The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-08-03
SCHOOL STRIKE ON.
Workmen Declare War Against
the Board of Education.
Walking Delegates Say All Work
Will Cease Before Night.
II Is Claimed that the Wages Fixed
by Law Have Not been Paid.

The Board Of Walking Delegates claim
that by this evening work on all the
school buildings of the city Will have
been stopped.
The delegates, in two groups, one on
the east side and the other on the west
side, are proceeding downtown. and as
school buildings on which repairs are
being made are reached union workmen
are ordered to lay down their TOOLS
1t is announced that work on new
buildings will also stopped, although on
all such union wages are paid. This
step is to be taken in order to bring the
Board OF Education to time.
The walking delegates have also de-
clded on new plan Of warfare that Is
likely to astonish city officials. COM
rnittee OF five is now procuring affida-
Wits from workmen who have worked on
school buildings at less than union
wages at any time since. May 10. on
which date the Governor signed the act
requiring that current rates or wages be
paid for city work.
It is intended that these affidavits
shall be used in court proceedings. They
will first be laid before the Corporation
Counsel and in case he refuses to act
1t is announced that proceedings will be
commenced independently OF him.
The law regulating wages Tor city
work Divides that city contractors Man1 ps
the contracts were let before May 10,
however, and 1t is now a question
whether firms that work these con.
the act. II they are Obliged to pay
union wages, 1t is said, they VIII lose
money.
A loophole has been found. however,
in a clause of the contracts which pro-
vides that in case the contractor falls
to prosecute the work, the Board OF
Education may. after three days notice,
employ other persons to complete the
jobs.
This will give the Board of Education
chance. II strikes are maintained, to
cancel contracts, and will also give con.
what many consider a bad bargain,
Superintendent of School Buildings
C. b. j. Snyder, said this morning that
all contractors making repairs are e, re- re-
In September, and that forfeits of from
IS to $40 day are provided for. AL
though no provisions were made that
contractors would have to pay current
wages, he has been advised that this
was not necessary, for contractors are
supposed to be familiar with the law.
Al aye given sefIirty
award after May 10 may be obliged to
pay union wages. The courts may have
to decide what is required from those
A walking delegate said this morning
that the pre- sent action has been taken
TO bring the Board OF Education to time,
and that first-class contractors are In
hearty sympathy with the unions.
1.-The city Is so slow in paying for
work that good contractors hesitate to
take jobs " he said, and smaller firms
bid so closely that they must pay; les,
than union wages. Provisions should
have been inserted in the contracts pro-
viding that in accordance with the act
OF May 10. current wages should be paid.
and when that was not done the Board
of Education is responsible
Supt. Snyder said to-day that he could
get a quorum of the Board of Educate
together in few hours. He could not
say when a meeting would be called.
At the Board of Education this after.
noon 1t was stated that the only school
buildings on which the progress Of work
has been seriously affected are those at
Fifty-second street near Eighth avenue.
F'orteth street near Eighth avenue,
Thirty-seventh street near Tenth ave-
nue. and Thirty-fifth street near Eighth
avenue,