The Washington times., 1895-04-03
Federation of Labor Committee Re-
ports on the E Street School.
With but One Exception the Original As
Bertions Are Sustained-Adopted
BY the Federation.

mittee appointed to attend the investigation,
OF which the following is the fun text:
To the Federation OF Labor:
Your committee, to whom was as
signed the duty OF conducting upon the part
OF the Federation an examination of the
walls of the school building now being
constructed on street southeast, to as
certain the correctness OF a charge made by
your body that the building was not being
properly constructed, report that an ex-
animation was made under the super
vision of Building Inspector Brady in the
presence of the District Commissioners
and Messrs. Hill, Morrison and Edmonson,
who were sp eciany invited by Mr.
Brady as experts, and whose opinions have
been reported to Mr.. Brady and given to
Under the general charge that 1.-THE
contract and specifications have been
most flagrantly violated in the workman
ship and Materials there are eight speci-
ficauons, as follows, which we consider
in order:
First. The brick work is executed in
the worst possible manner, as the walls
are not plumb. straight or level"
After frequent careful plumbing the fact
was demonstrated that tn ewalls in the
basement are from one inch 10 two inches
out OF plumb; that none OF them are
straight and many are out Of level.
Second. There have been salmon bricks
used In the walls above grade line and some
of them are peeling off from the frost, as
shown on the surface OF the walls"
1t is evident that the defective bricks
I have been taken out and harder bricks
81.
contractor 1t was also evident that an
attempt had been made to repair crooked
walls
That in the interior and on the face OF
the exterior north wall a quantity of
bricks have been used which are not
merchantable hard brick as required
by the specifications. These bricks are
solid machine made salmon and would be
condemned as unfit material in the con-
structionof government work.
Third THE walls are built hollow so
that you can run your hand in between the
bricks" An examination OF the walls,
after frequent plugging, in every instance
evidenced the fact that the walls have
not been constructed solidly; that the side
joints in the courses are hollow To an eX
tent that admitted the thickness OF the
hand.
Fourth. ''The joints in the front are of
extra thickness, many OF them as thick as
Drlck
TO othree-quartersof aninch thick"
Joints We're measured in the front and
such was found 10 be the fact. The joints
are very irregular and conspicuous pier at
the door OF the East front is three-fourths of
an inch out OF level in width of five feet
and thisis not exceptioal.
Fifth. The arches are disgrace to
novice" " Thisfact is evident, and they would
be condemned by novice.
Sixth. The joists are leveled on the
walls with from one to two courses OF dry
! bricks and on three-inch wooden blocks. ="
This is also evident and cannot be
1 questioned.
Seventh con the whole the building
| is a disgrace TO skilled labor
| It is evident that the walls are very badly
| constructed and are OF a general character
that would be condemned by any reputable
| builder in this city If he had personal con.
troll ana responsibility.
Eighth THE joists are sappy-ba rk
| edged and knotty" This is not a fact
We are pleased TO testify that the joists are
| OF good qualify and we believe them TO be
| fully Hp TO the specified requirements. In
| this matter not being practical carpenters we
do not express our opinion as experts, having
superior knowledge OF the details OF another
| craft
i When IL is understood that the specifi-
cations require that 1.-THE walls of base
/ nlent vii lbe constructed with hand Hrick:
| that joints that shall be struck clean and
i smooth, and an head and cross joints
| filled solid with mortar" the fact is evi-
i dent that the specifications have been
| grossly violated. When ii is further under
! stood that the specifications demand that
the walls above basement "be con
| stmcted OF hard bricks laid in good rR h
| lime mortar, Joints flushed solid with
mortar composed with clean, sharp, down
river sand; that rear walls VIII be faced
up with dark red bricks of a uniform color, "
the fact is evident that the specifications
have been most flagrantly violated. The
specifications require in the construction of
front meat tucked joints" Such is not
the case. 1t is specified that 1.-THE window
arches viii be neatly formed, that courses
in belts be made level and true
That such is not the case is evident to a
casual inexperienced observer.
We submit these facts:
First-Hard bricks have not been used
exclusively in the basement.
Second-Clean. sharp, down river sand
has not been used.
Thfrd=The head and cross joints have
not been filled solid with mortar.
Fourth-The walls above basement have
not been Constructed with hard brick eX-
clusively and the joints are not flushed solid.
/ Fifth-The rear wall is not faced up with
dark red bricks OF a uniform color as re
qH.red, but with very inferior brick.
Sixth-The joints are not clenaly struck
--or neatly tucked
1t is evident that every term of the speci-
! fications of the brick work has been vio-
lated This was fully proven and we chal-
lenge a denial.
Why the building inspector, whose paid
duty il is to see that in the construction 9f
i this building the work be done as re-
quired by the specifications permitted
such faulty construction is q pertinent ques-
] fr,lf Of
these violated specifications are made part
Of a contract and it is deemed necessary 40
enforce them to secure stable construction,
| then it must be admitted that a building
erected as this structure has been is not as
secure and durable as when constructed as
required by the specifications.
Public buildings, for which the PEOPLE
pay for the best construction, particularly
| school buildings, should be constructed of
the best material attainable and by the
most skilled artisans in the best manner
poss sihle. Unfortunately in the cOnstruc-
ton OF these buildings the contract system
| prevails, intense competition forces down
prices below rate at which honest work
can be done and the contractor to realize
profit uses inferior material, employs
cheap labor and violates the specified
terms OF the contract.
The favorable difference in the cost to the
contractor of the construction of such walls,
as those OF this school building, and walls
constructed strictly as required by the
specifications, is not less than 80 per cent
Thus, under the public contract system, a
premium is paid for the violation OF 8
contrac.s which, though requiring the best
materials and construction, imposes upon
the public a class OF work but little better
than the average walls constructed FOL
speculative purposes.
To secure honest construction and to have