Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-12
STREET SWEEPERS STRIKE
Contractor Daggett Confident There Will Be
No Further Delay.
He viii Give Strikers q Chance to Re.
turn to Work and FIJI Their
Places If They Do Not.

The employees Of Albert Daggett. the con-
tractor for sweeping the Streets to the
number of about one hundred. went on a
strike Saturday night about 1870 o'clock.
The men were dissatisfied with the reduc-
ton of hours and wages which went into
effect July 1. The eight-hour law under
which no laborer doing work for the Dis
trfct government is permitted to work
more than eight hours day. took effect
that date. The street sweeping force had
formerly been working ten hours day,
receiving therefor 81. 80 and 100, according
to their duties.
When the hours were reduced Mr.. Dag
gett reduced the mems wages to $40 and
81 per day. Those affected by this were
the hoe-men, sweepers. carriers and drivers.
There has been considerable disaffection
among them on this account since the re-
duction was made, and Saturday night.
v Streets where the street sweeping head
quarters are located, this sentiment took
definite shape.
Made the Demand.
Walker Marshall, one of the employees.
acted as leader Of the men. and. approach
ing Superintendent John 8. La Rue he
demanded $50 day for himself and COM
panions. Others followed him in the de-
mand. and upon the superintendent telling
them that he could do nothing. the men
refused to go to work.
The result was that the sweeping ma
chimes were returned to the sheds. as there
were no workmen to collect the sweepings
or cart them away. Consequently the
streets were not swept Saturday night.
Half a dozen employees who had not joined
in the strike, went out and removed the
dirt from streets already swept.
The men claimed that Notwithstanding
the reduction in hours they were compelled
to put in the same route and do as much
work as they did In ten hours.
Contractor Daxgett's Statement.
Star reporter saw Mr.. Daggett this
morning. 1.-The work will be done usual
hereafter" said the contractor. THE roll
u i'll be called as usual at O'Clock. and all
the strikers who report will be taken back.
New men will be employed in the places
of those who do not return. and the latter
will never get employment from me again.
THE eight-hour law. which went into eff
feet July !, will work a hardship on con-
tractors generally Now. since the law has
gone into effect. my men have thrown
down their broorns and Shorels and stopped
the carts taking up dirt the minute the
time was up. They wouldn't work after
the time for extra wages, SO extra men
would have to be sent out to do unfinished
work.
The men say they have to cover as
much route as they did In ten hours. This
Is not true. The route now for sweepers
is million yards, instead of one and Il
half millions, as formerly, and only six
men were let off when the change came.
The rate for laborers' wages in Washing
ton for an eight-hour day is 81. 1t is true
the Street men in New York get $50 but
there the work is done by the municipality
and not by a contractor. and a New York
street man will do twice much work as
Gre man here. l reduced the wages in
conformity with the reduction of hours.
Wanted to Begin at Roll Call.
Then there was another thing the men
wanted. continued the contractor. They
demanded that their time should begin
from the time roll was called. Roll is called
every night at o'clock at 18th and v
streets Work does not begin until 10
o'clock. If man has to walk a mile to
mis- work certainly don't propose to pay
him for 1t. 1t is impossible to call rolls at
every place where the men begin work. l
hope the old men will come back to work
1t Is very unwise in them to seek idlenCss
when there are SO many unemployed ready
to take their places. Most of them have
been given employment by me for the past
five years. But there will be no further in
reference with the performance of my
contract. The streets will be swept. and
well swept, without any difficulty, can as
sure you.