The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-07-26
The PRIVATE CONTRACT
| Big Fight Being Made by Labor Or
ganlzailons of the City.
WANT NORFOLK TO CLEAN HER STREETS
Bsatcment OF MT. w. NJ. Harmon, who
Tells why He Should Have the
Contract A Prominent Labor
Leader Tells Why He Shouldn't
Figures for Fourteen Years.

A very vigorous fight is being made
oy organized labor against the private
contract system, with especial refer
.nce to street cleaning. 1t will be re-
nembered that Messrs. J. It. and w. NJ.
Hannah secured the contract for the
year just passed for S24,S90.O9, and
. bought out the plant which the city
had operated up to that time.
Bids were advertised for the work
during the ensuing year and were re-
ferred naturally to the Street, Sewer
and Drain Board. which was ordered
to return a report to the Councils, ad-
vising them how cheaOly the city could
do the same work. The board reported
that Messrs. Hannan's bid was the
lowest. amounting to $lS,720. Or S6,170.e9
less than last years bid The report
also estimated that it would cost the
city of Norfolk about $4,000 more to
do the work, and recommended the ac-
ceptance of Messrs. Hannan's bid.
But an earnest protest was at once
filed urging the Councils not TO let the
work out, to private contract to any
body. This protest included resolu-
tions not only from IL number of Demo-
cratic Clubs. but from the Central Labor
Union. Now it must be understood that
not a single member of this union would
be employed by the city in case she
undertook the work, and the action of
the union was not tSle result of per-
sonal reasons. except in so far as 1t is
their desire to benefit laboring men of
all classes and believe that the uplifting
in any way OF one class has It's effect,
moral and eventually substantial, upon
all classes. 1t must be borne in mind,
too. that the Central Labor Union acts
for all of the labor organizations in the
city in this matter, and every one of
them. through the union, protested
against the street cleaning being let to
private contract. The Councils still
have the matter under adviscment.
A prominent labor leader, in speak
ing of the subject in hand yesterday,
gave the following as some of the rca-
sons why the city should do the work:
l. "Some time ago the Councils of both
Portsmouth and Norfolk appointed COM
mittees to go to Washington and ask
Secretary Herbert to lot a certain war
ship be built at the Gosport Navy-yard
instead of letting the work 10 the New
port News Shipbuilding and Dry-dock
claiming that refusal to grant the
petition Of the committees would be
highly detrimental to the business in
terests of this community. The Nor
folk Councils have before them par
allel case and 1t would be inconsistent
to say the least for them to let the
street cleaning to private contract"
1.-The city could do the work as
cheaply as Messrs. Hannah if she chose
to employ the same class of labor, work
hours. But that is the point. Messrs.
Hannah work their men from twelve to
fourteen hours. This should be reduced
to nine or ten; Mcssrs. Hannah employ
a number of little colored boys in the
upper end of town, and these take the
place of men with families to support.
These boys, 1t is understood, receive
only so cents a day MeSsrs. lIannan do
not pay their laborers on an average
what they should get-not sufficient in
Il Il 4,
the necessares of life. The men should
he paid $1,5o a day. There are plenty
of white men with families looking for
the job too. The city of Portsmouth
pays SITE per eight-hour day for the
same class Of work.
8. 1.-The work has not been we'll done
by private contract. and repes ed pro-
tests have been sent to the Board of
Health. Garbage has been allowed to
stand on the sidewalk for many hours
after 1t should have heen removed. No
thing need be said of dead dogs. dead
rats. and decayed fruits. etc. The health
of the city is in jeopardy.
4. "a new plant will cost Sc, 500, but
the city received $1,000 for what II
claimed was a worthless plant. so a
new one will in reality cost only $500.
Then it will be permanent invest
ment, of course"
3. You must consider, also. that the
dirt from the streets. Is of considera bic
value, and if the Street Inspector will
look judiciouslX into the matter. he will
find that he can dispose of it for quite a
sum, and this must be deducted from
the cost to the city.
There are many other reasons that
might be mentioned, but the above are
sufficient"
Mr. w. NJ. Hannah. Jr.. was seen by
a representative of the Nirginian anG
asked If there was any statement he
would like TO make relative TO the fight
that the labor organiZa tions and others
are making against him. as an exponent
or the private contract system.
L hardly know tina. there is anything
TO say, aVerred Mr.. Hannah seriously.
II have put in the lowest bid. by odds,
for the contract, and propose, II l get il,
to live upco it,.
Can you do 1t at the figures you
have submitted 10 the Councils?" was
the next question
II am sure ] can" replied the CON
tractor readily. and pay the men who
work for me proper wages. too. II is ru-
mored cha: | pay the members of my
gangs only from 80 to 90 cents. THIS l.
incorrect entirely. The lowcs. priced
man In my employ gets Is cents. and he
Is the fellow who picks up scrap papcr.
his WORK Is ve:y light. and his hours
are only from 4. m. to p. m. lTy fore
man is paid 81 a day. and the other men
get from 81 to So
Il work about thirty-cigh. men on an
average, and these are divided into two