The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-10-27
DAY LABOR
PLAN WORKS
SPOKANE CITIZEN TELLS
WHAT DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WORKS IS AC-
COMPLISHING UNDER COM
MISSION PLAN OF GOVERN
MENT.

NAAhSOASIN AIfa4N vi w G11N-
MENT.
Willis Swank, a member of the Spo-
kane Typographical union, was in the
city the fore part of the week and paid
brief visit at the Journal office.
Mr.. Swank has words OF praise for
the commission form of government as
it is working out in Spokane. Mr..
Swank, in the course of the conversa-
tion, said:
"The department of public works, over
which Mr. D. c. Coates prcsides, perhaps
comes closer to the mass of the people
than any other. 1t employs more men
and dealing as it does with all public
work, any saving is directly felt by the
taxpayers.
"Our streets are cleaner and better
kept than ever before. All workmen on
public work, whether employed by the
city or by contractors, are paid a wage
scale of SO per day.
"NGr. Coates has but a limited fund
at his disposal with which to try out
the day labor plan, but with this fund
he has demonstrated on several Jobs
that the city can 10 the work more
cheaply than the contractor can. The
reason is plain: the city does the work
lat cost a1l eliminates the profit.
"One particular case l have in mind
might be interesting. The Country club
is located lust north of town and sev-
eral wealthy men have simmer homes
nearby They wanted a boulevard con
structed out that way. Along the pro-
posed route are many property holders
of small means. The cost under the
contract system would hit these tax
payers heavily. A majority of the prop
and bids were called for. Mr.. Coates
went to one of our wealthy men who
was interested in the project and told
him he was positive he could save money
by having the city do it by day labor if
the bonds could be sold. The financier
became interested and after Mr. Coates
went into it in detail he made arrange
ments to have the bonds taken care of
in case the city was the successful bid
der. SO the city bid and when the bids
were opened the city was found to be
$4,000 under the engineers estimate.
Mr.. Coates tells me that when the Job
is finished he believes the city will have
completed it for $1,000 less than its own
bid, or $4,000 below the engineers esti-
mate.
"The people profit both ways on this
day labor proposition" said Mr.. Swank
THE contractor knows that if his work
is not strictly up to specifications or if
his bid is unreasonable. that the city
stands ready to put him out of business
with the day labor plan. He is going
to scale his figures and he is going to nc
pretty careful with his contract And
again, when the city does a piece of
work, the contractors put their own in
spectors on the job to watch the city,
as they want to know exactly what the
city is doing.
THE public contractors don't love Mr..
Coates, and it gives them plan to
hear his name mentioned. The great
mass of our people, however, are salts
fled with the work he is doing. and are
satisfied further that the day labor plan
will ultimately be the rule on all pub
lie work in the city"
Mr.. Swank was asked what in his
opinion would have been the outcome
Of the Milwaukee terminal rate fight if
the commission plan had been in work
ing order at that time. He repled:
Il believe Spokane would have gotten
terminal rates Practically the entire
city was demanding it. When the mat
ter first came up the city council de
clared in favor of it, but something
happened as the fight progressed to
change their sentiment and in spite of
public feeling the railroad won its point.
have always believed that had we had
the present commission with the feeel-
ing of direct accountability to the peo-
pie which now exists, we would have
secured terminal rates
Mr.. Swank agrees that the commits
sion form. like any other, called for
strong men in executive position to
make it a success, but argued that under
the commission form able men were
more easily obtained, as there was more
incentive and more reward than could
possibly come under the old ring ridden,
intensely partisan system of ward gov
ernment.