Opposing sawmill, Diamond opposes new project

WILL INVESTIGATE

CITY LABOR BUREAU

James O’Malley Alleges Unfair

Discrimination, and Control­lers

Order Inquiry.

AGAINST THE $700 EXEMPTION

But the Whole Question Will Go On

to Council for Final Settlement.

The Board of Control were both amused and instructed at the meeting yesterday afternoon by Mr. James O’Malley, who had a serious grievance to air about the unfair discrimination practiced at the City Labor Bureau in the distribution of work. He asked that immediate action be taken to remedy the injustice to himself and several others who could get nothing to do.

"There is unfair discrimination," said Mr. O'Malley, "Outsiders come in and get work before men who have lived in the city for years."

"How long have you been in the city?" asked the Mayor.

"About eighteen years," replied Mr. O’Malley.

"Where did you work when you first came to the city?" asked the Mayor.

Mr. O'Malley did not answer.

Controller Spence said it was not right to keep one class of men at work all the time when many others were denied the opportunity to earn a few days’ wages.

Mr. O'Malley said there were too many straw bosses and ward foremen in the city, and they had very little to do. Men were engaged who never applied for work at the Bureau.

OTHER COMPLAINTS.

"I believe Mr. O’Malley is making a lot of true statements," said Control­ler Hubbard.

Mr. O'Malley is not the only one to complain about the unfair discrimiination," said Controller Ward. "Several complaints have been made to me of late."

"It seems to me that if there was much cause for complaint, we would have heard from more than Mr. O’Mal­ley," said the Mayor. "I can only remember one other complaint being made."

"I can bring a score of men who are dissatisfied," said Mr. O’Malley.

Controller Hubbard said Mr. Fitz­gerald had always dealt fairly with the men who applied for work, and the statements made by Mr. O'Malley should be investigated.

"I don't think Mr. Fitzgerald is to blame in this matter," said Controller Spence. "Mr. O’Malley says he has ap­plied to Mr. Jones for work, and could not get it, although we are told every man who applied for work was employed."

The Mayor pointed out that similar charges had been made against the La­bor Bureau before, but those who made the charges did not appear when we in­vestigated them.

"I will appear if my statements are investigated," said Mr. O’Malley.

The Board decided that a full investigation should be made into the statements made by Mr. O’Malley.

OPPOSING SAWMILL.

Mr. Watt of the Diamond Glass Works opposed the granting of a permit to the Laidlaw Lumber Company to establish a saw mill and lumber yard on Dovercourt road, south of Queen street.

Controller Ward said it would be de­trimental to the interests of the glass works. Their insurance would go up, and the rates on all dwelling houses in the vicinity would go up.

"The glass works pay $11,000 in wages every two weeks," said Controller Ward.

Controller Shaw maintained that there would not be much increase in the insurance rates.

"If this was an industry employing a large number of hands, I would favor the permit being granted," said the Mayor, "but a sawmill should be located elsewhere."

"What possible harm could a lumber yard do the glassware?" asked Controller Shaw.

"I think the glassware would do harm to the lumber yard," said Con­troller Spence.

Mr. A. E. Eckardt, representing the Laidlaw Lumber Company, said the company had been on the street for fifteen years, and surely were entitled to some consideration.

I have been told that you have had two or three fires there," said Controller Hubbard, "and that tramps congre­gate there and set fire to the lumber."

"It’s boys who smoke cigarets and shoot craps who set fire to the lumber," said Mr. Eckardt.

"Send it to the Fire Chief and the Architect for a joint report," suggested Controller Spence. "If we divide the city into manufacturing, business, and residential districts, there will have to be points where they join."

The matter was referred to the Property Commissioner and Fire Chief for a joint report, and deputations from both interested parties will be heard before the Fire and Light Committee.

ASKS FOR DELAY.

Mr. F. H. Gooch asked that there be no delay in the construction of the bitulithic pavement on Charles street from Church to Jarvis. The Board of Control decided at its last meeting to hold back all bitulithic pavements ow­ing to the action of the Warren Company against the city for infringement upon their patent pavement.

Controller Spence favored the con­struction of an asphalt pavement in­stead of the bitulithic, and assured Mr. Gooch that it would be down just as soon.

Controller Hubbard remarked that the bitulithic pavement was by no means an assured success, and though it had been used in London, Ont., for several years, the Engineer of that city would not recommend it.

The matter was referred to the City Engineer.

THE $700 EXEMPTION.

The Board had evidently little love for the recommendation of the Reception and Legislation Committee that legislation be applied for to exempt $700 on all dwelling houses.

"I'm prepared to recommend to Council that this legislation be not ap­plied for," said Controller Spence.

Controller Hubbard said the single taxers had thoroughly discussed such legislation when the new Assessment Act was being framed, and he did not think any application should be made before the new Act had had a fair trial.

"What we should guard against is the possibility of getting this legisla­tion," said Controller Spence. "It is in favor of the landlords and not the workingmen who wish to build their own homes. The only proposition I would be prepared to consider is a $700 exemption on houses owned by work­ingmen."

"That wouldn't be fair," said the Mayor.

Controller Hubbard said he would be benefitted by the legislation, but that wouldn't induce him to favor it.

"It is such men as Controller Hubbard who would be benefitted," said Controller Spence.

"I have only one house that would be affected," replied Controller Hub­bard.

"I am in the hopeless minority," said Controller Ward, "but if it goes on to Council I will be satisfied."

The Board forwarded it to Council with a recommendation against its adoption.

SALE OF LOTS.

Acting Assessment Commissioner Forman recommended the sale of lots 29 and 40, block K, plan 622, west side of Dovercourt road, to George A. Wickens.

The price quoted — $13 a foot — did not please the Mayor, who remarked that a much higher price had been obtained by the city for land on that street.

"It is not a good sale." said Control­ler Spence, and the recommendation was referred back for further information.

CITY AND EXHIBITION.

A letter was read from President W. K. McNaught of the Exhibition Asso­ciation, in which he asked that the obligations of the Exhibition directors and the City Council be clearly defined, so that there would be no misunderstanding in the awarding of tenders for new exhibition buildings. It was de­cided to confer with a committee from the directors at an early date.

The City Architect will be asked to prepare plans for a new engine house at the High Level Pumping Station.

City Engineer Rust reported that the city had no power to order the Metro-double track on Yonge street from the C. P. R. crossing to Summerhill avenue. It is the intention of the City Engineer to construct a new asphalt pavement on that part of Yonge street, and it was thought advisable to provide for a future extension of the city street car service.

JUNCTION ANNEXATION.

The Mayor intimated that next Wed­nesday, at 3 o’clock, had been fixed as the date for the conference with the representatives of Toronto Junction to discuss the question of annexation.

The City Engineer advised that the work on the auxiliary fire protection system be done by day labor, but the Board decided that tenders should first be advertised for, and the Engineer to tender with others.

The City Engineer recommended that the new public lavatory to be erected at the corner of Cottingham and Yonge streets be above ground.

The Mayor favored all public lava­tories being underground, and asked Controller Shaw what he thought about Mr. Rust’s recommendation.

"In view of the fact that there is lots of vacant land at the corner of Cottingham and Yonge streets. I think it would be all right to have the lavatory above ground," said Controller Shaw, and the recommendation was adopted.

Mr. William Currie protested against a laundry being established next to his premises on Yonge street, and the Board decided that a laundry should not be located there.