Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-22

I
that Klieves, Kraft d Co. adhere to
their contract with reference TO the en-
p!Oyment Of homo labor, and that they
be instructed 10 discharge all non-resi-
dent employees; and that at a meeting
held on May 5th, the Committee de-
aned home labor" TO mean residents Of
Wheeling.
DR.. Dickey was asked why he had not
signed the contract. and replied that be
was out of the city at the time, and
nuon his return found that clause OBJ
iectionable TO the contractors, had been
inserted by a committee of the Board,
without authority from the Board. He
did not feel like SIGNING the contract
unless instructed &c so by the Board.
MIR. Hubbard moved TO strike out the
clause defining "hOme labor" and TO 10
struct the President 10 sign the contract.
The motion was seconded by Mr.. Filing
ham, and both gentlemen made short
addresses in support of it. MIR. Widener
opposed the motion. Mr.. Maxwell took
the ground that the committee had a
right TO define the meaning OF home
labor. The intent Of the Board, and of
the successful bidder, was that residents
of Wheeling would be employed in the
work. The firm of Klieves Kraft q Co.
was In q measure instrumental In lnduc-
ing the Board to specify that home
labor must be employed exclusively in
the work. He, MIR. Maxwell, was re-
liabiy informed that If the construction
OF the language of the term "home
labor" which was placed upon it by the
firm of Halock Pros, was TO be accept
cd as correct the Board could have
placed the contract at figure at least
3. GOO lower than it was now paying.
In view Of the fact that il was under
stood by all parties that residents OF
Wheeling only were to be employed ia
the work upon the new building, he
would oppose the motion TO the end.
Mr.. Hubbard and MIR. Elingham
both admitted that it was understood
that home labor meant citizens OF
Wheeling, but they were OF the opinion
that the Board had no right to define
the term; the Board had other recourse
II the employment Of nonresident la
Dor was violation Of the contract.
Mr.. Klieves, of the contracting firm,
mado q brief statement, and was inter
rogated by MIR. Wideuer. In response
10 his questions, Mr.. Klieves stated that
the contractors offered TO employ home
LABOR, but the wOrkmen did not apply
for employment, and the contractors
were forced TO employ any person who
applied. lie did not know why the
stone-cutterS had refused to work,
Mr.. Stanton thought the Board should
not act as arbitrator in labor disputes.
MIR. O'Keefe was granted permission
10 speak for the stonemasons OF the city.
He took the position that there is not
yet contract between the Board and
Klieves, Kraft & Co. There are term:
in the written, but unsigned contract
which were not a part Of the verba
agreement, In addition 10 the clause
which has caused so much contention.
The Board has not yet agreed TO any
thing, except in general sense, to ac
cept the BID of Klieves, Kraft 81 Co.
| The terms OF the contract were 10 be
made afterwards. No judge or jury
would find that homeSS labor meant any
thing but residents OF Ohio county. II
the United States, or the State OF West
Virginia, were parties to contract,
the term "home labor" might be defined
as citizens OF the United States,
or this State respectatively. The same
thing applies TO the city or the Board OF
Education. The Board is not in a po'
sition OF being forced TO construe any
language of the contract, as u has not
vet made contract. Litigation after
the structure is completed would De flu
tile. The Board is sole judge Of the
question Of whether or not the con-
tractors are fulfilling the terms OF their
agreement, and the time for action is
now. He concluded by reading the affi-
davit of stonecutters that all men en-
ploved in the work are non-resdents OF
the State.
President Dickey then put Mr.. Hub
bari's motion and it was carried by a
vote of to 4. The report OF the Com
mittee on Buildings aud Grounds was
then received and adopted. The effect
of the vote upon these motions was to
strike out the Objectionable phrase in
the contract, and to notify the con-
tractors to withdraw all the non-resi-
dent stonecutters now employed.
Mr.. Widener offered a resolution in.
structing the committee on building:
and grounds TO stop all work on the
Webster school building. not done by
home labor, II such labor can ee secured.
This was afterwards withdrawn, with
the understanding that it is the duty oil
the architect to see that the terms oil
the contract are complied with.
The other business transacted by the
Board was largely OF routine nature.
The clerk read the minutes Of the pre-
vious meeting, which were approved.
The committee on accounts reported
approval Of bills aggregating S593.76,
which were ordered paid.
The committee on public library rec.
commended payment OF accounts aggre'
eating S143.O7. Approved. The com.
mittee selected books amounting to S54,
and their purchase was authorized. The
committee recommended the employ.
ment of the following named persons,
at the salaries mentioned: Mrs. NJ. C.
Crawford, first assistant librarian, al
S45 per month; Miss Nj. J. Bailey, as as.
sistant librarian, at S45 per month;
Harry Phillips as ja1itor, at a salary CT
$40 per month. TIE recommendation
was concurred in. The placing Of cleo.