Failing v. City of Syracuse

The plaintiff, representing himself and 12 assignors, sues the city of Syracuse to recover a balance of 20 cents a day, for a given period, claimed to be due for services performed as. bridge tenders on the hoist, lift, and swing bridges of the city during the year 1889. The legal questions raised are: (1) Are these bridge tenders employes of the state? If so, can they sue the city? (2) Are they employes of the city? If so, is the statute of 1889, (chapter 380,) fixing the wages of state employes, applicable, or, if applicable, is it constitutional?

Section 1, c. 488, Laws 1881, provides that…