Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-08


The substitution of direct employ
ment for the contract system in many
branches of municipal work has been
round In several noteworthy instances
to have produced good results in sew
eral directions.
One instance is afforded by New York
city, where a few years ago Mr.. War
ing, who was at the head of the street
department, undertook the great task
Oh having streets cleaned by men d.
rectly employed by the city, instead Of
letting the job to contractors, and
further decided to demonstrate that he
could obtain better service and save
money by almost entirely discarding
machines, and going back to the broom
and shovel. Mr.. Warnings experiment
was derided at the time he commenced
1t, but before his term of Office had ex
pired he conclusively proved that in
that particular branch of municipal
undertaking there was economy in d.
rect employment and the rejection of
the machine.
In his speech before the Commercial
club of Chicago, Mayor Quincy, of Bos-
ton, told of the progress that Boston
is making in the direction of the sub
stitution of direct employment of labor
for the contract system. Last year the
city established a municipal printing
office, which employs from so to 100
hands, and has, in the first year of its
operation, saved the city over $1,000,
In comparison with the prices which
the city was formerly paying for its
printing. In the installation of new
electrical work and in the making of
electrical repairs the city successfully
substituted the work of special de-
partment for the contract system, and
now has force Of twenty-five to fifty
men constantly engaged in this work.
Boston has also started fepair depart
ment, which will make all repairs or
small alterations needed upon munich
pal buildings, including work in the
mechanical trades, such as carpenter
ing, masonwork, plumbing, steamfit-
ting, etc. Proper store-rooms and shops
have been fitted up for use in connec-
ton with this branch of work. per
sonally," said Mr.. Quincy in his speech,
II believe that wherever the contract
system can be replaced by the direct
employment of labor under proper adj
ministrative control an advantage will
be gained not only in the better quality
of work secured and in the greater re-
sponsibility for its proper execution,
but in the elimination from politics of
the demoralizing influence of the small
contractor"
Going to England, there is recent
record that contains an argument of
equal force. In the parish of Battersea
in London the contract for pub
lie work Is unknown, all of the
work Of the parish since October, 1885,
being carried on by the vestry's own
men, whether 1t is the making Of a
main sewer, laying of pavement, or
the construction Of a public building.
Battersea Is ahead of all other English
communities in this respect, for not
even Birmingham, Manchester, or Glas-
gov have dispensed wholly with the
contractor. Battersea is also first to
establish municipal workshops, and
the building just completed contains
shops for carpenters, wheelwrights,
wagon-makers, plumbers. blacksmiths,
painters, masons, harness-makers and
other trades. All sorts of tools are pro-
vided. At least 160 skilled mechanics
will be employed within doors. Mon
employed by Battersea work eight
hours a day, are paid trade union rate
of wages, are entitled to weeks holt
day each year. sick pay, and pension
in cases of accident during employ
ment From October, 1895, to January
1, 1898, work has been done to the
amount of Ell 1881, and it is noteworthy
that this was f1,S5S below the esti-
mated cost.