City Hall Prioritizes Married Men for Public Works
Facing constant pressure, Seattle city officials order that all public labor positions be filled by heads of households.
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The board of public works has decided to give the preference to men having families depending upon them in selecting laborers for city work. Yesterday, Commissioner Wolfe said at the meeting: 'There seems to be good grounds for complaints that the city is hiring unmarried men to the exclusion of married men and men with families. I move that the superintendent of streets discharge all single men and replace them with married ones. I’m getting tired of being worried to death over this matter and a man may as well have a little peace in his office. A dozen times a day I’ve been caught up. They should be hired, say a couple of weeks, and then given a chance. It will give all a show.' The board then moved that no laborers be hired by any of the departments except they are married or have families to support, until further orders.
“I’m getting tired of being worried to death over this matter and a man may as well have a little peace in his office.”
This 1893 policy reflects an era when municipal employment served as a primary social safety net. Today, Seattle’s labor debates focus more on prevailing wages and gig economy protections, but the tension between who the city prioritizes for public-funded work remains a constant civic pressure point.
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