Evening star., 1897-05-28
THE VOICE OF LABOR
A Strong Protest Against Sweeping
the Streets With Machines.
PETITION 10 TEE COMMISSIONERS
Action Taken at a Meeting Of COL
ored Citizens Last Evening.
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL
v:A [&H

l. Il IA
A large meeting Of laboring men was
held last evening in the main audience
room of Grand Army Hall, Pennsylvania
avenue near 14th street northwest. The
audience was a little slow in assembling,
but when at $50 o'clock Col Perry Carson
called the meeting to order there was not
vacant seat in the hall.
Col Carson was chosen chairman by
unanimous vote, and. amidst great ap-
plause. and Mr.. F. J. Perry was appointed
secretary. After the call for the meeting was
read by the secretary. Chairman Carson
called on a number of prominent men in
the audience to come to the platform, end
the following responded: Col. M. M. Hol-
land. E. M. Hewlett, Rev. Robert r. 8.
Laws Of this city. ex-State Senator G. T.
Allaine Of Chicago and Mr.. A. B. Posey Of
New Jersey.
Col. Carson Explains.
In explaining the object Of the meeting
Col Carson stated that the particular
grievance of those assembled was against
the awarding of contracts for the sweep
ing of the streets of the city under the bids
already submitted The fear was, he said,
that the contract would go to company
which employs what is known as the
pickup machine which not only sweeps
the streets. but also picks up the dirt after
1t. The cost of such a machine was, neces-
sarily, he thought very high, but the ef-
feet would be to deprive several hundred
men Of employment. which he regarded
as matter Of far more Importance than
would be the saving of a few dollars to
the District treasury.
The chair appointed a committee on reso-
lutions, as follows: w. H. Gray, chairman;
w. K. Brown, Benton Fields. r. H. Gem
NELL, Col. NJ. M. Holland Theodore Grass
and Rev. DIR. Laws. The committee re-
tired, and during its absence DR.. c. B.
Purvis was called on for a speech, and he
was introduced by Chairman Carson as
one who was almost as we'll known to the
audience as the chairman was.
DR.. Purvis' Address.
DR.. Purvis said he was always willing
to contribute what he could to ameliorats
was the reason he was at the meeting, for
If he had consulted the state Of his health
he would have remained at home.
Washington" said DR.. Purvis. "is in
many respects an ideal city. 1t is one Of
the important questions Of the day whether
the men Of Washington shall have fair
chance to make living, and believe that
1t is the duty of the government to pro-
vide as much work as possible.
Il am irrevocably opposed to machine
work and in favor Of having the streets
cleaned by day labor. If machines are
used it will at once throw $50 sweepers out
Of employment. If the contract is awarded
to the machine there will in all probability
he an increase in crime. as there will be
more idleness among the poor people"
DR.. Purvis criticised a recent decision OF
Judge Kimball in fining a vender of straw
berries for crying his wares on the street.
He expressed the belief that the Commfs-
sioners did not agree with Judge Kimbali
in his construction Of the huckster law,
and predicted that the time is coming
when the colored people of the District
will have as many rights accorded to them
as they get elsewhere. 49,
IL can see," said he, mo future before
you unless you get the right of suffrage,
and II this IL granted the people here
would have far less trouble to get what
they want from Congress.
II am thoroughly earnest in this matter,
and hope that the object you seek will
be attained"
The Resolutions.
Upon the conclusion Of DR.. Purvis' speech,
Chairman Gray Of the committee on reso-
lutions. made q report, as follows, which
was adopted by an unanimous vote:
Whereas the honorable Commissioners
Of this District have received and opened
bids for cleaning and sweeping the streets
and alleys of this city; and.
work as it is done now. partly by machine
ard partly by hand, and other bids to do
1t exclusively by machinery, and still 9TH
theirs to do it exclusively by hand, as 1t Is
now done in New York and other large
cities; therefore. be It
Resolved, That 1t Is the sense Of this
meeting that the honorable Commissioners
should award these contracts to the bid
ders who propose to do the work exclusive
ly by hand.
Resolved, That we look with fear upon,
and unalterably oppose. the invasion of
the department of unskilled labor by ma
chinery, which is calculated to take bread
out Of the mouths of workingmen for the
benefit Of the favored few.
Resolved, That the honorable Commits
sioners will not be justified In awarding
use machinery. as the difference in the
cost is not great enough, when 1t is con-
sidereo that at least 1900 mouths will be
deprived Of bread by such award.
shall be appointed by the chair. whose duty
1t shall be to urge upon the honorable
Commissioners such action as will secure
the awarding Of these contracts only to
hand and days labor exclusively"
Special Report on Cuba.
The committee made a special report on
the Cuban question, which was likewise
adopted, without a single dissenting voice,
as lOllOWS:
Whereas the gallant struggle now be-
ing waged in Cuba by a heroic band of
patriots. among whom the brave Maceo
was one Of the brightest stars. for the
freedom and independence Of their coun-
try; and
Whereas their wonderful struggle
against almost insuperable odds has re-
bounded to the discontinue Of their enc
mics. and excited the admiration and SYM
pathy Of the liberty loving world; and
Whereas our own country. the land
OF the free and the home Of the brave
the cradle Of liberty-seems to be almost
unanimous in its sympathy for the Cubans;
be 1t
Resolved. That a committee Of seven
be appointed to devise ways and means to
form a Cuban League, the object OF which
is to be the rendering OF assistance by
every honorable means to the struggling
patriots"
The Committees.
Chairman Carson appointed as a commit
tee to call on the District Commissioners
with tho request touching the awarding OF
the contract for street sweeping the follow