The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1897-12-11
CHARTER DISCUSSED.
Cobb Leads Economic Discus.
sion Under Auspices Of
Trades Assembly.
Committee Appointed to Formu'
late Measures in the In.
terest of Labor.

| 4uo aLtouQduco aL rIludy oVouluS .
economic discussion was larger than
usual and very much representative of
the more thoughtful element. Besides
the leader, who, as a member of the tri-
city charter commission has had con-
siderable experience in the formation
of such a document, the meeting was
fortunate in having pre-. ut two mem-
bers of the present commission, Messrs
Greene and Mcdowell, and former
member of the city council, Mr.. Har-
wood, so that besides the professional"
economists of the labor organizations
the audience had the benefit of much
expert testimony.
Mr.. Cobb admonished labor that it
must not expect too much Of such a
Recommendation legislation is apt to
prove disappointing. He thought we
should not insist on the day labor sys-
tenn, but that the matter should be left
open for the discretion of the council
We wanted an eight hour provision, civil
service, public ownership of public facil
tiles; the merit system should take the
place of the spoils system; reasonable
pay for men employed on public works;
the recognition of home industry and
union labor; rigid sanitary inspection
under control of the health department.
Mr.. Greene said that he came to hear
what was wanted of the commmission.
In regard to the work that had been
done he said that in the matter of ap-
pointments the power and responsibility
were thrown on the mayor, taxes were
made payable through. the auditors
office, all but about 20 situations will be
brought under civil service rules and
city laborers will be chosen by system
of registration; SO far as he had spoken
to them the commissioners were all in
favor of plumbing inspector; and the
commission also expected to reduce the
cost of city printing.
More interesting, perhaps, than any
other were the remarks on the subject of
franchises. AS the law stands now, Mr..
Greene said, the mayor and city council
can give away any franchise they please;
under the new charter, none can be Civ
en- away without vote of the people,
and the commission was trying to de-
wise some way by which they could be
awarded to the highest bidder,
Mr.. Mcdowell referred to the titles
that organized labor was most interested
in. These, he said, were the titles on
common council, library board, treasury,
fire and police departments.
J. H. Baker took strong grounds in
favor of the city owning and operating
it's own franchises, He referred to Alex
andria, La., as a modern American city
where this had been attempted with the
utmost success. Not only does that
city own it's public utilities, but it con-
constructed them in a manner peculiarly
advantageous to both labor and the tax
payer.
Mr.. Harwood opposed the idea of Civ
ing more power to the mayor. He said
it was going ba:k to the old system
which we had abandoned because it
was not satisfactory. He also denounced
the contract system, dwelling on it's i'm
perfections and showed that better work
could be done for less money under the
day labor plan. He also advocated in
surance by the city, but, he said, the
powers behind the throne would force
the commission to drop this subject
even if it dared to tackle it. Neverthe-
less, the experience of European cities
showed that the city could perform this
work at quarter Of the present cost.
Mr.. Thiel referred to Berlin and the
advantageous bargains made by a social
istically inclined city council. He said
that street car franchise, under the
terms of which the entire plant and
equipment becomes the property Of the
city at the end of 20 years, was recently
sold for 100000.
J.D. Hays made few vigorous re-
marks; he also took a strong position in
favor of city ownership of franchises,
and the days labor plan; and Don A
Palmer taking up the suggestion that
the city assume charge of the insurance
business wanted to know ''why not go
into savings bank business" and especi
ally, since in some of the European
countries, such institutions are conduct
ed exclusively by the municipalities?
Mr.. Nixon struck the only discordant
note. "Freedom" he said, ''is what we
want, not restriction
The employment Office evil was taken
up and thoroughly ventilated. Mr..
Schweiger told about conditions prevail
CONTINUED on fourth page.l