Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-14
WINTER COMING
Snow Squalls at Band and Work
 Stopped on Streeis.

There was slight snow squall be- fore o'clock this morning, but it didn't last long and after a couple of hours when the planet Mercury had got safely over the base of the sun things cleared up and while the weather was chilly people didn't mind because of the bright blue sky overhead and the excellent walking conditions. It Is unfortunate that the city has not sufficient funds to carry on certain kinds of Improvements which could be done to better advan- tage at this season than in the real warm weather. A man could accom- pilsh twice as much with a pick and shovel these days than when the ther- mometer is eighty-five or ninety in the shade, but unfortunately the money usually gives out about this time and then large numbers find ii almost impossible to get anything tc do until after the frost has left the ground in the spring. This leaves a man who looks to the city for en- ployment on the waiting list about half the year, so that it is pretty poor job and probably this explains why it is so hard to get anybody tc remain long provided something else turns up. In other communities the city fathers manage to find some thing to do for as many citizens as they possibly can set to work, but ir hn al ir the shuff1e and as soon as they arc not able to hustle they are generally the first to be laid off when things get dull. Whether this is the bes | thing to do has often been discussed and while most people favor the re tention of the older residents expert ence shows that this is not done b! any administration, republican ol democratic.
 | In the past it was customary, il fact the aldermen so ordered, that oI all contract work a provision be in cluded in the agreement between thu contractor and the city that not les than fifteen cents be paid for labo and that men who live in 1t be giver preference. It would be interesting to know if any notice is taken of tha now. If not it would be a good thint to resurrect it. At the present tim, things are rushing on city contrac work and large numbers of common laborers are employed and there vii be no let up while the weather per mits out of door operations. Whil 1 q c nc ot h,Jn dred men who belong in Waterbur, and look to out of door work as means of earning living are idle l Wouldn't 1t be move in the right di rection to make room for as many 0 these men as are able and willing t. work? It has frequently been sait that when contractors get hold o local laborers they skin" them s ! that they will get disgusted ant leave of their own accord and thu furnish an excuse for bringing in la bor from abroad. Probably there 1 some truth in this, but even so ther are men about the streets now wh would be willing to stand almost an kind of treatment in order to get
 chance to earn dollar. It is a prett blue outlook for man with a famil of small children to be thrown out o employment at the approach of win ter. but if there is no remedy ther isn't much use weeping over it. Bu there is remedy and it is up to tn city fathers to employ it. The cit should not pay dollar for labor i
 Boston. New York or Philadelphia while it can find it at its own door.