The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-26
TURNED DOWN AGAIN
No Reconsideration
of the Eight-hour
Question.
ALDERMEN'S DEBATING CLUB.
Democratic Members Ar
que in Favor Against Al
derman Kendall.
ALDERMEN'S DEBATING CLUB.

Resolved, that laboring men, as
class, are benefited by an eight-hou
day for city employees, might well have
been taken as the subject for debate
in the board of aldermen last night.
The question of the referendum was
the one feature that enlivened the ses-
sion of the city council Alderman
O'Connen and Carberry argued in favor
of getting the matter before the people
and Alderman Kendall against Alder
man OiConnell set the ball rolling by
making a motion that the board recon-
slider its action on the eight-hour day
order introduced a week ago. Mr..
O'Connell argued that the legislature
intended to follow in the footsteps of
the federal government in making this
law. The referendum clause was put
in to provide for the people of cities and
towns, expressing their opinion. He did
not dream that the aldermen would
have the hardihood to say whether the
matter should be placed on the ballot
He considered the intention of the legis-
lature perfectly clear, and thought the
aldermen should not take the respon-
sibility of denying 10000 voters a right
to vote.
he was willing to take the responsible
ity. He claimed the aldermen are elect
ed to look after the cityis financial well
fare. Now nine hours constitutes a
days work for which men receive ten
hours pay. Last year the expenses for
labor alone amounted to $9600S4.41. If
the eight-hour day is put in force, the
additional expense, reckoning on last
years figures would amount TO $45,
II I,.n1s ~, H. {f,r1,A
for the laboring man and would reduce
their taxes, so that the laboring man
who owns his home would have a bet
ter chance. By adopting the eight-hour
law, Mr.. Kendall considers the load will
be increased rather than lessened.
He did not consider the demand for
this as coming from the labor class as
whole, but rather from labor agita-
tors. Mr.. Kendall considered city la
borers receive better pay than rany
who own homes and are employed in
factories.
Alderman Carberry took exceptions
He does not consider the aldermen bet
ter fitted than the voters to decide the
matter. He considered the action OF
the board equivalent to saying, eve
say let US decide, while the legislature
says let the people decide"
Alderman O'Connell claimed that il
1t had not been for the mayor stirring
the assessors up, the tax rate would
not be where it is. He claimed that city
laborers are paid for nine hours work
and no more, and they are obliged tC
lose every minute of time when not al
work. He closed with the remark that
personal feeling should not be taker
into consideration and that the ques-
ton should be placed before the people
The motion to reconsider was voted
down. Aldermen Barrett, Carberry an6
O'Connell voting in the affirmative. Al.
dermen Brannon, Mack Huot, Kendall
and Vaughan voted in the negative.
The smooth paving question came VI
) for another airing. The city engineer
reported this list of underground work
to be laid in Main street, between Park
and Mechanic streets: Extension OF
deep level sewer, in Front street, across
Main 10 Pleasant street; a 15-inch suA
face sewer in Main street, south Of
Front street, with catch basin connec.
tons; a 10-inch sanitary sewer, from
Pleasant to Pearl street with soil pipe
connections, on west side of Main street
reconstruction of catch basin; 20-inct
surface sewer from centre of Mechanic
street north; one electric light connec.
ton; two days work on telephone con.
nections.
No action was taken ON DEGREES locat.
ing tracks of the Worcester and Web.
ster and Consolidated street Railway
companies in streets of the city.
Members Of the aldeT1nanic board
held conference, which was attended
by President F. H. Dewey OF the Con
solidated. There is a disagreement ovel
terms of the franchise, but it is expect.
ed the matter will be soon satisfactorily
adjusted.
The committee on streets on the part
of the board reported on the petition OF
f. A. Mcclure for laying out Stearnt
square, recommending that a hearing
be given in the aldernanic chamber
Monday, Oct. 16, at 8 p. m. The same
action was taken on the petition OF
c. e. Wilder for making Millbrook
street a public highway. the date OF