Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-18
DISTRICT GOVERN M ENT
Labor Men Heard by the Commissioners
Today.
Difference In Wages Paid Pavers-The
Congress Heights School
Considered.


Trades Council, Mr.. William WEIGH of the
PAYERS Union and Mr.. John A. Brett of
the Steam Filters Union, this afternoon
called on the Commissioners and invited
their attention to several matters of inter-
est to the organization they represented.
MIR. Spohn acted as chief spokesman, and
he first ted that the union had been le-
titioned to appear before the Commission
ers and request that there be some pro-
vision made for the erection of new
school building at Langdon. for which an
appropriation was made by the last Con-
gress. There are children waiting in that
vicinity To attend school, said Mr.. Spohn.
and what the people want Is the school
house. in order that the young ones may
go ahead with their education The COM
missioners stated that the plans for
the building had been approved and the
contract let, and that rapid progress to-
ward the erection Of the school house
might be expected.
Charge. Against 81 Contractors.
The committee then turned it's attention
tt ward a contractor named Francis Jones
of Lithonia, Ga, who has been supplying
the city with granite curbing. MIR. Spehn
declared that Mr.. Jones employs labor at
wages largely under the standard rates and
is an unfair employer. In giving public
contract, said Mr.. Spohn, bidder who
pays living rate to his workmen should
he favored. Furthermore, it was claimed.
some of the stone furnished in the past by
Contractor Jones had to be recut by the
Commissioners.
Uneven Wages for PAYERS.
The rate of payment for workmen in the
employ of contractors for District work
was next touched upon. Private parties i'll
the city are paying PAYERS not less than s.
a oil cd OIL
gagged on city work received not more than
Sl.75. 1t was further declared that the con-
tractors have accepted work outside the
city, and that the work is being done ny
common lahcrers, not by experienced work
men, If private contractor can afford to
pay 81 Mr.. Spohn went on to Say. GER
tainy the people at large can do as much.
He added that he believed it to be a viola
ton of the statutes which provides that the
same rate shall he paid public employees as
is paid private employees in the neighbour
hood. 1t was set forth that PAYERS can
only work about seven months i'll the year.
and at SIT Il day their wages average
only Ia cents IA day the year round The
inevitable result of such reduction in the
scale of wages. concluded Mr.. Spohn, is q
bad class of citizens. The men who receive
good wages are those who are respected III
the community while those who are fore
ell to work for almost nothing constitute
the class who ill the workhouse and Jail.
The Commissioners promised to carefully
consider the points set Iorfh ana the COM
mittee withdrew.
Congress Heights School House.
Mr. r. A. Randle, representing the in
terests of Congress Heights. had a hearing
today with the Comm issioners relative to
several matters OF interest pertaining to
the locality mentioned. The new public
school building at Congress Heights was
first taken up for discussion. and. at the re-
quest of Mr. RanGle and consultation with
Auditor Petty and Ruilding Inspector
Brady, the Commissioners agreed to let the
contract to complete the building at this
time. with the understanding that the work
is not to be commenced until the close of
the next school year.
Municipal Orders.
The Commissioners this afternoon ordered
that a brio k sidewalk be laid in Columbia
street between 18th and 1ith streets, under
the provisions of the permit system, at IN
estimated cost of $50.
An additional naphtha lamp is to be
erected and lighted Nichols avenue,
Anacostia. and the next to the last lamp on
Nichols avenue. at the entrance of the In
sane Asylum. is to be moved about 800 feet
south of its present location.
$1,000 for County Roads and Streets.
The Commissioners this afternoon ap
proved an allotment of 5000 from the APP
preparation for assessment and permit
work. to be expended on county roads and
suburban streets in the current fiscal year.
Sewers to BE Laid.
Fifteen feet of Finch sewer and one
manhole are to be constructed in 18th street
southeast between and G streets, at an
estimated cost of $50, chargeable to the
current appropriation for main and pipe
sewers.
The sewer in F street northwest between
10Th and 2lst streets is to be replaced at
..Stjp ed of II 10 n
the appropriation for replacing obstruct-
ed sewers.
The sewer in the west side of 412 street
southwest between n and Q streets, and
also a section of the sewer in street
from ~. street westward are to be replaced
at an estimated cost of 81, 22G, chargeable
to the appropriation for replacing obstruct-
ell sewers.
The orders of the Commissioners of July
II directing three-inch water mains be
laid in alleys OF squares 3G1 and .Oo were
this afternoon amended 50 as to authorize
the laying OF four-inch pipes in lieu OF
thTee-incn.
Additional Water Mains.
The Commissioners this afternoon order
ed that water mains be laid as follows:
Nine hundred and ten feet of six-inch in
the north SIDE of North Carolina avenue
between 18th and 18th streets northeast at
al estimated cost of $50.
Eight hundred and forty feet of four-inch
in the alleys of square 449, at an estimat ed
cost of S5%S.
Two hundred and twenty feet of sx-inch
in Canal street southwest, from G. to 1st
streets. at an estimated cost of Sl9S.
Licensed az Master Plumbers.
The Commissioners this Afternoon au-
thor,zed Joseph II. McDer.nctt. Robert
Strobel and Lawrence J. Mansan to each
receive licerse master plumber ana gas
filter after filing proper bond.
Sidewalk on massachusetts Avenue.
The Commissioners this afternoon order
ed that a cement sidewalk he iai1 on the
south side OF Massachusetts avenue from
18th to 18th streets northwest, under the
provisions of the assessment system, in
front of square 2t:,, except the west sixty
feet of lot l. and lots II and l..
Misceila neOux Matters.
The Commissioners this afternoon ordered
that the unpaid taxes for the years 1890 to
1896. inclusive. against sublot IS of original