The Connecticut labor news., 1921-05-13

Since the first of the year when the factories and other lines of employ ment practically shut down, the city offices have been beseigcd by lines Ot men, many of them skilled art1zans, and all seeking any kind of employ ment that would serve to keep the1r families in food and shelter. Every morning hundreds appeared at the city supply house seeking work on the streets but of late these lines have in creased to thousands and city hall IS constantly under seige by men seek ing any kind of work
 As soon as the season opened, and in fact before when the storms of late winter offered, Director Lane ot the public works, put on every man that was available under his appropria- tions. The heavy storm of the close of the winter was a Godscnd to many a family and gave work to hundreds of men but 1t also ate into the appro- priations available and although Di- rector Lane has yet held up the sprinkling contract so as to use the money to employ extra men, and saved moneys otherwise, the public work is about exhausted and will soon be unless an additional appro- pr1atlOn tor extra work to provide for the needy is made.
 To afford opportunity for work the permanent paving commission was called on and awarded many more contracts than would ordinarily have ben awarded in normal year. This also has sufficed to give many hun dreds of men work but more recent layoffs in factories and in other lines 0r1, increased ha Meantime drains upon the charities department continued to increase, family heads who hung their brOws in shame at being forced to apply for public aid being numbered among the later applicants. They are in no sense charity cases but victims of circum- stances over which they had no con trol but, unable to secure work, were forced to ask for city aid to protect their families.
 The situation so finally developed that a day or two ago, Mayor Fitz- Gerald instructed Director Lane to gather in the heads of his and the park departments ,the engineers and others in charge of city work, and ascertain what could be done to ad vantage. It was easily determined that the city has on hand at least a Hall lIIlIIlOI dOlIdl WOI LII OI puDllC works that could we'll be undertaken provided the money was available As this is not possible perhaps under present conditions, the list was sealed until it was finally decided that be- tween streets, sewers and parks, grad ing and the like, work could well be undertaken now that would cost about $I5o,ooo and this was reported to the mayor.
 Mayor FitzGerald realizes that something must be done to relieve the situation. Unless work is afforded and the city seems to be the only one able to afford it now, q serious crisis is portending. He will therefore as soon as arrangements can be made, call the aldermen into special session, lay the matter formally before them, and ask them to take the necessary steps to provide the appropriations for the works.
 A visit 10 the supply house, where the city does it's hiring, any morning of the week will disclose condition that few Of the fortunate of the city could realize. Words cannot picture the distress shown there, hundreds of the men seeking work being war vet erans who have exhausted their funds and cannot get their old jobs back.