New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-02
TAMMANY BLOW TO THE POOR
CONTRACTORS FORCED TO STOP LABOR
ON PUBLIC WORKS
ABOUT FORTY THOUSAND MEN. TT ~ EsrIMATEh
ARB THROWN OFT OF EMp1OYMENT-No
scHooLHoysEs FOR SIXTY THOU
SAND CHILDREN.

SAND CHILDREN
There were many worhmen for whom X was
gloomy Sunday Yesterday. The announcements IN
Controller Coler's report that thu ctys d''' limit
had been passed and thai work or all pubic I'M
proverents must be stopped had had the effect
Public work had been shut down on Saturday n'ght'
and Il 10 estimated that something Ike forty thou
sand men were thrown ont OF employment The
various contractors engaged IN city work at meet
Ing held IN tho Office Of the Mapcs-R"eve Nonstruc-
ton Company in the American Tract society
Building on Saturday afternoon. had decided 70
suspend operations AT until the debt question
settled
This action which is only one more proof OF
Tammany's enrnity 20 labortnR men. ia looked upon
as a political trick or the part OF IhninahF'
II is tho halls wish to pu, an end TO
work on schoohouscs. Libraries, baths. MUSEUMS
and go on, buildings which Tarnmany Hall
mon never could the Of: At the
sam. time 10 throw OUT Of work many men not In
favor with tho organization. and compel contract
ors who honestly received awards OF contracts un-
der the last administration 90 rchrguish them.
some day. perhaps around election time, II VIII be
found that there Is money for various large public
improyeine Then such contracts "a have been
thrown up will DE given 10 Tammany workers.
Tsmmany men Will be employed AS workmen. and
Tammany Will gain thereby money and votes
Tho city officials refuse 20 pay contractors FOR
work already done on which money IS due MI
Colcr says that the deui limit has been exceeded
by more than 100000. aud 10 money can be paid
to contractors until tho debt limit question Is set
tied by The courts. Among the work stopped Is tho
erection OF tnir'y-;our new srhoo.houses which
were TO accommodate about sixty thousand chill
dren. 81 OF these VIII 30 excluded from schools
Many contractors are temporarily embarrassed for
money. They have advanced money on The work
done. and have no cash - continue. This explains
their decision to shut down. TAmmany's hoic u
f.fs nm "a ~
may give out again some day. Tho following Is a
llst o. tins Improvements stopped:
New w,as q TIE tg.l1s IN crI 49,. r'Fs
Additions the nu.c.'f 2 Natural History
Bridg. over the Harlem Rair at or hundred and
nf2. ,lra st ,.-..-,.,..,.. .. o...,,.,,.
Harlem Rser nisr a. one nanired ana f,r', ATHEIST.
botanical Mls"lm HsonI Iars
sls9s s"i a s% a sf' ysa sS4 ,t;".S.
Pfo-pec, HI I.osd. Pelham "a, iars
Hospital improvements. "Hfa.s Island
A si,laa T., Z, r ,aai.a 3S'4'"''
Pa asi''s s~ .' Rivns,.n St
Ioa. lon sn5 s sse o, rlv,r-a. PM.
improvement, q iIan,.sA Park
s lr.i p"5s a. on a,n a.-i a1a nf,y-,h'rd st
l@ Tt'''' Of B,eas ard r,:as@ Parkway.
Improvement .; Governor II ss''al
East River bridge
Paving Jerome Ne
H HsDs,5,oS In Ma M"nG sfoaa
spuy.n D1yvl creek bridEA
East Ri,er rarl, improvement
spuyien pu,vl Iar@wny.
New. rch.o,houses
Teu.p0rary ur.dres over ~. Rronr
WiHiemrnrils- sewers
Wilis-ave lr.igc
Underground rri'wAy.
vladuot at oa' hundred and-'Nry 'ourth-''
Vis4urt - Niuet, sixth s..
Soldiers aud sailors Monument
Bronx conocurr.
HIoSsi,n i Sa@i; zoe q Art.
The meeting ~ contractors on Saturday. at which
n was unanimously decided 20 suspend operations
Cor the present was attended by representatives
from firms holding more than 100000 worth ~
city contracts An alliance. offensive and defensive.
was formed. and 1t was decided to employ legal
counsel 10 carry on the legal battle against tho
city I'm the courts The action. ratified by every
contractor holding city contract. 10 shut down
work and discharge Try man employed until tho
money due paid was not taken without careful
consideration. Some wanted to continue. These
were men who had a great deal Of ready money.
Others said frankly that they faced bankruptcy
and could not 60 on The others thus agreed to go
into tho combination TO stop work. when tho
Woikncn report this morning they VIII b" told that
city officials rrius" 10 pay money on contracts and
that II s. impossible to 20 or.
Labor leaders and hhOllhs men eveiyWhcr" were
highly indignant y"sicrdn' ana Tammauy officials
were roUndy abused Charles V. StOy"i. u labor
leader, hntcd at ramm"nys thnly scrcenci
motive when ho said: There must be some i'm
proper Object IN cr'iIting the whole S3i.fupJ to
Tho city debt. The rapid .ra-sit railway. Ike our
water works would De an unlimited source o. rcye-
nro AnO. her aNs tTdity in th" position the pres
admins tTaflou IL that or" Told that have
exceeded he boesibc ml' ~ indcDi ,dncss and Yet
the authorities are displaying no disposition 10
begin the construction Of these public works.
bonds FOR w,ich thcy say have b IA authorized.
ard Mhich 'icy insist upon adding 10 the city
debt
g. ". Reeve. Of the Mapes-Rceve Construction
Company in whose office the contractors met sad
that ne cOul. not give the names Of those who
were present. 'ThcTc IS large II none. IN
Tho hands ~ Mr.. Colcr." sald Mr.. Reeve (which
he could use pay for this work. He insists that
The l,gallty 81 the contracts should be settled
promptly Go nJt think that ~ contractors wopld
be iversc 10 agreeing 10 "A statement OF the facts
and submitting the matter 10 the Court Of Appeals
for a decision Whether II VIII come to this cannot
be said
The plan FOR a oGo fight on the part OF the con
tractors Is unsettled IA yet. Eminent counsel VIII
be retained Just what damages VIII be asked by
the contractors IL also undecided Consultations
viii BE- held this week and plan Of action fOrmu-
lated.
BOYS ~ BLTE ~ THE SOITH