The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-12
WAGES NOT TO BE RAISED.
ALDERMAN DOYLE's RESOLUTION
DOES NOT MEET WITH FAVOR.

His Brother COun ciimen Do Not APP
prove of an Increase at Present.
Alderman Doyle Gives His Reasons
for the ResoIution-Mr. s. KrOus-
kof Says the City cannot Afford to
Set Low Standard of Wages
Month the Highest Yet-NOw Has
About 400 Names on the Pay Roll.
Alderman Doyles labor resolution, in
troduced at the last meeting of City Coun-
ell to fix the minimum wages paid by the
city at SIPS a day, does not appear to
meet with favor among his brother Alder
men, So far no other member of Coun-
Ill has been heard to express himself IN
favor of the resolution, though none of
them care to discuss the matter publicly.
Some time ago and previous to the in
PRODUCTION of the resolution, Mayor My
ers, in discussing the question of city la
Dor, said that the regular employees of the
city, and more particularly those under
the director of public works, received $1.50
a day and upward. The house drainage
work, the Mayor said, had been under
taken by the Committee on House Drain
age and the director of public works with
the distinct understanding that they
should be allowed to employ labor at the
same wages as were formerly paid by the
contractors. The committee is paying a
II inimum wage of 81 a day, which is more
than the railroads nave been paying for
She same labor across the river
Alderman Doyle, when seen about the
matter, admitted that he had sprung
surprise upon Council when he offered his
resolution eff I had offered it in Com
mittee of the Whole they might have shut
me off," said the Alderman.
Alderman Doyle said he had no inten-
ton of embarrassing the administration
in any way-by his resolution. Il do not
think Council will regard it with favor,
he said, but, nevertheless. I shall insist
upon its consideration. 1 consider $1.25
day sufficiently small wage for the city
TO pay to any class of labor. II is the
lowest wage which should be paid to any
class of labor in the city. I am Informed
that the men in the bottom of the ditch
on the house drainage work receive only
81 a DAY, the same as the men on the
bank, while the night watchmen receive
$150. This is wrong. The men who are
working up to their knees in mud and
water should receive at least $l.50 day,
ana the men on the DanK SnOuld receive
not less than $1.25."
Il think the Mayor is mistaken as to
the wages paid the regular employees of
the city," said Alderman Doyle. 1.-THE
men on the carts inform me that they only
get 81 a day, and some of these are white
men,
Elk. Alderman Krouskoff, who is always
10 the front as a friend of the laboring
man, gives Alderman Doyle's resolution
his hearty Endorsement. What does a
dollar a day mean to the workingman?"
inquired Mr.. Krouskoff. docs it mean
that he will receive $25 or $50 a month?
Not a Bit of it. These men do not work
on Sundays, and their pay does not go
on in bad weather At the best, they will
average about s. a week. Suppose the
laboring man has family Rent will cost
him at least $3.50 a month. How much will
that leave him to feed and clothe him
self and his wife and Children
You must remember" said Mr.. Krols-
koff, that this qeston of wages is one
that interests the business man as well as
the workingnan. Unless the laboring man
receives fair wage he has little to spend
with his landlord and the merchant, and
he is very little benefit to the community
at large. 1t is to the city's interest to get
it's work done as cheaply as possible but
1t cannot afford to set low standard of
wages. In doing so it does an injustice
to the working class generally and Injuries
the community at large"
Incidentally it may be mentioned in this
connection that the house drainage bills
passed at the last meeting of Council were
the largest yet. Mayor Myers spent nearly
an hour next day simply in signing bills.
1t is true that large proportion of these
bills were for material, but there are now
about 400 names on the house. drainage
pay roll. Mayor Myers remarked that AL
derman Thomas was in a fair way to
i Al
year this spring.
II the house drainage work were not un-
der way 1t is probable that Council would
pass Alderman Doyle's resolution, as a
matter of policy, If for no other reason.
With the large number of day laborers
employed on the house drainage, however,
it is doubtful if Alderman Doyle will be
able to get his resolution before Council.
AT THE THEATER.