The Washington times., 1894-10-20
SAXTON'S IMPORTED LABOR
He Says He Hires Men Without In
quirinq into Their Residence.
FORBMEN SAY THE SAME THING
Nearly Every Laborer Claims to Live in the
District-Master Workman Sim mons Can
See No Remedy for Existing Conditions
Except in Electing Labor Men to Congress.

The question whether or not local labor in
terests shall be suffered TO languish to the ad-
vantage of imported workmen for public or
private works is now squarely before the pub
lie in the differences which have arisen be-
tween Contractor Saxton, of the Columbia
Railway Company, and the Federation ofsLa-
Dor. Since the publication of Mr.. Spohn's in
teryiew, Master Workman Simmons, the
head of the knights of Labor, has expressed
himself in vigorous terms, which will be
found below
The complaints against Mr.. Saxton were
published yesterday in The TIMES. In the
discussion of those complaints by Mr. Saxton
and Mr.. Spohn in THE TIMES yesterday the
latter intimated very strongly that the FEEDER
alton would ignore the contractor, but make
an appeal to the judgment and patriotism of
the Columbia Railway Company.
An effort was made yesterday to obtain the
views of the railway management on this
phase of the case. President Baker, of the
company. is in Atlanta, but Mr. William Up
ton, chief engineer furnished all the informa-
ton requested. He said that the criticisms
of Mr.. SaXton had occasioned him no little
surprise. He knew of his personal knowledge
that the men who were spoken OF as imported
by Mr.. Saxton had been in his employment
for years, ever since the construction OF the
Seventh street cable line and the Avenue
line. These men were, some of them, from
Kansas City, others from Baltimore, and else
where. They were skilled and experienced
men, who were necessary in this kind Of
work.
'"My understanding and belief is that Mr.
Saxton is giving employment to local men,
but don't think it is possible for him to OBJ
tain here the kind of skilled labor that is
necessary.
"Our company also is desirous of having
this work done by local labor and in its con-
tracts it has given the preference to home
concerns. As to Mr.. Saxton's work at the
water mains, he is subject TO orders by the
District Commissioners as to where ana how
the digging and eXcavating shall be done,
and he is paid for this work by the railway
company.
MR.. sAxToN InfBERvIoUs TO CRITICISM.
Mr.. Saxton was called upon and he said:
II have really nothing more to say, as my
views are fully, fairly, and satisfactorily set
forth to-day in TIE TINES
Referring to the water main work he said:
The changes in the water works are made
by the District at the expense of the railway
company, but the District has its own men to
put in the pipes We furnish the labor for
excayating and filling, and charge the ex-
pense direct to the railway company.
The duties Of the District foremen are to
see that the work is done properly and in the
interest Of the water department.
''What effect upon the employment OF men
by you will the interview and proposed ac-
ton of Mr.. Spohn have upon you?"
None whatever. II is ridiculous to criti-
else US for not working under the eight-hour
law.
a visit was then made by a reporter to the
| scene Of the work on the water mains This
is in charge OF John Fitzgerald foreman of
| the water department and Assistant Fore
man Costello. The District foremen have
under them about sixteen men doing the
plumbing and other work to the pipes.
FokEMEN DON'T CARE ABOUT MEMS RESIDENCE.
Q. P Petit, foreman for Mr.. Saxton, was
also there in charge of about seventy hands
Mr.. Petit was asked whether any proportion
of those under him were from points outside
OF the District.
"Oh, that is no concern of mine." he said.
''If a man comes TO me and wants work and
is capable employ him. +"
Nearly everybody on the whole force must
have read or heard about the agitation of the
question in THE TINES, for out OF nearly the
whole line there was not one laborer who
would admit that he came from any place ex-
cept the District of Columbia.
Foreman Allwine said that he went around
had at present only a small number under
him. but would have sixty very soon, land
every one of them, he said, will be from the
District of Columbia"
Foreman Loomis ''goes around with Mr..
Saxton' from city to city. He has forty men
under him. 'All these men, said he, Il
hired right here. l never brought any of
them with me- When hire men don't care
whether they are white or black, big or little,
or where they are from"
MASTER WORKMAN SIMMONS INDIGNANT.
Master Workman Simmons. of the District
Assembly, knights of Labor, was called upon
for an expression of opinion on the situation.
He said:
"The issue here is that a contractor has
contract for the building of q railway, and
that this contractor has employed a number
of men who are admitted not to be residents
of the city. and when it is known that we
have thousands of unemployed laborers now
who could be helped. Ought the company
that will permit such a thing expect the
| patronage OF the Washington people?
Il think the true remedy for all this is the
| ventilation of the question by the press by
keeping up the agitation in the interest of the
| people of Washington. l don't think that
much can be made out of this case, because
| in the eight-hour law there is the emergency
| proviso, through which you can drive
wagon and two horses. The authorities will
! always get around these contracts and the
courts will uphold them. Another remedy is
for the working people to select men of their
own ilk for office. AS 30 our action in this
matter, suppose that committee will be
appointed to Investigate the charges, and on
their report it viii be decided whether or not
| to bring prosecution"
! The attention of the District Commission
ers was called yesterday to the alleged viola
ton. and they were asked what, if any, por-
| ton OF the work under his supervision had
been awarded by District authority.
''This contractor said Capt. Powell, "has
no arrangement whatever with the District
for the performance of any work in connec-
ton with the Improvement"
As the case now stands, further action will
depend upon the reports of the committees Of
the Federation of Labor and Of the District
Assembly, No. &c, knights of Labor.
Results at Other Tracks.