The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-18
CAMPING ON HIS TRAIL
Unions Make Charges Against
Contractor Harkins.
HE Is EVADING THE RULES
They Accuse Him of Charging Outrage
Gus Prices for Board and Lodg-
ing and Making His Men
Use His Camp.

The Butte Workingmen's union is
camping on the trail of Contractor
Harkins. who. the members of the
union claim, is evading the S3-a-day
rule by charging his workmen outrage
Gus prices for board and lodging. 1t is
claimed that Mr.. Harkins has a camp
of his own and that all who work for
him have to board at his camp. Mr..
Harkins is doing most of the contract
work in town this summer and started
this week on sewer and grading work
for the city.
The Butte WOrkingmen's union sent a
communication to the council on Wed
nesday evening in which their griev-
ances are stated. and they ask that the
contract with Harkins be abrogated
The communication arrived too late to
come up in the regular order of bust
ness and SO will not be considered I'M
til the next meeting. Unless a special
meeting is called, another meeting will
not be held for three weeks, by which
time the contract will likely be we'll
advanced. The unions complaint
against Harkins is as follows:
I'VE, your petitioners. wish to inform
your honorable body that one William
II. Harkins is considered unfair and
inimical to the members of our union
who are employed as individuals by
him; and for the following reasons mas
been declared unfair to organized la
Dor:
"First-The price deducted by Mr.
Harkins for board to men working for
him is considered by us to be excessive
the sum deducted being 81 per day.
"Second-The lodging furnished the
men is not conducive to good health. as
no blankets are furnished the men. but
they are furnished a shed or portion Of
a stable instead for their sleeping quar-
tiers.
''Third-When sick from exposure due
to insufficient shelter from the ele-
ments, the men are not furnished with
the required care and medical attend
ance. Yet they are entitled to such, as
invariably 81 is deducted from the pay
for hospital fees, whether the party in
terested worked 80 days or five or a
less number per month. A duly quail
fled physician is not employed by Mr..
Harkins in case of necessity, but an
individual, Otis Hull by name, who is
not a licensed physician nor possessed
of properly signed certificate of COM
potency furnished by our state board
of medical examiners.
wherefore, we, your petitioners re-
spectfully request your hOnora BILE body
to annul, revoke or declare void any
and all contracts for public works
which may have been entered into be-
tween your honorable body and the
said w. H. Harkins. Respectfully
yours,
"WORKINGMEN'S UNION, BUTTE.
by c. H. CAMMANS, Secretary"
Whether these facts are true or not,
it is doubtful if the city would be able
to do anything in the matter Mr.
Harkins was the lowest bidder for the
work and the council is required to let
the contract to the lowest bidder. The
law on the subject is as follows:
Section 4S07-All contracts for work
or for supplies or material for which
must be paid a sum exceeding $50 must
be let to the lowest responsible bidder
under such regulations as the council
may prescribe"