The morning times., 1895-07-27
Business Men Are Heartily in
Sympathy With 1t.
BEST PAY FOR GOOD WORK
Attorney Thomas Has Not Received
the commissioners Formal Request
for His Opinion AS TO Their Right
to Put Clause in Contracts Giving
Preferencete District workingmen.

The Commissioners have probably not YET
forwarded to Attorney Thomas the appli-
cation or the organized labor bodies foI
The amendment OF the rule governing con-
tracts for public construction.
The request presented was that all coz
tracts hereafter made for the erection of
schoolhouses and other similar work shall
havea clause added requiring ngthatmaXimum
wages be paid and that preference shall
be given TO District workingmcn.
1t waspromised by the commissioners that
the matter should be referred to the at
torney for the District for inquiry into
the powers Of the board in the matter,
but Mr.. Thomas said yesterday that the
communication had not yet reached him.
He declined to give an opinion upon the
merits OF the proposition until he can have
the request before him with time for
proper investigation of the subject
\ great many prominent business men
have been approached by The Times to
ascertain their vie VS. OF the question,
and while some Were not prepared TO give
an opinion, not one expressed himself
against it,
Some favorable comments OF the many
obtained are given. as follows
BUSINESS MEMS OPINIONS.
l. Salls. Of Saks * Co. corner OF Seventh
street and Market space That is
correct rule, and one that we employ here
in our private business. The District
authorities should act fayorably upon the
application.
Capt. James F. oyster, corner of Ninth
street and PENNSYLVANIA avenue: II am
III favor OF home institutions all the time,
and believe IN paving full value for skilled
work. II the Comm issioners have any
discretion in the matter they should eXer-
else IL in favor of District labor. | do
not believe IN paying firsl-class prices to
a man for doing second rate work, nor
do / think II is right 10 permit a novice
to perform piece OF work that should
be done by a competent mechanic
X. Harris, corner Seventh and ID streets
northwest, said: III meets with my hearty
approval. People who take pride in wash
1ngton as the capital OF the nation ought
to be in favor OF having every building
properly constructed, and they ought also
TO be willing that the work Shall be done
by home labor The government has al
the advantage here in most things, and
some provisions like that proposed should
be made, if possible, for home mechanics.
Let men hid on contracts with the view
OF erecting a first class structure not to
see how cheaply it can be done
GOOD WAGES AND GOOD WORK
Mir. w. A. Pate, No. 30S Tenth street
northwest: Il am heartily in favor OF
that proposition clear through and in every
way. | believe in keeping as mitch money
S possible in Washington and in giving
as much employment as possible 10 Wash
iuEtOn men, Under the proposed pan We
would have good work done and that should
comma hi good wages. 1t is a rule that
ought to prevail
MIR Charles RuOH. Of Willett & RGof:
Il think Washington mechanics should have
the preference, certainly, and that they
should be paid good wages. l know of 10
reason why the proposition should not lie
adopted. y
Mr. Carl Petersen, No 42T Seventh
street: II ean seetBo objection TO it 1t
ought to be done"
Mr.. Harry b. Parker, of Parker, Bridget
& Co. No. 315 Seventh street north west,
said he regarded the proposition as
good thing.
There is too much OF a disposition" lie
said, Ito import labor at cheap rates. Men
often make a low bid on a contract and
depend upon getting the work done at u
low figure Men can he found doubtless.
who Will consent to work for so cents a
day, hllt they are not tSkillful in any trade
They Will consent to give their services at
half rates, and scarcely make enough To
pay their way out OF town "