Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-11
Trouble at Union Building Over
Some Government Work.
Mr.. BENEDICT GIVES AN EXPLANATION
How Contractors Might Secure
Their Own Compensation.
PAID OFF YES 7 ERD AY

Inc Union yeSterudy ioSe
evening was a field of conflict, in which a
force Of carpenters. Architect Gustav Frie-
bus. Contractor w. Finley Basin and Pub
lie Printer Benedict were involved.
When 1t was determined to transfer part
of the force from the government printing
Office to quarters on the fifth floor of the
Union building Public Printer Benedict
sent for Architect Friebus and directed
him to fl up the floor indicated with such
benches. tables and other paraphernalia
as would be needed by the Specifications
force. This was about one month ago.
Architect Friebus had talk with Con-
tractor Basin, who assumed immediate
charge of the work and employed the car
penters. When the men undertook the job
1t was thought. that the work would re-
Quire about fortnight to complete, and
they agreed to wait for their compensa-
ton till the completion of the work In
stead of lasting two weeks. the job was
protracted through four. Several of the
men became pushed for cash, and these
were given an advance of Sl2 on their pay.
On last Thursday sixteen men were laid
off, leaving three at work. Saturday af-
ternoon was the time set for settling the
bills. This settlement was not effected be-
cause Of the dispute between the contrac-
tor and men. The force was paid off yes
$50 per day. while others received more.
Rate of Wages.
There were about thirty men on the work.
All were white men but one, laborer en-
ployed personally by Mr.. Basin. They in
cluded several trades. cabinet makers. car
penters. painters. etc. All but three or
four of them. 1t Is stated to The Star. went
to work on the understanding that the job
was being done by Basin under a contract,
and accepted his promise to pay $25O, whicn
he represented was all he could afford.
few of the men CHANGED to know that
Basin was hired by the public printer at
the rate Of IS a day, under the appropria-
ton Of $4,000 for the relief Of the print
Ing office. Therefore they insisted upon the
full rates which are scheduled by the
unions for government work, and, as far
as can be ascertained. they received prom
ise that this would be paid.
The union rate for carpenters Is s. day
for nine hours and $3.50 for eight hours.
At tho printing office the carpenters there
employed get $40 per day.
Cause of Dispute.
Yesterday evening Star reporter moved
among the workmen and found them a
much perturbed set of men. They stated
their objections to be for two reasons; one
was that Contractor Basin and Architect
Friebus attempted to effect a settlement
with them at less than union wages, and
then demanded that they sign pay roll
for presentation to the public printer to
which the rate of wages paid the men was
to be affixed subsequently to the sigma
lures. The pay roll which was presented
to them had blank spaces. where the rate
of compensation should have been. This
pay roll would have had to be submitted to
the proper authority before requisition
for the total sum could issue. The car
penters claimed that 1t would have been
the simplest thing in the world for Mr..
Basin or Mr.. FriebuS to use that pay roll
and get from the government a requisition
for a total amount computed on the basis
of union wages, and settle with the men
on the basis OF the reduced rate, and
pocket the rake-off. This, they say, Is
why they refused on Saturday to sign the
pay roll
Paying on.
Yesterday the men began to clamor for
their money. They gathered at the Union
building and besieged Mr.. Basin. Along
toward night he began to pay OF. The
first four men in line. the foreman and
the few wh) had agreements for the
higher wages, were paid in such amounts
that they had no protest to make. Then
came a carpenter, to whom was offered
money at the rate of $3.50 a day. He
said that the work was not being done un-
der contract, and that the government
rates were due him. Therefore, he would
sign under protest, and accept the money
offered.
The next man was a German. who
agreed to accept the S2. 50 rate, as he had
originally Understood.
When IT came to the turn OF Mr.. Rabbit
10 sign he protested most vigorously. He
was offered his money at the rate of $3.50
day, and he absolutely refused to sign
or to take the money. He announced his
Intention to carry the matter to the au-
thorities, and then, he says, Mr.. Friebus
offered to pay him "out Of his own pock-
ct" The architect, he alleges, then took
lAe balance which he claimed. the differ
ence between $3.50 ard $780, from the
general pile on the table and paid him, Mr..
Rabbit accepting it with the remark that
1t made no difference whose money 1t
was, so long as it would buy bread.
Most of the men protested, and some Of
them received the higher rate before sign
ing the slips.
A Calculation.
One of the workmen gave The Star this
morning q mathematical calculation by
which he claims to show that Mr. Basin
btood to make $500 at least off the differ
ence between government rates and the
rates he actually calculated to pay. He
based his estimate on thirty men working
thirty days. This would make 800 days of
work. for each of which there was a dis
erepancy of 20 cents between the $3.50 Of
sered and the 1870 paid in the printing
Dffice. and which, Mr.. Rabbit alleges, was
the men had signed. This calculation gives
total of $500. which, added 10 the So a
day which Basin was getting as superin-
tendent, would give total compensation,
presuming this theory to be correct, of
ESO for one month of work.
Mr.. Bencdict's Statement.
When interviewed by a Star man, Pub
lie Printer Benedict said that he did not
know Contractor Basin In the transac ton
ut all. He did not know what wages the
men employed on that piece of government
work were to receive. He did not know
that union wages for carpenters was 50
per day, and that government wages for
the same was 3.20 per day. He would pay
Nr. Friebus whatever amount the work
had cost"
The reporter informed Mr.. Benedict that
the men We're openly and violently alleg-
ing that Mr.. Friebus desired to charge the
government 1870 per day per man and
then pay the men 81. 80 per day. Mr.. Bene-
eict did not appear to be extremely shock
ed at this suggestion, but said that he did
not know what was usual in such cases,
whether or not a contractor got his pay
BY making so much of each of the men.
He believed that such might be the case.
Turrfing to his private secretary, Mr..
Baker, Mr. Benedict said: Isn't 1t quite
usual for a contractor to make his pay in
That way?' and Mr.. Baker nodded assent.