New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-31
ALL DAY In LINE
TO GET CITY PAY
Army of Snow Shovellers
Near Panic When Money
Gives Out.
HURRY CALL FOR CASH;
RESERVES QUIET MEN
Rush at Municipal Building Due
to Mistake of Station
Foremen.

Serious trouble was ayerted in the
Municipal Building last night, when
1900 snow shovellers, many Of them 10
dire need and all anxious for their pay,
were quoted by police reserves and
later placated by the payment Of the
sums due them, when additional money
was rushed TO the City Paymsstsr's
Office from a bank. Some Of the ragged
line held their places from noon until
9 o'clock last night. Hundreds were
from Williamsburg. Kingsbridge and
other faraway points. without carfsre
and food.
Beginning at o'clock in the morn
ing a constantly increasing stream Of
the needy, with fingers tight on their
tickets" and hearts set on heir pay
invaded the corridors. About 5000
passed in review before 6 o'clock. The
lire stretched through the corridors and
down the stairways to the street en-
trance. then down Chambers, up Cen
ire, to Duane Street. Each man on the
line had a sum ranging from $3.50 70
$40 due him.
1000 Men Clamor for Pay.
At 8 o'clock a sudden acceleration IL
numbers found 1000 men packed N
the corridors, with nearly 500 more
clamoring to get in, afraid their pay
would be withheld after all their walt
At the same time there remained less
than $500 in cash in the paymastefs
office upstairs. With shortage imnl'
nent in face Of crowd that would as
suredly grow ugly, a hurry call TO 'h'
Elizabeth Street police station sent ne
reserves to the building.
William Mcnamara, deputy payns'
ter. then went in search Of more iuno''
Luckily, Controller Prendergast hA'
been in no hurry TO 90 home 10 dinner
Mr.. Prendergast Immediately issued .
warrant for $4,000 on the Hartman
National Bank and dispatched Joan .
Plunkett, another deputy paymase..'
with two guards 20 the BANK P'''
haste in a taNlcab. .;,l
At 10 o'clock Plunkett returned
the cash. Meanwhile the crowds u ~,
corridors, impatient, had been e's~
ing Tor their money. Jostling, P '1"r
ing and showing the men MADE ~"
progress toward the coveted piS's
front of the paymasters WIDOW. nv
eral fights were narrowly sverleo
the police when men tried 70 au''"''
beyond their place in the line' ,.I
rearing trOuU.e. lhe 20. ce
the line. this time I'm Indian me- o..
the street door was barred, the ~
being admitted in relays. hhhe
lines were being formed again gn.As,
the officers found dirk, nine 80
long, which evidently had been oi0P'
by one OF the men.
Rush Ends at 10 O'clock
Shepard Morgan, secretary OF me ne
partment Of Finance. arrived .,ss
building at 10 o'clock. HIS pres
appeared to restore the eonhoen..,
the weary walters to a marked u's' N.
Soon after the last man elutehse .ry
wages and disappeared, me a.,
paymaster and his clerks turne'
the lights. .net
The rush on the paymasters v Var,.
was due partly 20 mistake o. he
men NJ the twenty-five stations Q, s,v
Street Cle;ning Department ,ssJ
foremen 10 the shoyellers that Wv, -
could get their pay. without havlns 4,
whit until 3 o'clock IN the afterho0" "A,
the stations, BY going direct 70 ,or
Municipal Building. Many OF the .h,lr
oilers would have returned 10 Wv
stations, but had no carfare. .r
The shovellers were paid OF for Wv wi,
up to and including December - ''T