The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-19
IL BY Frederick Upham Adams.
Author o. "Johr Burt'' ana "Ti,e Kid.
mapped Mtlllonalrcs.'

T~ ltosp employers u, ~ ~ ,,eoss
and ali OF those who ARE con-
ss1(.;.S earned m the world Vide
I02ESN sfr,,gnle between capital at,d
jaDor will be Interested IN learning oi
4 tfn relations which exist IN Nnnchester.
That municipality has not az ye, organ-
lied a works department, 'ut ths co ~
slant strife between ne e euait ~ ~ s,,nh
( = ,,ana mart Inevitable In tho near fu-
ture Z,
About y year ago the city council pass
"a ~, NJ, commonly termed the Fair
r,ontracts Clause" IT was 1rlodeled irorn
onactnents passed and enforced ~ o.n.
AZ cities of Great Britain. ana u called
\ forth the vigorous but tnhvaiillB opp ,p
* s,.tn,, ~ me contractors OF Manchester
o,,d Stafford. which city occiipies the sam
raia,ion 10 Manchester tina Brooklyn, did
~ New york before their consolidati, ton.
s1.ha "t-nir Contracts Clause" is worthy
~ cxact quoting and reads as follows;
>"r-ont ractors rendering for executing
,,ork under this council must oe PAYNE
tha standard rate OF wages to the Whoie
W .hal. york people, and observing the
hn,,rs ~ labor recognized by the local
.'raa ,,ized bodies Of workers IN the yarl-
,,,,s -,rndes affected In the districts ~here
si,ch work Is being executed. no tena ,e,f
mall be accepted from any firm when
prohibits It's work people from JOHNNY JOINING
trades societies. Should i ~, ....a
have. In Its opinion. reasonable Rrounds
for believinR, that the above conul lions
aro moi being. complied with. the contrac-
tor sha1l be required to produce proof !to
= no satisfaction OF the counciD OF MS
compliance with said conditions. In !
II contractor shall not assign or underiet VI =
Il contract, or any part Of IL, or SUI, -eo,i
tract, except with the consent OF ~.
council, and upon such conditions as !.
II may ace ft, X the tenderer at the tln,e
q ~ tcnderirg states his desire TO sublet
8 INV norton Of tho work not usually done
ii,wshirn the council will consent. provided
fiat the cub contractor Is person ap-s
,,royed OF by It. The principal contrac.
forg shall be Responsible however, Tor all
i ,.nrr done and for It's being carried out
under tie same conditions as II executed
nv hlmaclf. Clauses Senbodytng the vari-
ss ,,,s points herein mentioned shall be IN
serted IN all contracts. and contractors
s shall be required to signify their assent
/, 10 them In writing Failure % com
ply with any Of the conditions set fofth
in such clauses shall leave 1t within the
power OF the council 70 cancer 1ne co 4at-
tract
/ I'll is not my province to discuss the
1rstIce or incuuity OF this enactment, ana
y IL In mentioned only as evidence OF the
power and standing attained by organ
lied labor In Great Britain. The hct
quoted passed the council, with little ep-
!. position and Its provisions are rig1dlS
enforced.
To Establish Telephone Plant.
"A Manchester Is about to establish NIL
njcjpal telephone plant In cooperation
witt, Stafford and dozen or more towns
Y and villages surrounding. y joint board
n has been formed consisting OF eighteen
!. members Of which ten are appointed by
Manchester. five by Stafford and one eacn
by the trustees OF the towns OF Stock
mort, Eccles and Stretford. In the same
Il proportion these several cities and towns
viii contribute to the cost OF the enter
prise and share In its profits or losses.
1t has been agreed that when the under
taking shows a profit exceeding D per.
cent. after defraying interest. paying into
tho sinking fund and allowing for depre-
citation. that such profit, shall 80 TO a
reduction OF telephones charges.
This co operative scheme establishes an
Interesting precedent. 1t may lead TO the
formation OF municipal trusts" for the
operation OF electric railways. There are
districts In Great Britain where the
neighboring cities might with advantage
consolidate their lines and establish an
intcrcommunicatlng system extending
through scores OF smaller towns and vii
lGces which now are without such a SER
vice. The day may come when the in
efficient steam railways may be con-
fronted with the competition of THE
Consolidated Municipal Tramways OF
Great Britain with network OF tracks
Following every important highway IN the
United Kingdom. And there Is more of
ruth than Jest In this forecast The
municipalities have monopoly of en-
+terprise in these Islands. and 1t is i'm
possible to place a limit on their con-
strtictive ambition.
Manchester purchased the tramways
within Its limits In 1875, and Immediately
began to lay new tracks. II leased them
to private company, and up to the
date Of the expiration Of the leases In
1900 the city had received an income OF
more than s2.oo0,oCo from this source. In
that year it decided to take over the ope-
ration Of the lines and to install clcctri-
cal traction in the place OF the horses
used by the private corporation.
Owns Extensive Lines.
Tho city now operates l3l miles OF
track. onc-thrd OF which are outside of
the city limits and leased to Manchester
by tho various local authorities. Ar
rangements have been made for Il large
extension OF the mileage within the city.