The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-04-19
THE LABORERS
Be DAMNED
MARK FAGAN.
The Mayor Abruptly
Orders the Discharge
Of the Entire Street
Force.
WON'T PAY FOR WORK DONE.
His Honor Commands the
Board to Turn Over
All Pickings to
Contractors.
GRAND FOR THE ITALIANS.
Cheap Foreign Labor Will
Leave Citizens No Chance
in This City Hence
forward
NOTHING TO say
Same Old Gag When Explana-
tions Were Asked-Mrs-
Hudspeth-Ben
Sad Day.
NOTHING TO say

Mayor Fagan this morning came out fiat
against the laboring man. He informed
sioners that he will refuse to sign the
warrants of amy men employed by the
day in that department. He vetoed the
bill incurred by the Board in digging holes
for trees to be planted in Mary Benson
Park. The work cost s4s. The Board re-
eeived the bill this morning from the
Mayor with his veto. That led to the
absolute refusal of the Mayor to sign any
further bills for labor on the streets.
This course by the Mayor has forced the
Board of Street and Water Commissioners
to discharge about eighty men who have
worked for the city for years and depend
on this Employment for the support of
themselves and their families. There was
nothing else for the Board to do, and
Mayor Fagan will have the pleasure of
seeing almost a hundred citizens thrown
out Oh WOTk anu llc1JlSoS.
Another result of the Mayors action is
that there will be absolutely nothing done
long time All the work under the new
reform, idea must be done by contract.
This will give foreign italian labor all
the work of public character. Contrac-
tors employ Italians much cheaper than
they can possibly get others. The Board
will not be able to make move until
contracts are awarded.
The contemplated exercises for Arbor
Day are now thrown completely out of
Joint The only way in which those in
terested in parks may improve them is
to do all the work themselves. 1t will be
a pretty sight to see citizens digging
holes, planting trees and filling in the
earth themselves This is what will be
done-if anything is done. There is not
now sufficient time to advertise for bids
to do the work and award the contracts.
Those who are interested in various parks
were notified of this state of affairs this
morning and they were loud in their de-
nunciation of Mayor Fagan and his ''re-
form idea
When the Street and Water Board was
notified this morning of the veto Of the
bill for the work done by laborers in
Mary Benson Park, Commissioners
Helntze and Hauck called on the Mayor.
They had a lengthy interview.
Mayor Fagan made his position plain.
He asked how many men were on the
payroll of the Board as day laborers and
he was told that there were eighty. He
was also told that the salary Est amount
ed to about 5000, Then he said that the
number of men employed should be re-
duced to about dozen so that the salary
list would be about $500 He said he would
not sign warrants for any more work
than that and when asked how he ex-
pected work to be done he said the con-
tract system should be put In force. All
work. not matter how small, said the
Mayor. should be given out BY contract.
He said he thought this would save the
city money Then Commissioner Hauck
tod Of having engaged men to dig holes
for the trees to be planted IN Mount