Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-27

9
The earliest possible date. 1t seems to be
that the above shows an urgent necessity
FOR the completion of the new building. but
there are still other reasons. which / will
also explain.
Further Danger.
'In getting the foundations in place for
the new work 1t was necessary to underpin
the west wall of the H street wing. This
was a delicate and dangerous operation; it
is not yet completed and cannot be COM
pleted until the steel work Is advanced con-
siderably farther than 1t is now. The only
uethod of supporting the wall that could
be applied In this case was to make use of
needles; some of these are still in position,
they cannot be safely removed until the
underpinning Is completed. yet their pres
snce is very undesirable from the fact that
the vibrations transmitted through the
earth to the needles and thence to the wall
are magnifed in their effect by the elastic
ity of the needles. This was brought to my
attention by the very apparent effects that
were actually brought about. More than
this, in order to get the steel work into
position. large and dangerous holes have
to be cut in this rotten, old brick wall and
they have to be left open to allow for adj
justment and alignment of the steel frame.
until the latter is above the roof of the H
street wing. The work should be pushed
as rapidly as possible to enable these holes
to be bricked up with the least possible
delay.
Assuming that the steel contract would
be finished on time. other contracts for ma
teriai have been made. all requiring the
materials to be delivered and paid for this
fall unless the building can be covered in
before free ling weather. the United States
Will be forced into breaches of these con-
tracts for the materials can be received
only as they are put into position. If the
of otttt TT,~E%1
In the Court of Claims Is not entitled to
consideration. at least the injustice to the
material men is for their money Is at this
moment tied up in materials for this build
Ing. made especially for it, which will not
be able to find market elsewhere
An Emergency.
IF freezing weather finds the walls part
ly up and the building open. the new build
Ing will be a hindrance to the printing
Office instead of helD for the light will
be shut off from the portions it is designed
to relieve. yet the work must still be car
rled ON under this additional inconvenience
The deterioration of the unfinished new
work. the danger to the old building If not
repaired, the unforeseen expense of caring
for the new work during the winter and
replacing damaged parts in the spring, all
these add to the necessity for getting the
new building under cover before freezing
weather once under cover 1t can be east
~ and promptly finished, on an eight-hour
schedule; but until it is under cover there
Is, from the engineers point at least, an
emergency that not only justifies, but de-
mands more than eight hours work per
day. The good weather is slipping rapidly
away. and the necessities of the case de-
mand an early settlement of the eight-hour
question. Had 1t not been for the arrest
OF Mr. MGFaugh, 1 should have worked nv
force more than eight hours per day, with
out hesitation, fully convinced that l was
within the meaning of the law But. since
question raiS in
the circumstances of the case have been
submitted to you in the hope that, should
II app EAR that they constitute an emergency
In the meaning of the law the judicial
branch of the government NAV find a way
to remove an obstacle in the way of the
early completion of this work"
Mr. Linthicum Testifes.
When the case was called about noon
MIR. Mullowny explained In answer to the
courts inquiries. the nature of the charge,
and Lawyer Edward L. Gies for the de-
PENDANT. entered plea of not guilty.
MIR. Linthicum. the prosecuting witness,
was first put on the stand.
Mr.. Mullowny read the charge for the
benefit of the court.
MIR. Linthicum. in answer to Mr. Null
ioWnys questions, testified that he was
an iron worker. and explained the duties
hammer and chisel and other tools,
and the work, he says, also requires
considerable skill. Witness said he had
Worked at the navy yard. and when he
le1t there he went to work at the govern
nent printing Office He was employed as
general workman by Mr. McVaugh, brother
OF the defendant.
What contract, IL any, did YOU make
ntout time and wages?' the court asked.
None whatever. answered witness.
The man looked all right, and think he
Is all right"
Witness said he worked at the rate of
~ cents an hour, and some days they
worked as many as twelve hours. Witness
SAID that when he WIS paid the pay was
tour days short. 1t was said because The
S9a ay roll had not been made out up to
Were you employed as low as eight
hours in any one day?''
mo, SIR
when did you learn that you were be-
irg paid by the hcur?"
Il vasn't told so by Mr. Mcvaugh," an
SW cred witness. Il understood from the
by the hour"
Did you sign an agreement with Mr..
McVaugh?"
Il DID,"
What was that agreement"
read it,
Witness explained that he signed the pa
per three or four days after he started to
work. The young man who was keeping
time for Mr.. McVaugh read the agreement
to him.
Witness did not remember the wording of
the agreement. but it's substance was that
no was to work as long as the contractor
wanted him.
On the 18th of September, the day
charged, witness said. he worked twelve
hours.
On cross-examination witness said he had
received 20 cents an hour for every hour
he worked but he claimed he was entitled
to half time extra for the extra hours over
eight hours a day.
Further questioned by Mr. Giles witness