The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-05
PUT UNDER AGAIN.
Eight Hour Question
Haunts Board of
Aldermen.
REPUBLICANS STAND FIRM.
Two More Attempts to
Refer the Matter to
Voters Denied.

The city council held another short
session last night but the aldermen
found time to take another fall out
of the proposition TO place the eight
hour question on the ballot. The mat
ter came in last night in the form of
a petition stating the decision of JUS
tice Lathrop and asking that the mat
ter be submitted to the voters. The
petitioners We're given leave to with
draw by the same vote as on former
occasions.
In the common council, the police
rules were taken from the table, but
returned, after about five minutes in
formal discussion, the motion being to
lay them over for one week.
Alderman James f. Carberry amend
ed an order for the election day war
rant, to make it read that the polls
sehall open at $50 O'Clock, instead Of
Z o'clock, as has been the custom.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Matters went smoothly until the petit
ton of William Dunn and others, to
have the city clerk instructed to place
the eight-hour question on the ballots,
was read.
Alderman Back delivered the first
blow by making motion that the petit
TONERS be given leave to withdraw
which was vigorously seconded by Al
derman Huot. Alderman OConnelI
championed the cause Of the petition
ers, saying that if Justice Lathrop had
peen quoted correctly, he should not
think the aldermen could afford to
deny the petition. Because the law is
directive on account of its present
wording, he could see no reason why
a ri Nv H. l.
away the right of voters. He did not
believe the judgment of members of
the board superior to that of the 20, 900
voters OF Worcester. He claimed that
II was never intended that the board
OF aldermen should pass finally on the
question. He moved as a substitute
motion that the prayer of the petition
ers be granted.
Alderman Carberry seconded the mo-
tlon saying that he endorsed the views
OF Alderman O'Connell. If referendum
means anything it means to refer to
the people. He thought the reference
OF this matter but the just due of the
people, and that it shrould be submit
ted to them
Before the vote on the substitute mo-
tlon was put Alderman OConneH sta
tea that Alderman Barrett's illness. pre-
vented his being present at the meet
IaVor o. granting the petition and had
suggested pairing with some one on the
other side. The city solicitor was called
on for on opinion relative to this mat
ter. He said that there was nothing in
the rules of the board or the manual
OF parliamentary procedure that pro-
Vlded FOR such action, although such
action has been taken at different
times by legislative bodies. Alderman
~
derman Barrett, but under this ruling
the president did not vote. which was
equivalent. The yeas and nays were
called FOR, resulting in Alderman Car
Derry and O'Connell voting in favor
and Alderman Back, Kendall Huot and
Vaughan against. The motion grant
ing leave to withdraw was then put
and carried by the majority.
Nor was this all of the eight hour
question. When the order providing for
the election day warrant was read. pro-
Viding for the election of municipal
candidates on Tuesday, Dec 70, and
that the order be promulgated by pub
fishing in the four daily papers, Alder
man O'Connell moved as an amend
ment that the eight-hour law be inclu-
ded in the warrant Alderman Back
moved that the vote be taken by yeas
and nays. The result was the same as
before. the five republicans voting
against the amendment and two DEM
ocrats for it.
Orders were adopted as follows: For
erossWalks, on Front street opposite
the mall in the rear of city hall, in
troduced by Alderman Carberry. and
Cypress street introduced by Alderman
Brannon, both walks to be of brick
laid in concrete Other orders adopted
provide for laying curbstone on Com
mercial street; granting permission to
Gertrude Donohue to dig up the street
at 50 Vernon street, to lay gas, water
and sewer pipes, instructing the SUPER
intendent of street lighting to place an
electric light near the corner of Pres
colt and Cemetery street and to move
street light on Greenwood street.
Alderman Carberry asked for a re-
consideration of the vote whereby the
order relative to. election day was
adopted, His request was granted. and
an amendment adopted changing the
hour of opening polling places from Z
to $50 o'clock a. m. A report of the
committee on sewers was accepted To-
eating sewer in Batchelder street.
Herbert J. Smith of 1873 Main street was
appointed to serve as clerk on election
day in 1lacs of James f. McGovern. in
ward one, precinct two. The license of
Abroham Levin, Lodi street, a rag
picker, was revoked on recommended
ton of the license board.
These street betterment assessments
were ordered:
Commercial street-Josiah H. Clarke.
$1648.20; Dwight Foster heirs, $7679;
Rolla N. Start $5213.60; Benz Zaeder
heirs, $25S3.60; James Penniman,
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