The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-14
SCHOOL BOARD Contracts
Trades Council Makes Accusa tiOns
and q Protest.
SERIOUS CHARGE PRESENTED.
Owing TO the Subletfiug Of Contracts.
They Say. Buildings Have Not been
Well Constructed and lIardships
Have Resulted Ihcrefrom.

The board OF control was given ut-
tie surprise party last night when
commiI1ee of mechanics presented
themselves at the meeting. and submit
ted through Mr. NotZ the following pc
tition in which 1t is set forth that the
school buildings which the district has
been SO lavishiy eXpending money upon
have Injured but little to the benefit OF
the Scranton workingman; and more
surprising than all, the schools have not
been built In worlimanlike manner.
rne communication i'm full Is as fol-
lows:
Scranton, Pa, Jan. 13, 1886.
To the Scranton Board Of Control.
Genilemen:-We, the representatives OF
the Scranton BUILDING Trades Council,
representing 5,CuQ mechanics, employed in
the building trade oil our city, would re-
spectfully cali you attention to the fact
tnat We are not being treated fairly by the
contractors of Scranton and vicinity. and
we think ii is In your power to ameiiorate
the present condition OF affairs.
We should call your attention to the
fact that under the present method OF
letting contracts, the original contractor
has the right TO sub-let all or any part
OF said contracts to second or SUB con-
tractor for u less price than agreed upon
In the original contract, the sald sub-con-
tractor often times subletting again to q
third party (Which We can prove to YOU,
thereby making three contractors TO draw
upon one co:tract before the men who do
the work are considered. The said second
and third contractors. to get any profit
from their work, must cut the wages TO
the lowest possible figure, and work their
men all the hours they can; therefore you
will see, gentlemen, II Is We, the mechan-
les and wealth winners, who have to sur
fer for Il few INSCRIPTIONS contractors
who will take work ut amy price; yes, anu
make profit OF; of II, too. How? you
would ask. Just look at the rate Of
wages paid their men and ascertain the
number of hours they work, and above
all things closely examine the quality Of
the work done. 1t may look all right to
all outward appearances, but We can as
sure you it will not stand the test of an
honest examination by an expert. Do
this, gentlemen, and the problem is soon
solved.
sometimes DO Not Get Their Pay.
And again, there are times when We
are left without our pay altogether. The
laws Of the state (thanks to Governor
Pattisom make 1t impossible to collect
from IA sub-corracto. Therefore, we
would ask you, gentlemen, to insert in
all future contracts for school buildings,
etc, this clause:
Flrst-That ali contracts must be car
ried out by the original contractor.
Second-tnder no circumstances will
any contractor be allowed to sub-let all
or any Larts of such contract.
Third-That nine hours shall constitute
u days work on all contracts let by your
honorable body.
Fourth-That said contractors shall pay
Il fair rate of wages for all work done,
The said rate to be fixed by joint meet
Ing of wOrkingmen mechanics and others
Interested.
You may say, gentlemen. that the fore
going suggestion are impossible. as when
the original contract Is let to carpen-
ter who i'm turn must sublet his brickwork
to bricklayer, and so on. All this Is un-
derstood by this committee, but We know
h.. original Contractor gets his bids
from the carpenter, the bricklayer, the
plumber, the painter. etc, and takes the
lowest he can get; then submit the whole
to you for consideration. Now why could
no; these carpenters. bricklayers. plumb
ers, painters, etc, submit their bids d.
rect to your body and receive their con-
tract direct from you. thereby making 1t
an original contract. This plan would
us better rate of wages and at the
same time make 1t possible for us to col
lect by law any moneys due US from ue-
faultinS contractors.
to the foregoing suggestions. for 1t Is a
deplorable fact that the contractor has
entirly ignored the fact that the men
doing the work should have any consid-
rate of wages with them: their object Is to
cut his pay down to the lowest penny. not
caring If the men get enough to live upon
or not. While We, as intelligent mechan-
les, citizens ana taxpayers, uefNaHu that
we be paid enough wages to live respect.
ably, educate our children as they should
be educated, and enjoy such little CON-
forts and amusements Of life, as every
honest working American citizen Is en-
titled to.
Therefore. gentlemen, We hope that In
the interest of justice and fair play you
will give this matter your immediate and
careful attention.
We have the honor to be gentlemen.
Yours respectfully
Philip j. Thomas,
p. j. Snyder,
william c. Sames,
Committee of Building Trades Council