Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-17
GRIEVANCE OF PAYERS
Allegations Made in Regard to District Gov.
eminent Methods.
Union BARRIERS VIII Attempt to Induce
the Closing Of Hotel Shops
on Sunday.

A. meeting Of the PAYERS Union was
held last night at Electrical Workers Hall.
sos 18th street northwest; President Will
liam WEIGH presided, with Edward P.
Lynch as secretary.
After the disposal of routine business the
statement Of the Commissioners as COM
municated to the Central Labor Union and
which was published in Tuesdays Star,
was considered. and a statement was pre-
pared which will be submitted to the Gen.
trail Labor Union at the next meeting of
that body. This counter statement
OF the PAYERS will not only question
the statement of the Commissioners rela-
tive to the wages paid those employed as
PAYERS on city work. but will recite several
instances In which the PAYERS charge that
the Commissioners have not only dealt un-
fairly toward them, but the public also.
Relative to the statement made by the
Commissioners that those in their employ
were being paid liberal rate of wages
the PAYERS state: Those employed by the
city government as PAYERS do not receive
PAYERS wages. and practical PAYERS thus
employed whose labor is worth 50 per day
are only paid $1.75 per day, while the
skilled laborers. who at the best do very
inferior work. are paid $1.5O per day. These
PAYERS are mainly common laborers. who
would not be employed by any responsible
contractor. as their work is Of such an in
ferior grade that 1t would be condemned
by the public inspector"
The PAYERS also state that the wages of
- Is only paid to one man in a gang OF
eight or ten, who is required to lay out the
work and instruct and supervise the others
| They also cite instances when the force of
city employ eS have done work which should
have properly been done by contract. The
| statement refers to the paving done for the
| Pintsch Gas Company. This company"
| they state. furnishes gas to the Pennsyl-
vania and Baltimore and Ohio railroad
| companies: that q main v as EXTENDED from
| the plant down Maryland avenue, and
| theEce to the stations of the Pennsylvania
! and Baltimore and Ohio railroads. de-
| post of $4,000 was required from the
Pintsch Gas Company security for the
1 repair Of the streets after the laying Of
| the main" 1t is further stated that the
Commission ers contracted with the com
pany to replace the paving for the sum OF
| the deposit, thus relieving the company
from the responsibility of keeping the work
| in repair for five years. which is required
| of every contractor for street work.
Criticize the COmmissiOners.
The PAYERS severely censure this action of
the Commissioners and regard it in
| furious to the interests Of the PAYERS who
are employed by contractors. and who in
I this instance were substituted by common
laborers who were paid $50 per day, while
| competent PAYERS who demanded s. per
| day, were idle.
| The PAYERS also refer to the letting of the
| contract for the improving of Kentucky
| avenue and several streets in the south
| east section of the city. They state in
| part that 1.-The contract for the grading.
| curbing laying Of the brick sidewalks and
putting In the cobble cutters was awarded
| to James Trawley, but notwithstanding this
| fact, all the work, with the exception OF
| the grading. is being done Dy District en-
| ployes, under supervision of District su-
| Ierintendent. AS it is evident that the work
is being done by the District after being
| awarded to Trawley, how does 1t occur
that this contractor was relieved of his
| responsibility and bond?"
| 1t was stated, incidentally, that Traw-
| iey's contract price for the work was too
low for him to complete the work without
less, and that he was relieved of the work
now being done by the District
| Work on County Roads.
The PAYERS will also report to the Gen.
trail. Labor Union the conditions under
which. they state, the work is being done
on the county roads A prominent men,
Der of the union said: I'VE will bring to
the attention of the central body the fact
I that paving and curbing Jobs outside of
the city, which the law requires to be
| done by the Commissioners at days work,
are done exclusively by few as private
| contractors, notwithstanding the fact that
| the law requires the work to be done by
the day. None of the jobs exceed the
days work limit of $1,000. yet the work is
| being done under contract methods, and a
|
| ccntr actor. We will send to the Central La
Dor Union a statement in detail, and will re
quest that a committee call on the Com
missioners with this statement. and il
the PAYERS it will know that We are aware
Of some of the methods which may be
| recorded questionable"
Hotel Barber Shops on Sunday.
At the meeting last night of the Journey
men Barriers Local Union 1t was resolved
to request the Central Labor Union to take
action toward the closing Of the hotel bar
Der shops on Sunday. member of the
union, in stating the action of his organi-
cation in the matter. said:
1--WE are determined to have the hotel
barber shops closed on Sunday. 1t is a
fact that these shops are kept open In fla
grant violation of the law. Why should
they be permitted to run when other shops
are forced to close We cannot understand
We wish to see the law enforced. because
we are opposed to Sunday shaving. A bar.
Der should have his Sunday well as
Others and we propose to do all we can
to keep the shops closed on that day.
| There Is not a union hotel shop in the
city. and though we have tried to get them
to join our union they persistently refuse
| to do so. for the reason that if they Joined
our Union they would not be permitted q
work On Sunday, and refusal to do sc
would result in summary discharge.
This was demonstrated a few DAYS ago
when the employees and foreman in a prom.
inent hotel shop concluded to join oul
union but when the hotel proprietor was
Informed of their conclusion he told the
men that If they became members of any
organization he would discharge them, as
| the shop must accommodate his patrons OF
Sunday. notwithstanding the law or the
desire of the BARRIERS. Under these con.
| dftions We are forced to resort to the Law
and will demand that 1t be strictly en-.
forced. even though 1t results in the prose.
cution Of every hotel proprietor in the
city. We do not propose to take snap judg
ment on these people; we will through
proper committees from our union and the
Central Labor Union request the proprie
tors to close their shops On Sunday, and
If they disregard our request we will sec
that the law is enforced
Central Labor Union.
The legislative committee of the Central
Labor Union, composed of George A
Tracey. Michael P. CAVITY. J..J. Crowley
John A. Brett and d. B. Miller, met las
night at Electrical Workers Hall and or
ganized by electing George A. Tracey
chairman and M. P. Canty secretary.
The committee considered some very i'm