Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-06
UNION LABOR RECOGNIZED.
EMPLOYMENT OF NON-UNION WORK
MEN WILL BE INVESTIGATED.
Revised Water Works Ordinance Con.
sidered for Nearly Three Hours
by the Lower HOuse-Unim-
pOrtant Amendments.

The lower house of the council devoted
the entire session last night to the re-
vised license ordinance. The upper house
adopted Il resolution to investigate the re-
ports that non-union men We're being en-
plCyed on the new city workhouse An or
dinance requiring all contractors to EN-
ploy none but union men was referred to
the city counselor and the ordinance regu-
lating hours for washing windows and
sweeping sidewalks of business houses was
passed.
In the Lower House.
The lower house spent nearly three hours
considering the revised water works or
dinance and adjourned without taking final
action. A number of unimportant amend
mentS We're made.
Mr.. Lynch moved to strike out the pro-
vision for confirmation by the mayor ard
upper house of employees. He wanted the
department kept out of politics.
Colonel Sirnonds denied there was any
such thing as non-partisan board of pub
lie works. He would rather trust the up
per house, with ten members, than four
members of the board.
Mr.. Burrows thought the danger of
Capitalization of power was less in the
event of approval by the mayor and up
per house.
Speaker Smith thought 1t was carrying
things little too far to have all the labor
ers passed upon by the mayor and upper
house. Mr.. Wolf wanted to insert a pro-
vision that the lower house should have 4
voice in the selection of water works en-
ployes. VI.
The confirmation provision was cut out
by vote of to .. Messrs. Simonds and
Burrows voting no.
The salary of the superintendent of the
water department was raised from s15 to
$50 per month. Mr.. smonds' amepdment
to raise the five inspectors and the Taper
from $50 to $40 was lost. Speaker Smith
and Mr.. Lynch opposed the increase of
salary. while reducing hours of labor. Mr.
sters' salary from s45 to $50 was lost by a
| tie vote. Mr.. Lynch opposed this raise
month and work from twelve to fifteen
hours day. Messrs. Smith. Burrows
Craig. Lynch anI Hough voted no.
The numbers of firemen and oil wipers
were reduced from eight to seven. On a
| motion to raise the rOustabouts from $i5 to
$50. only Messrs. Wolf. Beroth.j Simonds
and .Brinkley voted aye, and the motion
was lost.
Mr.. Wolf wanted the salary of the ma
| said that he was an expert machinist him
self. whereupon Mr.. Pendergast remarked
soto voce, slot machinist," and Mr..
An extra night engineer was ordered for
| Quindaro station. Each of the five meter
| men was given one helper. at 81 per day.
| meter users whose monthly bill does not
exceed s. to have the option of putting up
/
amount of his estimated monthly bill.
| Speaker Smiths motions to reduce the
| rate for sprinkling from Is to 10 cents per
front foot of lot and to allow a reduction
| of 10 per cent on the first s. of all bills
were lost. Mr.. Simonds argued that the
| people who get the most for their money
| We're those living in small houses using
us much water as those in large houses.
| and the sprinklers were the ones who We're
best able to pay for the water used. He
was in favor of setting aside for the
1 81 an
amount equal to the hydrant rentals form
| erly paid. and which the people do not
| cut down rates all around. Nonresident
property owners. he said. pay nothing for
| fire protection.
The rate for one. two and three room
| houses was made 81. and 90 cents a year
| for each room in addition.
| The house adjourned without finishing
the consideration of the ordinance.
| In the Upper House.
| The upper house had very quiet and un-
| eventful session, no definite action being
| taken on any measure of Importance. al
| though good grist of routine business was
| disposed of.
Alderman Morgan introduced a resolution
| which. after reciting the fact that the
council had resolved that only union labor
should be employed in the building of the
| workmen were being employed. authorized
| the president of the upper house to ap-
| point u committee of three to investigate
| and report the facts in the case The reso-
| luton was adopted and President Graham
| named Aldermen Brown. Seldom and Nor
| gan.
| Along this same line Alderman Morgan
! introduced an ordinance providing that in
the future when contracts for public works
| are let the contractor shall be required in
| giving his bond. to bind himself to employ
none but union labor. The ordinance was
| referred to the city counselor for his opin-
| ion as to the legality of requiring such a
| bond
| Alderman Browns ordinance imposing a
| license of s. per annum on bakers and fix
| ing one pound as the minimum weight of a
| loaf which may be sold for cents was
read and referred to the finance commit
| tee
| Councilman Hough's ordinance regulating
| the hours for washing the windows and
sweeping the sidewalks of business houses
| was passed.
City Physician Coffin's pesthouse con-
| demnation resolution bobbed up again. call
| ing for the institution OF proceedings TO
condemn half the ground originally con-
| templated. DIR. Coffin explained at length
| the urgent need of acquiring a permanent
| location for a pesthouse and the resolution
| was referred to the finance committee.
VIII Push the Boycott.
| rnaatipu oF Reta}l Clerks' IN