The morning times., 1896-09-12
SLY PAYERS RE..sAT|sF|ED.
Commissioners Assert That
Per Diem Wages Are Fair.
REPLY TO LABOR LEADERS
Scale of Prices Is. Given. and 1t Is
Declared to BE Above Average
Father Ryan's Building and Lots
Placed on the Taxable List-MinOr
Notes.

A communication was sent yesterday by
authority or the Board OF Commi ssioners
TO Secretary George F.. TorreDs OF the
Central Labor Union, responding to certain
questions propounded in a recent interview
accorded to delegation OF the organi-
zation, in respect TO the withholding sof
contracts from Objectienable bidders, and
also upon the subject OF wages paid to
employees under rate prescribed by the
board.
Mr.. Torrensisi isinfomedi in the communica-
tion that the man objected to-one Jones
OF Georgia-is not enjoying the privilege
of contract with the District.
IL was charged by the delegation that
Jones was enabled TO underbid others in
the competition for the contract for sup
plying granite curbing, solely because lie
uDderpaid his labor and that he was en-
abled TO secure cheap labor only beca use
he was satisfied to have his work done by
unframed workers.
THEY DEFEND THEMSELVES.
The principal feature of the Commits
sioEers' reply, however, is the defense
they make to the charge against them OF
lowering the w8ge-rate in the District. 1t
was asserted by. the labor men that the
pay of street PAYERS was reduced by the
District, and it was urged that better
rate be maintained The contract rates,
at least, should be paid, they said, for all
work done under District direction.
The Commissioners say in regard 10 this
phase OF the complaint, that the District
employees all seem to be satisfied with the
wages: that they are glad to do the kind
OF work prescribed at the rate paid.
They give the scaierat which this class
of labor is paid as follows:
',First-class PAYERS anS curb settlers. So
per day: men employed upon rough cutters,
and second-class brick sidewalks along
Fl A
day. according to skill; men employed in
placing granite block. -cobble, rubbie. or
verified brick, in cuts or upon small re-
pairs. 81 rs per day"
These prices, the Commissioners insist.
are fair and somewhat in excess OF the
rates paid for similar work by private con
tractors and street railway companies"
The Commissioners are not disposed 10
coDcede that they have lowered the scale
of wages, and depend upon the foregoing
statement of circumstances as a defense.
Rev. s. +. RYAN's PROPERTY.
The Commissioners entered an order yes
terday restoring to the list of taxable
realty the rear portion OF suh-lots \ and b,
square i24, a parcel which is improved
with building and owned by the Rev.
Father :. +. Ryan of the Church of the Inn
maculate Conception, the reason being that
the lots are DO longer used for school pur-
poses.
Father Ryan has made a vigorous pro
test with the board OF assistant assessors
in respe1 to Is action, it being upon the
boards recommendation that the change
was Made. lie coDtended that the reasons
assigned were not sufficient, and that the
building was intended as an annex To the
church school.
The assessors alleged that the. house is
occupied 10y the teachers of the school:
= bef rsasS is the
dwelling Of any citizen his place of abode.
They were actuated in the matter by a
sense Of justice and will not recede from
the position ken. ----'
\ member Of the hoard said yesterday
that 1t is the purpose to cause all property
not actually occupied for Church, school
OF governmental purposes to be placed upon
the tax list, and as proof of their intenr
tion 10 deal Justly by. all it was shown that
in at least two other instances, in the
matter of the Colonization building at
the corner of Four and a-halr street and
Penns ylvania. avenue, AND in respect to
lot belonging to one of the Lutheran
societies, similar action was taken.
VALUATION is REDUCED.
1t was also cited that the valuation of
thepropert was reduced the building from
the former valuation OF So 400 to S3.nOo,
and the realty by as much as 10 cents per
foot.
The holding is located on the south side
Of n street northwest opposite the Church
OF the immaculate Conception, and is held
in the name OF Father Ryan, not by the
church society.
The board further says that its opinion
is sustained by the attorney for the Di.
trict. The matter was referred to him,
with a statement OF the facts, and he rem
dered an opinion upo nwhich the toart
acted in this matter, and which will govern
in all similar cases.
Father Ryan asserts that the information
furnished To the attorney was not correct.
He says, also. that the occupancy of the
building By the teachers does not disasso-
ciate it from the school not take il from
the list of school buildings. The Occu-
pancy of school-hou by the Janitor. he
thinks, is a parallel case.
IL is inferred that Father Ryan will en-
deavor to have the order .resGiHded-s es
An order has been issued for the repay
ing Of Connecticut avenue, between Jeffer-
son and streets, and Sixteenth street,
between Massachusetts avenue and NJ
street The work will be. commenced at
once.
All Of the new school buildings have been
I'm Tho amount piaced on h,a Greau-