The morning times., 1895-07-23
Plea Against Employment of
Non-union Mechanics.
WANT CONTRACTS AMENDED
Delegation Asks for Clause Recurring
Reference to Be Given District
Workmen and Payment of Maxi
mum Wages-Mr. Swartzeli Dis
cusses Street Extension Plans.

MECHANICS ana laDorerS, and to pay the
maximum wages.
Joint committee, composed of E. J.
Rea, Charles Wells, and E. NJ Blake, repre-
sentlng, respectively, the Federation of
Labor nd Knights of Labor laid the matter
before the commissioners yesterday. The
committee argued contra ctors for pu bic
work base their bids upon the fact that
they Will be enabled to secure cheap labor
by importing Virginia and Maryland men
to the place of Washington workmcn.
These men can work cheaper and save
money. They bring a cook with them
often and take their meals and sleep in
the building upon which they are employed,
thereby even preventing the circulation
OF any part OF their wages in the District
SCABS OWN FARMS.
The committee explained that many Of
these scab worimen own farms in the ada
cent States, and that after they put in
their spring crops and attend TO ether
similar duties required at their country
homes, they come to Washington in large
companies often, and place their services
at the disposal of the contractors, work
ing for much less than the Washington me
chanics can afford to accept,
AS taxpayers and residents the delega-
ton represented the injustice of this
method, and asked the Commissioners to
apply a remedy
II was decided by the board to refer
the whole subject to Attorney Thomas as
TO the power of the Commissioners to
embody such clause in the contracts
A letter was filed yesterday from Henry
Storey, No. SIC Four-and-a-halr street
protesting against the proposition 10 com
pei contractors TO employ union mechanics
and 10 pay union wages. Mr.. Storey says
that. II carried out, the rule would work
hardship 10 a class OF good mechanics
who do not belong to any labor body.
why should these men," he asks, be
debarred from earning liviug?"
II win be observed that the delegation
above noted merely asked that District
mechanics and laborers be employed at
maximum wages.
George W. F. SwartZell, OF the firm
OF b ii. Warner Co, addressed a letter
TO the secretary OF the highway commits
sion yesterday, in which he strongly in
dorses the projected plan of the first sec
tion OF street Improvements, as proposed
by the District Commissioners, and says
that so far as his property is concerned,
through which certain streets VIII pass,
ii shall not stand in the way OF progress.
Mr.. SwartZen says that assuming the
plan of the Commissioners, especially that
relating TO the extension of Vermont ave-
nue. 10 the Soldiers Home grounds W as such
as would be most heartily approved by
ALL" lie had Contented himself with sim
ply expressing concurrence.
THE number OF objections from some
OF the few persons whose property would be
either cut or wholly consumed" !" however,
leads him, as one affected not only by the
Vermont avenue extension, but hy that OF
Sixth street as well, to express his hearty
commendation and approval OF the plan
of DETECTING the avenue so as TO make 1t
end at the Whitney avenue entrance to the
Soldiers Home.
WILL REDEEM PROPERTY.
The extension OF Vermont avenue, he says,
from Florida avenue to Brightwood aven-
nue., viii redeem a lot of property that
has affected the public health and impeded
progress for many years, and furnish an
outlet for persons from down town by
which the northeast section OF the first
division may be reached without having to
pass through the congested and dangerous
locality at Seventh street and Florida
avenue. Its further extension, as proposed,
will afford a direct. safe, easy and desir-
able route from the Executive Mansion to
Soldiers Home Park. and be otherwise
advantageous. To extend Vermont avenue
in a direct lire Mr.. SwartZell states, VIII
lDJuTe IIuCu larger eIlOuIll OF property
than if the course be DETECTED as proposed.
The wishes of a few Objectors," Mr.
Swartzell adds, should not be allowed to
stand in the way of Improvement
The Commissioners gave another hearing
yesterday TO the promoters OF the Anderson
systemofgarbage inCineration. There were
present Prof. Anderson, the inventor; w. C.
Mcintyre, the Washington representative
of the company: Arthur Stewart, of Balti-
,,,I T. = ,--f,- f;r-,,l ~
Joshua Warfield, the garbage contractor
Itwas agreed that the Cremation Company
shall make a practical test of he sys-
temin presence ofDr. woodward the Health
Officer The test Will be made in Chicago,
at cost to the company ofabout 50 ,000
UTILITY OF THE SYSTEM
The system is represented to be capable
everything ,fromgas, ashe sand deadanjmals
to water, and as the smallest plant the COM
pany Will want to establish is much too
large for Washington, it is proposed that
the Commissioners permit the destruction of
at least Il part of the refuse that now goes
to the dumps.
The company wants permission also to
operate one Of its reduction plants, claiming
that there is no doubt of the perfect sani-
tary arrangements and that it can be run
Jointly with the crematory. The Commits
sioners will consent to this only upon the
agreement that the District share in the
profits.
The adoption of a system depends now
upon the success that may attend the Ander-
son showing, as it is probable that Sc
lection can be made without further in
vestigatioD.
1t was ordered yesterday that a sewer
be constructed in alley OF square 1913, be-
tween Fifteenth and Sixteenth and K and
L streets.
That the old pavement in Ninth street
northwest, from Pennsylvania avenue to
F street be replaced by a pavement laid
on six-inch concrete base, similar to the
one ordered for the east side, the Metro
politan Railroad Company to pay for its
share of the work. Also that the re-
surfacing of Ninth street, between N and
? streets be proceeded with at once.
NEW ASYLUM WARD.
Five contractors submitted bids yester-
day for the construction of the new ward
F. Mockbee, 1921; c. Thomas, $3,535;
Thomas Winfree, $4, ,600;J. NJ. Dunn ,S3 $50,
and ]. II. nowlett, So 500.
Bids were also opened for the work of
grading Sherman avenue Messrs. Skinner,
Gleeson, competed, the latter presenting the
lowest bid.
Permits were issued from the building
inspectors office yesterday, as follows
ToDr. F. E. Mussey, Demonstration of brick
and stone dwelling on the corner of Rhode
Island avenue and Twelfth street northwest,
to cost $40, 900; to J. J. Dugan, for con-
struction OF store and dwlling, No. 500 L
street northeast, $3,70O: C. A Langley,
agent, for interior improvements and ex-
tension of balcony of the Metropolitan P res
byterian Church, corner of Fourth and B
streets southeast, 81 900: G. E. Emmons,
general repairs to building, No. 1915 F street