express their
views on questions of interest.
| only want to mention few points in
favor OF my proposed law.
| believe that to have the public work
done directly by the day is the fairest and
best way. The work would be done bet
ter, and in the long run would be equally
as cheap; there would not be so much
repairing required; all the expense of let
ting out contracts and the long delays of
the same would be saved, to say nothing
of the Doodle, as the boodlers are sup
posed to be in other localities and not in
ours.
could make APPROPRIATIONS if the funds
were on hand and put men at work at
once, selecting only citizens, those the
most worthy, needy etc first; others af-
forwards, and carry out and make eight
hours only days work. How is it under
our present contract system? Does not
the work often cost more than it ought
to and poorly done in many instances
Do not contractors, as a rule, claim the
right to hire whom they please, fix their
wages to suit themselves and frequently
work the men nine or 10 hours or evade
the eight hour law in some way | do
not want to be understood as abusing
contractors personally, many of them are
good men and do the best they can; but
if they take the work cheap at the lowest
Gd the they Same must Wav sfit eokn it do omt
for profit for themselves. 1t is the
contract system that l want to see abol-
ished-the money paid direct to the men
who perform the work. Honest, qualified
contractors could be employed on the
work, some as superintendent foremen,
ETC., and be better off.
Our own actual citizens should be the
only ones employed ON public works, as
they pay the taxes and foot the bills
Eight hours should be days work, and
the law should be enforced. 1t is long
enough for any man to work; it would
divide up the time and give more men
work. Give them living, time to rest,
read, study and make them better citi-
zens. Much more might be written on
my proposition, but | must close, and
leave the question with your readers and
propose to send my bill to Sacramento in
few days to see what they think of it
to see what they will do with it.
]. d. Bailey