The Washington critic., 1888-04-14
nAnon 1N rHE n1srnIcr.
To tho workingmen Of the District OF
Columbia and Their Friends.

To Inc Workinnmen OF the District of
Columbia and Their Friends.
The committee appointed by the work
ingmen at the meeting held April 10, 1888.
at g. A. X. Hall, corner Seventh and l.
streets northwest, having given much
time and consideration to the investiga
ton of numerous papers, statements and
complaints submitted 10 them by the ag.
gncved, have been forced to the conclu-
sion that very grave wrongs and abuses,
involving moral turpitude and the in
tegTity Of numerous high District officials
in regard TO their conduct of the public
works, the disbursements of public
moneys, and in relation to their dealings
with the District workingmen, are charge
able to those in power in. our city govern
ment; among which may be noticed
/. Paying District laborers by checks,
thereby compelling them TO lose time, often
DAYS to get the check, lose time again and be
Identified TO get the money. and often bo
either refused the check or refused payment
because some careless clerk has made mis-.
take in the workman's name or amount, aud
be thus compelled to lose the little he has
earned; and
.. The destruction or cancellation OF such
checks by the District Commissioners without
~ an en9rt TO correct th9 names, or by publlca;;
amount of each check, TO enable the workman
70 get his money without paying from one
half 70 three-fourths to get 70.
.. That by reason of clerical errors made In
the office, District workmen have been com
PEELED TO lose their earnings, In whole or In
part, and are now unable to get their pay.
4. That District teams and District work
men have been discharged and ordered to be
discharged by high officials to make way for
farmers, laborers and teams from Montgom.
cry County, Md, TO the prejudice of the tax
:. That inferior carts wagons and teams
belonging 10 high District officials have been
retained and put on public, works TO the
prejudice of better wagons and teams owned
by Taxpayers and nonoflcal citizens.
o.. That unjust determinations have been
made between the county worklngman and
city .workmen, In that the city laborer Is
furnished his tools and has larger pay than the
county workman doing the same kind of
work.
T. In permitting persons employed as fore
men on District works to take contracts ami
use District property in the execution thereof.
3. In allowing the use OF teams employed
and paid for by the District TO plow mp and
otherwise improve the property Of prominent
o. In allowing gang of laborers employed
on permit work to be borne and paid on the
county rolls without rendering any work on
county roads.
10. In misapplying appropriations made by
Congress for county roads and diverting It TO
other uses, wholly foreign. and thus defying
Congress and violating specific laws.
IL. In wasting an appropriation OF S2O,00J
made by Congress for the repairs of Seventh
street road by bad management and the use
of poor and improper materials
IL. Sanctloning and employing. at great
loss TO the District and District workingmen,
imported contract italian laborers on the
public works which should be Investigated
by Congress.
10. That owing to the smalness of the
amount due the several workmen, the loss of
time necessary to secure their right and the
difficulty they find to get hearing, many
thousands Of dollars is being, contrary to
law, contrary to right and Justice, withheld
from the WOrkmen or the merchants with
whom they have dealt.
That to go to the bottom of these mat
ters money is requisite, and unless the
friends of the workingmen contribute
the committee will be unable to do what
Is absolutely required to right these
wrongs in q prompt and efficient man
ner. Contributions may be sent to Messrs.
Frank Hume wholesale grocer, 454 Penn
sylvania avenue northwest, and J. III.
Crane, commission merchant, 936 Louis
lana avenue northwest. All communica-
tions will be addressed to the Committee
Workingmens Meeting" William II.
| Prince, chairman.
By order of the committee:
WILLIAM III. PRINCE
Chairman.
i. NJ. BURNHAM,
Secretary.
II. HOOVER,
Treasurer,
$50 and 632 Il street northwest.