The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-05-01
OFFICIAL COUNCIL
PROCEEDINGS

beg to record my reasons for
voting mo" on the adoption of pro.
posed Ordinance No. and Resolu-
ton No. %. 1t will be observed that
tho ordinance and resolution do
not deal with the question of wages,
but it prays for the adoption of the
eight-hour law in the City of Keokuk
as applied to certain employees OF the
City OF Keokuk, and does not deal
with the question of wages at all.
There has never been any petition
asking for the adoption of the ordi-
nance or the resolution, either from
organized or unorganized labor, or
any other person, excepting the
members of the Council who pre-
scented the ordinances and resolution.
No committee has appeared before
the Council asking for the adoption
Of the resolution or ordinance. No
citizen or group of citizens have ap-
peared before the Council asking for
the passage of either the ordinance
or resolution, although the resolution
was presented April 10, 1920, and the
public press has referred to the fact
that the resolution was pending.
IL may We Sdlu tudt lllC oSIioh ~
this resolution and ordinance will
not affect many persons, for the city
does not employ many people at this
time This may be true. but the
proposition of an eight-hour day
will affect practically all OF us lndl-
rectly, and it appears to me that IL
is particularly unfortunate question
to be presented to Keokuk at this
time.
Labor here is scarce and practi-
calIy all of the factories are short
handed. The city has had a great
deal of trouble in getting labor ana
has been unable to work full crews.
This being the case and there being
lack of normal production in all
lines, it would appear to me that IN
stead of cutting down the hours at
this time they should remain as they
are. A great deal of trouble that we
are now experiencing all over the
country is due to lack of production.
Our efforts should be to bring up pro-
duction to a normal basis rather than
to cut it down.
| beg to call your attention to the
fact that every property owner ana
taxpayer in Keokuk will be affected
by this resolution and proposed ordl-
nance. Every man who has side
walk to lay, every man who has
home to build, and every man whose
house requires repairs, will feel the
burden imposed by the passage OF
this resolution Even though the
work is done by a contractor, and
labor does not come within the terms
of this resolution, it is hardly to be
that labor in general will
not insist upon the hours provided
by this resolution and proposed ordf
nance. and the cost will be greater.
There are number of reasons which
] might add, but the above will serve
to indicate my reason Tor Young
against the resolution.
again can your attention that
this is not a question of wages, and
also beg to say that at another time
and situation / might think differ.
emily about the proposition, but 1t
certainly seems to me unfortunate at
this time to bring it up, and having
in mind the interests OF the citizens
of Keokuk, / vote mo" on the propo.
sition.
April 10, 1920, 10 a. m.
The City Council of the City OF
Keokuk. Lee County, Iowa, sitting as
a Board Of Equalization and Review,
met pursuant to adjournment there
of. Present: Mayor Theodore A.
Craig. CounciImen d. J. Hemmy and
Fred II. Overton, Assessor Charles E..
Langley and City Clerk o. w. Sand
berg.
The Board proceeded to act upon
complaints of persons aggrieved by
action of the Assessor in assessing
their property until the hour of II
o'clock, at which time the board took
a recess until p. m. The Board
at p. m. and continued to
work until 4 D. M, at which time it