New-York tribune., 1902-05-12
WOODBURY. TO THE G. F. U.
ANSWERS COMPLAINTS ON BEHALF OF
STREET CLEANERS AND PLEASES
LABOR DELEGATES.

The fact that Dr. John McGaw Woodbury.. Com
missioner of Street Cleaning, had accepted in
vitation to attend meeting of the Central Fed
Grated Union answer the complaints made
behalf of the street cleaners. drew large attend
ance at yesterdays meeting of that body. When
the Commissioner had left the hall 1t evident
that he had impressed the delegates favorably, and
he was several times applauded while he was talk
ing. DR.. Woodbury. said he was prepared to an
swer any questions that might be put to him.
James P. Archibald said that it understood
that the Commissioner intended to compel the
street cleaners to parade. though many of them
were opposed to 1t.
81 want to explain" said Delegate Mcmahon. of
the Eccentric Engineers Union. that committee
had been appointed to Commissioner Wood
bury and others about this parade and other
grievances. Some Of the men who had seen better
days did not like to parade before their friends
carrying brooms on their sho Ilders. We learned
that the Commissioner had it in his mind that the
police and fremen were accustomed to parade as
military bodies, and that therefore the street
cleaners might parade
Mr.. Mcmahon admitted that Dr. Woodbury. told
the committee that he had not said definitely that
a parade would take place.
Anything else gentlemen said Commissioner
Woodbury., when Mr. Mcmahon had finished.
There was a rush for the floor, but Timothy
Healey of the Eccentric Fremens Union, caught
the chalrmans eye. Delegate Healey has recently
been appointed deputy sheriff. He told Dr' WOOD
bury that among the complaints were blackTnall, 4
shake down" system among the street cleaners
transfers 10 parts of the city and arbitrary
orders 70 some of the men to buy more uniforms
than they needed
THE man who should represent the street clean
ers here happens to be sick" continued Healey,
but will champion their cause. 1t has been
charged that there are only $50 OF them in the
union. but don't mind that"
Delegate Healey to say that some of
the street cleaners had submitted 10 being shaken
--El fare and hold
their positions. Some had been shaken down" to
the extent of 81 and So a week avoid being trans
ferred to long distances.
1T IS true" admitted Healey that one man
has held in $1,000 bail such charges this.
II you get such men convicted, plenty OF people
will come forward with evidence"
Heaey asserted that afidavits could be produced
70 show that some men in the department had paid
as much as $50 to secure positions. He believed. he
said, that Commissioner Woodbury. was honest, and
the Central Federated Union proud to meet
him.
Dr. Woodbury. said he felt pleased at his recep-
ton and hoped the Central Federated Union and
the public would help him in remedying abuses
''One man." he continued, could do little alone
If you will help me. will add to the number Of
who indicted criminally. We clean
up New-York it cleaned up before"
A round OF applause followed and DR.. Woodbury.
continued:
anything. surprised, however. that every or
lon but tnat OF tne street cleaners Is repre-
my department is rotten that he is wrong. lie puts
When he says a o so stand g for the @
the master workman; and i stands for me II
who he is, who misbehayes, let me know OF it.
missal. 1t will mean also a cheerful summer for
him up the river. l don't Intend to take any half
way measures with people OF this stamp.
The Commissioner went on to say that the com
plant which was made TO Mayor Low that a street
cleaner named Jones was compelled TO buy eight
uniforms in a year untrue. The bought
four uniforms in 1901 by the departments orders
and he bought two more OF his own free will. That
six. altogether.
You who are engineers he continued, know
that none of you can get along without four jump
erS o or sets Of oYeras rails at least in year When
suits Of oyeralls every year, and couldn't get along
DR. Woodbury. declared that no one could prop
erly be ashamed of being street cleaner. II was
MY heavensr' he said. look at the children
Swarming In our our streets We must make the city
the hose and brush them with the broom to get
The Commissioner declared that he felt proud
Of being street cleaner whereqpon there was
the craft their master workman, in fact
Street cleaners" he went on, earn a good as
day S65 days in the year. They ought not to kick
& Their work VIII bear comparison for desirabty
with that or the engineers or fremon, who live
among oil and cotton waste.
and without rules # woud iR go the tS
pieces he continued. "rhc transfers nrces-
sary, in order that the cleaners may learn 10 work
In the hard districts well as the easy ones |
am going 10 Albany 10 get bill through to pen
More applause followed DIR. Woodbury. then re-
ferred to the complaint that street cleaners would
nave 70 parade who thought such a parade de-
graded them
1T started the complaints though I have
brought II in last he said For some reason
possibly personal advertising, people say | am
going to degrade my men by making them parade
whether they like 1t or not, have not even said
that there is going to be parade. Other people
have said IL for me. II there is be a parade
and didn't say there was, hope you realize that
there is nothing degrading about it"
Frank McArdle, of the Foundrymen's Helpers
Union, said there complaint Of a system OF
fines in the department Aff1davits could be pro
duced TO show that one man was fined twenty
eight days pay, he said.
That would be an impossibility," said Dr. Wood
bury. The highest fine for any misconduct is five
days hne. The next punishment is dismissal
The delegate wanted to know If suspensions
would not be better than fines
Il think not" said the Commissioner. when
man is suspended he is not working. He goes to
the corner saloon and bunker slides as II is called
with his boon companions
A storm of questions then broke on the Commits
sicner, to which he replied good humoredly though
he assured the delegates that his time was limited
Most OF them were inconsequential, and he had
finally to excuse himself and go
Hes a brick, said delegate he went out
You bet" said another.
When he he left the building D-
Woodbury. said:
4 am pleased with this experience 1t will d,
some good -
He would say nothing the parade question.