Waterbury Democrat., 1902-02-01
WHAT THE MEN WHO LABOR ARE DOING.
Work Ahead the Waterbury Business Mems AssocaonEec of Machinis Strike Felt at Present in Waerbmy-Big
 Smoker at Eks Hall To-Morrow-Some of the
 Measures Recently Passed Pertaining To Labor Matters
To Labor Matters.

within the jurisdiction of the treasury department, the fish commission and the census bureau. The department is also given Jurisdiction over the con- sular service as far as it pertains to commerce.
 Officials of the American Federation of Labor and representatives of the other bodies of wage earners are great in the senate this week which looks to the establishment of a department of commerce and labor.'' It is thought ly elated over the passage of the bill the measure will have comparatively easy sailing in the house, and that the beginning of the fiscal year, July next, will see the new department in operation. It has long been the de- sire of the labor leaders to have just this sort of official recognition at the hands of the government. They would have preferred q special depart ment, with q cabinet officer at its head, devoted exclusively to the indus trial interests of the country, but since this was seen to be impossible of fulfilment at this time, they are very well satisfied to have the word La bor' incorporated in the name of the proposed department. The original measure provided only for the name Department of Commerce." but an amendment was later passed making it to include the desired word. Much speculation is now current as to who will be the new cabinet member in charge of this portfolio. The labor interests will push the candidacy of Carroll D. hrlght, present commis- sioner of labor.-->ew Haven Union. The Business Mems association ap- pears very active just now, and while they are planning many things for the good of Waterbury, it might not be out of place to remind them that they can do much good for the community by endeavoring to induce the city fla thers to have all city work performed by the day instead of by contract, so that home labor might profit by the vast sums of money spent annually for public Improvements, instead Of having the major portion of it go to outsiders, who spend little of it here It looks like bad business policy to let so much money go out of town while we have so many people who have per- manent residences in town walking the streets and unable to get q chance to earn a dollar from one end of the year to the other. These men are living upon somebody, and as a result brsi- ness men and owners of houses who pay the taxes often suffer. The Etal- ians who do most of the common labor feel the injustice of it as much and probably more than others, Many Of them have settled down Tn Waterbury for good and put whatever they have been able to save into homes, but they claim that owing to the contract sys- tenn which was introduced into the city few years ago,they are handicapped in their efforts to secure employment. One of them told q Democrat reporter during the present week that he in- tends to go to New York in the spring in the hope of being hired out there to do work in Waterbury during the sum. mer. This is not right. That contract law was railroaded through the legis- lature by a few men who wanted more of pull than they ever could have under the other system. The water department has about S12,000 to spend this year. Such work as this depart ment does was always performed by the day until the past few years, and it is admitted that everything in that department was done as reasonably then as it has been since. The samt thing might be said of other work ir the different city departments. If thc Business Mems association would study up this matter and present the case to the aldermen 1t might give lls some relief from system that may l1c benefit to a few, but which Is q ser ious blow to the great majority of the people, those who want work as wei as the merchants with whom theil money would be spent, provided it was earned by residents. Skilled labor f fairly well protected in Waterbury, ir fact, it is everywhere, but the mar who looks to the pick and shovel az his stock i'll trade is i'll q bad box, and as we have a large number of sucl people among us it seems that it would be good economy to keep theil em Dloyed.