New-York tribune., 1899-01-03
A SOCIALIST MAYOR'S PROGRAMME
HAvERHIfI,s NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE NAMES
SOME RADICAL DECLARATIONS.

SOME RADICAL DECLARAIloNs'
Haverhill. Mass Jan. 2.-There was unusual III
terest attending the inaugural to-day Oh '"'
John c. Chase the Social Democrat. VINO was e'e,t
ed IN the poNtIcai turnover Of month ago ne
began his address by referring 10 the fact tnat ne
had been elected a Socialist In view OF whch IL.
assured the members Of the city government am,
the people that "everv atom OF power possessed
by the Mavor should be exercised in the defence
and support of the principles Of Socialism III SO Lax
as they may be applicable TO a municipality.
The Mayor then referred 70 the desrao'y oi
preserving equal rights. upon which the liberty
and happiness OF every man. woman and cho are
conditioned" and asserted that these were posi-
BILE OF attainment only through the establishment
of the cooperative commonwealth" Continuing
he said
"I believe that every power the municipality pos
sesses should be placed the disposal OF the people
in the interest OF civilization. With that aim III
view submit the following specific recommended
tions:
"F.rst-rhe passage Of an order establishing the
minimum wage for street employees at 81 for eight
hours work. .
"Secord-Irnion wages and conditions TO prevail
in all brick and stone masons' work performed un-
der the direction Of the Street Department
"Third--An city printing 10 bear the union LABEL
The Mayor then took up the subject Of the unem-
ployed which. he said. had developed from the
displacement Of labor by machinery and the con-
centration Of capital a question which no munich
paIity could solve as it had become a National ana
international cne. yet" he said. some little re-
lief at least can be afforded by this city govern
ment. therefore recommend:
"First-That you proceed to secure tract OF iand
suitable for the raising of food products ana that
such OF the unemployed desire 10 be permitted
ia use said land, the city to furnish proper seeds
ahd tools
"Second--The enlargement OF the fuel yard at the
city farm to such proportions as will permit all
who desire to by their labor such fuel as they
may require. ~,
''rhird-The appropriation of such an amount or
money as circumstances may warrant 10 oe used IN
providing employment directly upon public works
not in competition with the regular employees or
the city, but upon special works, two kinds OF
the park system and, second construction OF sys-
OF bicycle paths through all principal thorough
fares
Mayor Chase condemned the system Of contract
ing with the lowest BIDDER for city work. and de-
clared that the system should not be tolerated
He said Low bids mean cheap work Cheap
work means cheap and low wages, and low
wages lower the standard Of citizenship. The city
should perform it's own work and furnish It's own
material. giving employment to its citizens.
The burden of taxation should be equ.tably dis
tributed and In exact proportion to the holdings of
each citizen Large property owners should not
be allowed evade dodge their Just proportion
munity. and in electng assessors should be ex-
tremely careful to elect men who will show no par
TALLY"
The Mayor advocated increased appropriations for
educa tonal purposes and municipal ownership Of
the electric-lghtng plants and street railways.