Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-22
LABOR AND CONTRACTS
Representatives of Trade Organizations
Call On the Commissioners.

Commissioners Ross and Truesdell gave
an important hearing this morning to a
committee representing the trades organiza-
tons of the District, who called to plead
the cause of organized labor IN the matter
of letting out contracts for District work.
Their contention was that, inasmuch as
the Commissioners are compelled by law to
specify the character of the materials to
be used in the construction of building,
they are. by inference. expected to specify
the class of men who are to be employed,
as human beings are to say the least Of
as much Importance as bricks. stone and
lumber.
The committee consisted of Mr.. Charles
Wells. chairman of the executive board
District Assembly No. 60, X. Of L.; Mr..
e. ]. Rea, member of the executive board.
and Mr.. E. NJ. Blake of the committee of
the Federation Of Labor.
Mr.. Blake acted as the principal spokes-
man for the committee, although the others
also spoke on the subject. and submitted
considerable important information In the
way of facts and data. Mr.. Blake said that
they called as representing the District AS
sembly, K. of L.. composed of nineteen
unions organized in that body, and also the
Federation of Labor, composed of forty
five organizations represented by delegate
Influences Exertcd by Labor Unions.
They were particularly interested, he said
buildings, and especially for public schools
The labor organizations had used their in
1uence in the past in securing public
school buildings. Through their influence
free text hooks had been made possible, as
well as additional schools in the suburban
districts, and at the last Congress they
had secured new school for colored chill
dren in the southeast section Of the city.
Under the law, he said, the Commissioners
are compelled to let contracts to the lowest
bidders, provided they are satisfied the bid
ders are responsible parties. They claim
that there are in the District contractors
who are at the same time responsible and
fair to their employees in the matter of
hours and wages They therefore asked
that in calling for bids hereafter the Com
missioners specify that in the work to be
done the wages paid shall be the maximum
wages that prevail In the different trades
in the District, and that employment be
given only to District men. They would
favor having all work done by day labor
were 1t not for the fact that the law does
not permit this.
Contractors Methods Criticised.
The committee stated that men vino sub
NIT bids for public work at the lowest pos
sible price are compelled to figure on the
basis of cheap labor, and they make 1t a
principle to import ron-union workmen, who
are willing to accept less than union rates,
from Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
This works great hardship on the local
workmen, many of whom have been COM
PEELED to go into debt as result of the dull
ing circles. Mr.. Rea and Mr.. Wells also
spoke of the methods pursued by contrac-
tors here, and they asked that in the. fu-
ture the Commissioners insert specifca-
ton calling for properly paid labor, as they
thought that men sbdnl4 be entitled to as
much consideration al materials.
Mr.. Ross stated thatstte board would give
the matter attention In the near future.
They had, he said, opened up new ques-
ton as to the prerogafi3es Of the Commits
sioners, and they would refer the question to
the attorney for the District for an opinion
as to their legal rights in the matter. He
promised to let them have an official COM
munication OIL the subject as soon as possi-
BILE.