The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-26
COUNCIL FULLY EMPOWERED
TO GRANT EIGHT HOURS

law. with the discretion to buy or con-
denim land for the building of a public
highway. In other words. II has the right
TO decide 10 take certain sum OF money
out OF the city treasury and spend II In
building a new street.
"A taxpayer may disagree with the city
council as TO the necessity for such ex-
penditure, and may have very substantial
reasons for so doing. but II Is Idle to
contend that such taxpayer can enJoin
the city government from carrying out
Its plan. The court will very properly
tell him that he is not the city govern
ment. that the city government repre-
sents the majority OF the taxpayers and
II the majority OF the taxpayers approve
decision OF the city council. II the ma
pority do not want such expenditures
made, they have their remedy by electlng
new city council.
Now. the city council has the power to
decide who shall be hired to build that
highway. The men the city council might
hire might not be the men a certain tax
payer would choose 1t is ridiculous to
say that an injunction would be granted
him prohibiting the men selected by the
city council from doing the work
The city council likewise has the power
to decide TO pay one man 81 day and
another man SO a day in working on that
same highway A taxpayer might say
that the 81 man was worth SO and the
SO man worth but So; but still no one will
seriously claim that the court will accept
the estimate OF the taxpayer and reject
that OF the city council and enjoin the
payment Of these several wages
This matter OF an eight-hour day fs
entirely a matter OF business, and, so far
as IL concerns a municipal corporation,
question Of political policy and the
determination OF that policy under exist
ing laws. is absolutely within the discrs-
tion OF the city council.
THE city council can say that Il will
pay $3.50 or 81. as the case may be, for
an eight-hour day. II that Is accepted by
the laborer that fixes the market price OF
labor in that particular line. Where Is
there any market for fixing the price
Who is building highways or maintaining
parks in the city OF Providence except
the city OF Providence? II there is none
other. where else is the market price 10
be fixed but In the contract between the
city government and the city laborers
AS a matter OF fact, where Is the evi
dence OF another market price TO be OBJ
tained upon which may be grounded an
Injunction. There is no such evidence al
hand
This labor question stands upon no
different ground than the question OF
buying water pipe by the commission er
Of public works, the purchase OF park
ands by the city council or a hundred and
one other transactions Of similar nature
necessary TO carry on the city govern
ment.
Were IL otherwise the city could
never vary the terms and conditions OF
employment. no matter n an earthquake
should happen and cause an enhancement
in the price OF labor. Such an Impotence
on the part OF the city government would
be ridiculous
"As II Is. the suggestion that that i'm
potence already exists Is ridiculous. II
raises the question. how did the city work
ever come 10 be on a ten-hour system
Has II always since becoming city
worked Its iaborers but 10 hours and
paid them on tho basis OF 10 hours
/ wages
The suggestion that the constitution
OF the United States may be infringed 4,
without any significance. for II Is a well.
understood principle Of constitutional Law
that the federal constitution has no APP
plication 10 the state government In for.
bidding the taking Of private property fol
public use without Just compensation.
THE suggestion that the similar provi.
sion In she state constitution has sppli.