The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-26
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(Conunued from Page OneD
"In answer 10 your question, nave 70
cay that the city council of the city of
Providence has the power, unoer ekIstlnt
laws. TO prescribe the hours Of labor ana
the schedule Of wages In the p9onc
works and park departments for all work
ready contracted for. after the passage
OF the order establishing such hours ana
such schedule.
"The general assembly has not seen
fit TO prescribe the amount or the com
pensation to be paid manual labor tor lls
service as 1t has the power to DO ana
as IL has already Il VIC in tne case OF ths
compensation Of the members OF the
board Of canvassers and registration. ana
the board Of police commissioners, whosa
salaries are fixed by the statute enacted
by the general assembly of Rhode Island
.lhs ci.y OF Providence liked tho sui-
ary OF each member OF the board OF cam
VA sers and registration at slIvo per yesr'
In a very remarkable argument. ex
haustive OF the legal authorities, tne
present Mr.. Justice Blodgett or the SUI
preme court. then a member o1 the
dietary OF both senate and house that the
general assembly had the power TO com
pei tho city If Providence 10 pay eacn
member $500 per year; and the genera al
assembly passed the law under when tne
city of Providence has paid 5000 salaries
in that department since. The same
principle was acted upon In the case Oh
the board OF police commissioners,
"No Injunction has ever been sought by
taxpaver TO restrain the city from
paying the board of canvassers salaries
more than double what the city was Will
ing to pay them.
There has been no Injunction sought
10 prevent the city from turning oNcl
81. 600, 900 OF the money or the taxpayers
every year 10 the board OF police com
misson,rs in compliance with the stat
ute creating the police commission
'It is proba BILE that the supreme court
in it's entirety would agree VITA the we"
"A distinction may be sought to be
made between the cases cited and that
of the laboi iers. on the ground that the
board OF canvassers and the police com
ernment I'm behalf of the state but the
maintenance OF public highways Is GER
tainly as much OF public function as
"The city OF providence is equally
charged by state law TO maintain the
highways and preserve the pubic peace.
The. laborer who swings a p,, pic, over "a
want as a police officer who swings a
club over the same highway.
"In the absence of statute law pre-
employment, the city council has the
power TO determine how many hours
shall constitute a days labor. and how
many dollars shall constitute days
wages.
1T remains, OF course. for the laborers
TO decide whether they shall accept or
reject such terms.
"The city council has this power. un-
der the general laws Of the state and the
city charter. by which Il is charged with
full power TO manage the affairs and In
terests and determine all such matters
aad things as shall by law come within
| its jurisdiction.
I'm the specific case under considera-
tion the proposition Is one to establish
an eight-hour day with wages the same
as for a ten-hour day before this time.
| TO say that the proposition is one 20
pay ten hours wages for eight hours OF
labor r. a misuse Of language and creates
| a confusion OF thought
I'm essence. the proposition Is simply
one TO Increase the wages OF the city
| laborers Such an increase may he made
/ I'm either OF two ways-by directly In
! creasing the wages without changing the
| hours Of labor. or by decreasing the hours
OF labor without changing the compen-
| sation.
'It is the latter plan which is sought
| 10 be adopted In the present instance.
There would be. perhaps, no question
/ raised TO the right OF the city council to
/ raise the wages OF its employees under
| the first plan. There Is no reason which
| will apply as an objection 90 the second
| plan which will not lie with equal force
! 10 the first plan.
"The city council is vested, under the