The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-05-14
MECHANICS SrArw CWWMGnl
SAN FRANclsco, Nay q. 1870 \

SAN FRANclsco, May q. 1870
70 the Editor Of tbe wonxrxsnAsrs ADvoeAsn
Monday night last the House Car
pen,ers' Eight Hour League had before
FFh-m.aA isaPers.ut ps-al~aia.->e;--A--.>-
ton to their Delegates in Council
The law requiring all State work TO
done by the day, is being evaded by
the Regents Of the State University,
and they have advertised for proposals
70 build their house by contract our
opponents are doing everything they
can to break down the trade associa-
tions ; and they are the more encoursg-
ed in their course just now because
there are SO many men idle, but we
are not to be driven from our position
SO easily. The carpenters have in
structed their delegates to bring the
matter before the Council and ask that
steps may be taken to obtain the legal
opinion of the State Auditor, to know
whether be would or not audit their
accounts created in violation of law,
and to obtain the opinion of the Attor-
ney General / send you the report
of the committee of the Mechanics
State Council On public buildings,
in which makes the matter very plain.
The State University,
although State property, owned by the State,
and conducted by Board Of Regents, IL left 10
condition to show Loop hole by which 10
evads the lAw requiring State work to be done
by the day, the Law seems to be very plain. Il
says: All work done upon buildings OF this
State shall be done under the supervision of a
superintendent or State officer or officers having
charge Of the work and all labor employed
on said buildings, whether skilled or unskilled,
shall be done by the day, and no work upon
said buildings shall be done by contract" With
due respect to the legal ability Of Messrs. HAger,
FELTON, and Tomkins, We cannot but look upon
their opinion ~ the resalt Of q wish to favor
the contract system. The Regents posseas
their right to have he work done by the day,
and the passage Of the !sw IL the expressed will
OF the people. No one suppoees for q moment
IF any doubts bad beer tsised zen the Law
was under consideration that the name Of
the University would not have been in
serted so as to fully cover its erection. The
"
Hrst-rhat the University ID not, within the
the Regents are corporate body.
The land donated BY the United States for
the establishment of :" State University" vas
given to the State for that purpose, not % the
Regents they are the Trustees Of the Stat,
EothiDg more.
Second. that the funds for the building are
only partially furnished BY the State, another
portion being derived from the sale Of agricul-
tural lands donated BY the United States Go
vernment." The lands we're donated to the
State, and the State by law appointed Regents
to erect and manage the University. No com
pany is organized to erect that building; they
were not elected by stockholders but BY the
people, through their Legislature. II il Ia mot q
State bulldog the people have been deceived,
and two years 10 q long time to wait for cor
rection Of the error. We are told the Building
Committee have determined to erect the build
ing by contract, because they think it can be
done for Iess money. You will zee by Governor
Holden's letter published in the Examiner yes.
terday, that he 70 one Of the Regents and one Of
the Building COMMITTEE, believes IL 10 be State
work, and that Il ought to be done by the day.
1 also send you the proceedings Of
a movement here against the further
of Chinese labor; which
has become great nuisance among us,
and we do not wish to vote subsidies
for Railroads to furnish them work to
be increasing upon us. If you are not
too much crowded the publication of
the whole proceedings would be inter
esting to your readers. If you are their
extracts might be useful.
The committee to wait upon the
managers ofthe Southern Pacific Rail
road Company have had two meetings
and will have another to-day. / will
send you the results as soon as 1t is
over.
The House Carpenters Eight Hour