The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-10-11
IT FAVORS ASPHALT.
Law Regarding Granite Dressing
flinders Paving Contractors
Workmen Thought the Tobin Bill
Would Benefit Their Union.
President Gompers Intimates that
Tsmmany Interests Framed 1t.

1t has just been discovered that law
passed last Winter by the Legislature,
and intended for the protection of the |
workingmen of New York City, was SO
framed that 1t will throw many men
out of employment in the city and thou
sands in other places.
The immediate effect has been to hold |
UP nearly fifty small contracts for paw
ing, on which bids have already been re-
ceived.
The law was introduced by Assembly
man Tobin, at the request of the Central
Labor Union, and provides that 'all
stone used under contracts for municipal
works and improvements must be
worked, dressed or carved upon the
ground where the work is being done"
Corporation Counsel w. H. Clark has
given his opinion to Commissioner
Michael 7. DAILY. of the Department of
Public Works. that this law applies to
paving. as well as to building and other
contracts.
In consequence the contracts for forty
six pieces of paving, on which bids were
opened Sept II, still remain unexecuted,
the. contractors declaring that the re-
strictions imposed by the Tobin law are
prohibitory. The aggregate amount of
paving to be done is about 122, 300 square
|
| S122,9O0 The largest jobs are for paving
Front street, from Whitehall to Roose-
Welt, and Montgomery street to Corlears
| street. and Water street, from Whitehall
to Rutgers street.
The contractors are James Pollock, 2S9
East One Hundred and Twenty eighth
street: John G. Smith, 500 West Forty
eighth street; James A. Geartz, So West
N nj tvs street: F. Thilman. r.,
SEVENTH Ms' sree ne and P f. ns
They say that the effect of this law
Is to triple the cost of granite paving
and hammers in New York and Brooklyn
out OF work, owing to lack OF materials.
II cannot believe that the trainers OF
this law intended such a sweeping appli-
Commissioner Maurice +. Holahan. but
we must abide by the decision of the
Corp grafton Counsel. Our. attention was
called to 1t by Comptroller Fitch, who
asked for a construction before paying
the bills for contracts already com;
pleted, the law saving that 1t shouli
apply not only to contracts made after
Its passage but to contracts executed
previous to its passage.
THE Corporation Counsel said that the
law was unconstitutional, so far as II. re-
lated to old contracts, and then Com
missioner DAILY issued this circular letter
to all contractors who had bid for paving.
ecute the, contracts for which they bad
bid and the matter is In statu quo"
This is the circular letter issued to con-
| tractors:
Sir: You are hereby notified that, according 4
an opinion given in writing by the Counsel to thu
Corporation in relation to the application Of tn
Act, chapter 277 OF the laws, Of 1894, all ston
used under contracts for municipal works ant
> improvements, including all contracts now In ex
must be worked. dressed or carved upon. tn
ground where the work is being carried on, o
and that this provision includes chiseled an
dressed stone for buildings for basin heads eros,
Of stone which require dressing or working I
= any size. dimension or shape
You are. therefore. notified that all such ston
, which may be used and placed under your exist
a ing contract for - from and after this dat
the work is carried on, or within the boundarie
8 of the city OF New York: and that any failur
your e The sU duty Of
r Respectfully. MICHAEL DAILY;
Commissioner OF Public Works.
S 81 have just learned of this decision
n Of the Corporation Counsel" said Sam
J, uel Gompers, President of the Ameri
: ing. II cannot believe that the men
p the passage of the law. contemplate
: any such operation of 1t. They un
d doubtedly meant 1t to benefit, not
York. and it seems to me there mus
/; be some thing wrong somewhere.
l. 1T is singular that although this la,
S wsnt INTO Word aStut ARr unfit 0ct don
think / see a very large African in thi
2 woodpile, but l do not care to expires
4 my opinion further than that until
2 have had an opportunity to examin
Of 1t and think about it,"
p The enforcement of this law woul
N make granite block pavements abou
twice as costly as asphalt. Perhaps thi
a is the wood pile" Mr.. Gompers has
If his mind and perhaps the African
er the wood pile" Is to be found in tn
fact that several leaders In Tamman
er Hall are largely interested in the TRIM
id Asphalt Paving Company.
lie