New-York tribune., 1895-02-11
A HUGE SOCIALISTIC JOB.
THE DRESSED STONE LAW WOULD COST
THE CITY AN IMMENSE SUM
YEARLY.

YEARLY.
AssEMBLYMAN VAN KEURENs AMENDMENT TO
THE EXISTING STATUTE is SCARCELY AN
IMPROVEMENT AND VIOLATES THE
INTERSTATE COMMERCE LAW.
Albany Feb. Io-Members Of the New-York
Legislature have for some time been making ex-
periments in Socialism. The general direction
which these efforts take Is to obtain higher
rate Of wages for laborers on public works than
is paid for labor In the open market. AS a result
OF the cowardlce Of Senators and Assemblymen
several OF these Sociallstc laws have been passed
with the result OF greatly Increasing the cost OF
public works few years ago law was passed
providing that man in the employment OF the
State should receive less than 25 cents an hour
or 81 a day. The effect of this statute was so
largely to increase the expenditures OF the state
Department of Public Works that after one year
experience the law repealed.
The latest example OF this pernicious kind OF
legislation was the passage of bill by the Legs
lature of 1891 (Which was signed. Of course py
that arrant dcmagogue Roswell T. flowei'' P'o
vidlng that ''all stone Of any description useu III
State or mrEcipa works withn this S'a'e' VI
which is to be worked, dressed, or carNeo io' S"'
use shall be SO worked. dressed or carved upon
,bo crorrae ubero such works are being carried
a., or within the boundaries of the State or WITH
in the boundaries of the municipality lurther
provision Of this law was that "a clause shah DC
inserted in all specifications or contracts hereafter
awarded by State. county. or muhic.pal "u'ho'I-
ties authorizing or requiring the use of worked,
dressed or carved stone therein 10 the erect that
all such stone shall be worked, dressed or carved
for such use as required by this act
CORPORATION Counsel Clark. of New-York gave an
oninon that this law required that the dressing Of
all stone intended for public buildings, for street
having or for public work Of any kind. in the city
of New-York should be done within the limits Of
that municipality. Such a method. OF course. would
add Immensely to the cost Of public works, and the
authorities Of New York quickly discovered the fact
One contractor in Ignorance of the law. had par
TALLY entered into a contract for repavinG Avenue
A. but when he learned of the new law he backed out
of the negotiations Then the city authorities made
an estimate to the probable cost OF repaving
Avenue under the new system. and discovered
that It would cost the city 100000 additional This
being the case. they postponed the work OF repair
Thus. only did laborers in New-fork City lose
employment. but Quarrymen up In Ulster County
as we'll who would otherwise have got out the paw
ing blocks
The Rapid Transit Commissioners of New-forK
have passed resolutions requesting the repeal OF the
Dressed Stone law" said Assemblyman Lawson
of New-York. yesterday, because in their opinion
1t would add enormously to the cost of constructing
a rapid transit road. Indeed. the Commissioners
say that If this law is kept on the statute books
they will substitute brick although it will not suit
their purposes Well granite"
1t the labor unions In New-York that procured
the passage of the law with the aim OF concentrat
ing in their hands the dressing Of stone FOR the nn
the burdens Of the taxpayers. and e,entual;y come
back the shoulders Of the dressed-stone cut-
ters in the shape OF increased rent for their tene
ments. that was a purely indifferent matter to them
But Ashbe p. FITCH as Controller OF Sew York
and its financial officer. could not be indifferent TO
the enhanced cost OF public works. Last week he
solicited opinions from several officials in New-fork
sequence OF the Dressed Stone Jaw. and these
opinions he has forwarded TO Assemblyman Law
Writing to Controller Fitch Monday. Engineer
Merritt II. Smith. OF the Department Of Public
Works. of New-York. says:
In reference to the Of paving books. as now
made and delivered. compared with their cost If made
provided N Chapter 2U of the Laws OF 1884.
within the city limits: would report that in the LAST
| three years about 100000 yards Of book pave
ment have oeen laid in this city requiring the use
of about 2iOoco paving blocks. Il the rough quar-
ried stone should be brought to this city and here
worked and dressed. 1t would add in my opinion. =
basis Of the number of yards laid in the last three
years would make an increase IN cost TO the city oI
bridge stone. curb and nag would bring this sum
TO nearly $4,000
Charles w Wilmington. assistant engineer Of the
Department Of Public Works, writes 10 Controller
| Fitch upon the subject
| have made a careful examination OF the amount
| Of stone used In school buildings. armories and
the experience OF recent years and estimating the
amount to be done In the future TO be the same as
O pss ofiSe he Laws aa of %
entail an additional annual expense upon the city OF
For eight schools would estimate $4,000. $40 OOD
per school for stone The stone used sandstone
worsed dessed and f carved in the
ThsTefOr in my opinion tas this law sSs will mot
made by the city s,one-cu,ers ton and the s price
| e med fO IN
crease will be at least 100 per cent At present
or dressed ali this work being done al the quarres
For. the eight schools would estimate the slate
srSlie woud estims,s & % at TIE granite work q The
the stone is worked and dressed in the city in my
opinion the increase will be 80 per cent. I submit
stone used In eight school buildings and the list
W na ,hs IN Of The Laws % 3
co.,o, cSsi %",S Sf saGos s,S1S
| stone work Increase Dressed
| before law. per cent. Stone Law.
| Eight schoolhouses. sand
s5sSsscS:., i'8Ss s.! G:;.eo. ''s%S 100 90 ::is
| fist Regiment Armory
granite .......-.'... sols" 81 s"'r''
| Totals .............s267.s s37i 47o
! The two bridges the Harlem River at
Da% @o a"e eol at in Wo @
additional under the operation Of this Dressed Stone
| law.
| Assemblyman Lawson had ready bill repeating
the Dressed Stone law at the beginning of the ses-
sion of the Legislature, bu. transferred II to Mr.
| Van Keuren. of Ulster County, as that Assembly
man said the quarrymen of that county ardently
| favored q bill Mr.. Van Keuren. however, has
permitted himself to be browbeaten by labor dema-
gogues into making indefensible compromise:
| He has accepted bill providing that all stone used
upon city or State works In this State shall be
dressed within the limits Of this State This com
promise measure IT is obvious, viii be dscrimna,
| ton against the stonecutters Of other States and
cannot but add 10 the cost Of public works In New
| York whenever stone quarried in other States is
| used II such measures passed by NewY ork
retaliatory legislation must be expected from other
| States.
| Assemblyman Van Keuren's bill is an open inter
| ference with interstate commerce, and the Inter
| state Commerce Commissioners possibly may have
something to say about IT, In any case. II is a bad