Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-04

The WorkinGmen's Committee Write
q Letter to the COmnsiSsiOners.

Letter to the mnliSsiOners,
THEY ASK THE DISTRICT AUTHORITIES TO Use THEIR
POWER TO ExPEL THE ALIENs-AND POINT OUT
METHODS BY WHICH, THEY CLAIM, THE EMPLOY
MENT OF IGPoRTED LABOR ON PUBLIC WORKS NAY
BE ST0PPED.
Messrs. Joseph Tanning, j. Fulton CAN'T John
Fallon, E. J. Ennis, E. w. oyster, R j. Mum,
August Donath and Paul T. Bowen, the committee
appointed at the meeting OF the workingmen held
Tuesday night for the purpose OF protesting
against the importation Of foreign labor into the
District, to-day submitted the following letter to
the District commissioners SIN accordance with in
structlons from meeting OF the workngmen Of
the District, we submit the following for your con-
Sideration: We have aScertaned that contractors
on the Boundary sewer and the aqueduct have
imported into the District large number OF cheap
foreign labOrers, and that they have established
camps, opened supply stores and made other
arrangements indicating an intention to extend
and permanently establish the system of employ
ing alien pauperS on the public works. This city
has already hundreds OF llborers out OF work.
Every Importation OF alien IaborerS Increases the
number OF our idle and INDECENT citizens. These
displaced men and their families will fall wholly
upon the taxpayers and the benevolent for their
support The loss to our merchants will be great
through the displacement OF our labOrerS and the
competition OF the contractors stores. We
Se dangerous anU elsss Of ensap
increase of crime and disorder which accompany
enforced idleness and poverty will necessitate
alien labor have been so widely and sOrely felt in
other parts OF the country that we need not
enumerate them here for your embellishments
The entire advantage to be Offset against these
evils, according TO the contractors statement is
the difference between 81 25 and s112l per day for
each foreigner. 1t may, however, be admitted that
the pecun1ary gain is much more Yet 1t is prob
able that this gain enureS wholly to the contractors
and not to the taxpayers. But even if we admit
that the District treasury saves by reduction of
contract prices, the difference between S1.25 per
day and the wages paid to the aliens, still are
in That IF
placed lab0rers and their families and preserving
order viii be far in excess Of the whole amount of
importation OF cheap labor, in the best light pos
Sbe 10 place 1t, imposes upon our people hardship
danger, injustice and expense, and brings to them
no compromising advantages, we feel justified in
asking you. as our ordained guardians, to exert
your power and influence to prevent it's extension
and to exclude the Seryile foreigners already here
from further employment on the public works.
Anticipating from experience reply that the
Commissioners have no power in the premises, we
take the liberty OF specifying the methods by which
you can promote the object we have in view and
for which you have ample power.
1. Exert your Official and moral influence with
the contractors Inform them that you want the
employment OF this class Of labor stopped II they
refuse, let them know that you will rigidly exact
the prompt and complete performance OF their
obligations, and that indulgence or fayorS will
be shown them; that you will crowd them to the
fun extent OF your legal power; that you Will sieZe
upon their nrSt default to cancel their contracts
and assume control OF the works. and that here
after their bids will not be accepted in your Office
them your preference for wOrkingmen who are
citizens OF the United States All this no law for
bids. The influence of the Commissioners is very
great among the contractors and an earnest, en-
phatic attempt by your body 10 expcl alien labor
ers from the public works viii succeed.
2 Exert Your discretionary power as to the
method OF executing public work with this matter
III view. When possible have the work done under
your own direction. When you are compelled to
give lit contractors. you can, under your ample
power. TO fix the terms OF the contract; Stpuate
that the work shall be done by citizens OF the
United States. The power 10 do this is as clear as
the power 10 require particular kind or quality OF
material which often can be obtained from but one
source Bids should be made upon The understand
ing that citizens OF the United States must be en-
ployed, and the contractor should be so cond-
authority.
Inform the President and Congress that this
alien importation has taken place. Show the evil
and false economy Of 1t, and urgently ask for legis-
ktLUn to exclude imported contract labor from this
territory. and TO provide that all public work in
the District shall be done by citizens OF the United
states. Point out the Inconsistency between the
imported contract labor from the United States
and the executive department CT the government
indirectly engaged in importing such labor into the
capital OF the nation, to be placed upon work for
which the House of Representatives. have voted
money. The legal right Of the Commissioners to
do all we have suggested cannot be impeached. II
their Will equals their power we shall not need to
renew our petition. Ii the course we have ndi-
Gated is adopted and carried out with sincere de-
termination TO exclude pauperiZed labor from the
aQueduct and sewer, and put industrious citizens
OF the United States in their places, we know you
VIII succeed.
In conclusion, we assert our firm conviction,
that the commissioners are legally bound to give
full operation to the provisions OF the eight hour
law, and request that this be done Furthermore we
here place ourselves on record as opposed to the
false economy OF the Commissioners. which leads
them 10 pay rate OF wages entirely inadequate to
the decent maintenance OF labOrng mans family.
Trusting the Commissioners Will not abdicate their
Offices by denial OF their power to act. nor depre-
cate their standing by denial OF their official and
moral influence, nor impugn their humanity and
sense OF justice by refusal to act for the benefit
OF the people over whom fortune has given them
dominion. we submit the cause OF our fellow-citi-
Zens for your action Please inform us. at early
date, OF your purpose In the premises. Respect
fully" &c.