Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-24
Mechanics, Lien Law.


To the Editor of THE vESING STAR:
In addition to artic lie relative 10 mechanics
lien law" Of January 18th, with the affix of -.
A. B., we have anOth er signed - Fair PLAY" in
Saturdays issue, and Until they understand the
status of this law and know its real worth we
anticipate suggestions and amendments from
all the wOuld-be statesmen.
Fair Play is just what the mainstav of this
fraternity ask for and just what we propose to
have. For it has come to this point. that as
material men. we do not longer intend to listen
TO the Whims OF men who are willing to have
sacrlfred all interests save their own and
allow them to lay down laNs for sO-called ma
terial men whose commodities are not measured
by the bushel. for cash; but vended principally
for credit.
J. A. B.. who calls this law an obnoxious
measure, forgot to mention that the mechanic
whom he emplOyai was in his debt for rent and
that, IN order TO Balance his account and lioui-
date this Indebtedness he deemed it advisable
to plead Ignorance, of law which had been
printed in our daily papers and spread through
out our city.
Further. let it be stated for the edifcation of
]. A B. and his adherents thai this law is not
In the interest of the iumberman alone but tor
the agricultural implement man, the contractor
the orchInaker. the hardware man. the foundry
man, the mill man, the mechanic and the la
Dorer, anu they In turn benefit the grocer the
butcher, the baker, the tailor and all trades. for
so long as any one Of these tradesmen know
that the mechanic whom they are crediting has
double surety Of getting his hard-earned nav
they are willing to leRg ,hen his account.
Fair Play says We owe debt Of gratitude-is
It a debt Of gratitude that we as merchants
owe the honorable gentlemen for introducing
an amendment to destroy a law which coTnpeis
men whether or not to be honest? Is it debt
OF gratitude We owe when honorable gentlemen
can ask for that which is wholly and absolutely
In the interest of moneyAi men who select our
city as place Of enTichin2- their own eXchequer
and in lmpoyerlshing our merchants, mechanics
and laDorlng people because We are governed
by men Of law instead of Fnen identified with
our commercial interest:
Let Congress appoint committee and that
committee confer with one of our choosing
who have watched the movements and manipu-
latlng Influences OF these rich men with our
mechanics for the past ten years and we will
guarantee that they will, With one voice vote
10 let the law stand as il now reads. Hun
dredS OF houses are now standing which
should bear the epitaph Of the contractor while
the name OF the owner Cutters in our midst
and this simply because We had been denied the
Tight IN Congress TO express OUR grievances
Have We not as much right TO protect our
commercial interest by laws as the people of
Illinois. Pennsylvania or MARYLAND ave-..tbey
have lien laws Identical with Ours'-if not why?
email this law be amended or repealed simply
because 1t dlspleases score of attorneys las il
was impossible to consult them all in the tor
nation thereby and few mplcnants who do
not realize its value.-shall the great business
interest of this growing city bt. placed in the
hands and at the mercy OF the sharks. Simply
because We have no advocate in Congress: If so
We WILL advocate our own rights and place
before Congress a document shgned by four
nfths the working population OF 1his CITY favor
Ing the law as it now reads W RM