The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-15
ANSONIA UNDER LABOR RULE.
RESULTS OF THE FIRST TWO
WEEKS or THE EXPERIMENT.
Mistakes OF MIR. Charters. the Carpenter
Elected Mayor-Not Familiar With
the Charter The Money Question
Pressing -TrOuble About Patronage.

Elected Mayor-Not Familiar With
the Charter The Money Question
Pressing -Trouble About Patronage.
ANsoNIA, Conn. Dec. N.-Can labor
unions successfully govern a city? That
is the experiment being made here to-day.
Ansonia has a labor union Mayor. a
labor union Board Of Aldermen, and either
labor union men. or their sympathizers,
in the important elective. and most OF the
appointive, Offices. II IL said that this
IL the first city in the land ever turned
over so completely TO the labor unions.
For two weeks the labor unions have
been In power in consequence Of the result
OF the election last month. II In a short
time In which to gauge the probable conse-
auences of the change but It has been long
enough to permit the new carpenter Mayor
TO do things by which his qualifications
for the Office are outlined.
To make plain the situation here 1t is
necessary to refer 10 the big strike at the
shops of the Farrell Foundry and Machine
Company. On May 20 last the machinists
struck, after rejecting an offer from the
company which was accepted. without
change, several weeks later, when the men
became tired OF idleness. During the
strike the company set %non-union men
at work. More or less disorder followed.
To stop the annoyance the Farrells Sc
cured a sweeping injunction from Judge
y. B. eager OF the Superior Court by which
eighty men and several unions, were re-
strained from picketing the property OF
the company or In any way interfering
with the workmen. Three persons. who
were alleged to have intimidated a man
named Valentine and prevented his return
ing to work, were arrested on a charge
of conspiracy. They are nov under bonds
to appear at the January term Of the Su-
perior Court.
One Of these men was Stephen A.. Char
tiers, President Of tho Carpenters Union
and a member of the Board Of Aldermen.
His arrest caused him to be regarded as n
martyr In the cause OF labor. Coincident
with his release on bonds he was spoken
of as the logical candidate for Mayor on a
labor ticket at the city election to be held
In November. The labor unions took up
the cry and II was decided TO elect b
men to all the city offices and give the
moneyed interests an object lesson in the
management OF city affairs.
The result was a fusion Of tho labor men
and Democrats. All the ticket except the
candidate for City Clerk was elected.
Some Of the men elected were inexpert-
enced in conducting public business. What
made their task the harder was the fact
that they had a now city charter TO set
going. This charter, which was granted
by the last Legislature, was to take effect
when the incoming administration took
hold. Under the new charter the Mayors
powers are large. He names all of tho
ifty-two city officials. but the Board OF
Aldermen must appove his nominations.
The thing which stands out most con-
spicuously in the two weeks administra-
ton Of the new Mayor is his absolute lack
Of knowledge Of the provisions OF the new
charter. His first act was = violation OF
one provision.
The Board Of Apportionment and Taxa
ton makes the appropriations for the
various departments of the city and also
fixes the tax rate. The charter provides
that only owners Of real estate shall be
member Of this board. or the twelve men
appointed by the new Mayor, three own
no real estate whatever and pay only poll
and military taxes. An interesting fact
In connection with the other nine members
is 4 that their aggregate holdings in the city
amount 10 $4,000. while the total grand
list Of the city is nearly - SOC, 600.
Another mistake which has caused the
Mayor much annoyance was the appoint
ment OF men to MI vacancies which did not
exist. The members OF the boards Of Asses
sors. Relief. Education and Charities and
the Sinking Fund Commission do not all
retire in the same year. A certain number
In zach board go out each year.
The Mayor named entire new boards He
first learned Of his error when the point was
raised at the meeting Of the Board Of Alder
men when the nominations came up for
confirmation. and he was placed In the en-
barrassina position Of being compelled 70
withdraw some Of his nominations
T. Mayor has also made mistakes In
names. Thus, for one member Of the Board
Of Education hs named Thoma- u David
son when the man he really wished ~
sel,st Wa John u Dayid-on.' lie APP
pointed John J Walsh "a be a member Of
the Board ~ Apporlonmont when there u
10 such man h. tie city
1h-r. h. trouble over the patronage John
" Kelley. one Il the most radical labor
~agitAtor- IA the city, Vac nominated Ly tho
Mayor fur 1aI Cullr,tuf Ho wac a krpub.
lcau uutil lahur unit"d With the Democrats
H. supported Charter And tho othrf lAhur
candidates lAr Nn Riain eHlfNaIN hl We
International Association ~ Machiuists
lIs sa- very a'uyo IA the maohinis's'
STRIFE here. aHd slnur the strike it Lac i=-su
reported anung labor men that be- hAs i--n
blaeklistai ~ tho shois aud could no, go
. JOB iie 10 ~ithout a job AZ pf-saui. o.
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