St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-04-29
SOCIALIST COLUMN
Mayor SeideI's Message to the
Milwaukee City Council.

citizens are today directed toward
our Milwaukee and millions of good
wishes and "God bless yous' are
carried on the four winds to the
western shore of Lake Michigan.
I cannot too strongly impress upon
YOU the sacredness of the trust
placed upon you. All your efforts
must be bent toward the execution
of the task before you. Many OBJ
stacles will be placed in your way.
Your successes may not always fol-
low your first attempts. But your
resolute pluck and determined per-
severance must in the end conquer
the difficulties that face you.
1t has been your good fortune to
be placed in dominant position
and you should follow your purpose
with an untiring will. At all times
the heads OF the various depart
ments should be vigilant and every
worker should understand that in
doing his work to the utmost oi
dis ability he is contributing to the
efficiency Of the city government.
In your policy, the promises con-
tanned In Our platform should have
a prominent part. Such measures
as can be carried out under the pro.
visions Of our present charter should
be taken up at once. Where the
charter interferes, proper bills should
at once be drafted to be presented
to the next legislature.
Before all things home rule, the
right Of self government should be
secured for the city Of Milwaukee.
A strong legislative committee
should be appointed to argue these
bills before the committees of the
legislature. II might be wise to
reinforce this committee by a dele
CATION of public minded citizens
whenever results can thereby be
achieved.
The workers Of our city are its
most valuable asset. Your atten-
ton should be directed to the pas
sage Of such measures as will pro-
mote the well being Of this class Of
citizens. safeguard health. check
any tendency to encroach upon
such few rights as the workers still
enjoy. and wherever possible ex-
tend for them the opportunities Of
life. I
"In this direction number Of
steps can be taken. The admins
tration should constantly watch
over the conditions prevailing in
factories. workshops and places Of
employment, with regard to santa
ton. There should be at all times
full and hearty cooperation with
state factory inspectors In the en-
forcement Of measures providing
for industrial hygiene.
Contracts to be let by the city
are awarded to the lowest bidder.
This does not preclude the right of
the city as a corporation to demand
compliance with certain specifica-
tions. Thus, the quality aud treat
ment Of materials may be specified
to insure economy. II is the height
OF absurdity to contend that this
should not hold good with regard
to labor. The contention that the
city can not as an economic pre-
specify the treatment Of
labor. is violation Of the right of
free contract. a right enjoyed by
corporations and individual em.
ployers.
Therefore, in contracts 10 be let
by the city, the specifications should
provide for hours of labor that are
not exhausting, that leave a margin
Of time for rest and development.
Such specifications should also pro-
vide for sufficiency of light and
they should prohibit
child labor and properly protect
woman labor. and prevent the i'm
position upon workers OF degrading
"The city has police powers en-.
abling II to enforce the ordinance
which makes the carrying of con-
realed weapons unlawful. This
ordinance should be strictly en-
forced. Our population is law
abiding and well able to handle its
own affairs. The practice of bring
ing armed hirelings into the city Of
Milwaukee to mingle with a popula-
lion that Is peace loving, has cost
loss of life aud should be stopped. |
Dur difficulties should be settled by !
appeals to reason.
Proper action looking toward
the establishment of bureau of
research should be i'm
nediately taken. An expert should
be called in to advise with you on
his subject. The first object of
This bureau should be to make a
survey, to furnish accu-
rate and adequate knowledge of
social, industrial and economic con-
iitions leading to specific and prac-
licable plans for city betterment,
THUS complete cost keeping
system for every municipal depart
ment should be established, distinct
rom an accounting system. Such
! system would enable anyone to
discover leakages and losses, when