The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28
UNION DICTATION FAILS.
POLHEMUs q 90. SECURE SCHOOL
PRINTING CONTRACTS tOR 1000.


The Award Bitterly Opposed by TypoGrapb-
icai Union No. o, which Asserted That
the Firm Had Violated the Law ms to
tho prevailing Rate" OF Wages.
The question whether the dictates OF labor
unions were TO determine the award of print
ing contracts for next year was decided by the
Board OF Education at its meeting yesterday
when a resolution was passed authorizing the
Committee on Supplies To give the contract Tor
the printing in Manhattan and The Bronx and
Richmond IL the John Polhemus Printing Co..
a concern which does not submit to the control
OF the unions. When bids were advertised Tor
some time ago by the committee the Polhemus
COMPANY offered 10 do the work in these
borouehs for Sl3SS2. This was about
$1,000 over than the figures submitted by the
next lowest bidder. The Pohemus Company
has had tn. contract for the last five years and
some surprise was created among the commits
sionors yesterday when the Committee on Sup
niles brought in a report showing the bids that
had been received. hu recommending that the
Commute. on By-Laws and Legislation be or
dered to Investigate certain allegations made
against the POhcmus Company by Typo
graphical Union No. q before awarding the
contract. Three allidavits In support of these
allegations were also submitted by the COM
mittee which is composed oil Commissioners
LIVINGSTON. Moriarty. kittel. Richardson aud
Grimm.
The union had asked the committee not to
award the contract this year TO the lowest bid
der. alleging that the Polhemus Company was
not paving the union scale Of wages and was
employing foreign labor AMI hence. under
Chapter J87 OF tho State laws OF 1880
contract awarded to It would not he
valid. Tho law provides that State or munic.
ipai work shall be paid for at the prevailing
rate Of WAGES. Chairman Moriarty ofthe COM
mittee. after the report had been read. said that
the Polhemus Company had denied tho asser-
tons OF the union and as guarantee NJ its in
tention 10 observe the law would give bond
OF S5O.OO0
Chairman Van Hoesen Of the Bylaw Com
mtttee when the suggestion was made to refer
the matter to that committee opposed it on the
ground that no investigation was necessary.
and II there was to be any inquiry IL should be
made by the Committee on supplies. Commits
sioner Maxwell OF Brooklyn tried to cut short
further talk By moving that the contract he
awarded to the lowest bidder as is done in the
case OF other contracts.
Nr. Livingston OF che Committee on Supplies
jumped up az this. think. he SAID. we
sSs.e ada S ' nenTn E' 1Rts Y is srTSGs
matter and we have no right TO proceed until
we see that there lis no truth in their aIiega-
President Little. who is the head OF print
ing esta6Iishms Mt. IN answer 10 question
Pohemus Company had not been violating the
law in 1899. AMI that the CORPORATION Counsel
had so stated III written opinion
Upon Mr.. Livngston's demand the acidavits
submitted by tn" union We're then read. They
a Canadian and an Irishmnn-who stated that
they had worked forthe Polhemus Company at
that that t OF an ' % ssaniHer of Big SX was
President Burke Of Richmond made fierce
attack on the PolhemuS Company, lie said he
had been printer. once and knew that it
hadn't paid the rlGht wages AM was no, ray.
rs ' prnteT pw TO back ap lis but the
latter retorted that Mr.. Burke had no right 10
FssT sS said h I ar FSsm EseW
that ne wasn't paying proper wages"
Mr.. Burke sat down. but Mr. Livingston
justice OF the board in not giving hearing to
persons who had taken the trouble to submit
Mr. Maxwell said the contract should be
awarded at once: and II there was any doubt
about its validity let It b. taken TO court by
AN We have" said President Little. are the
lon OF the Corporation Counsel and the slate
I Dsnt OF z repntable business concern, which
0P cHma f% Oo oBrien then moved in
aamename ,b taat the e9mmhitteS be Instructed
pany provGnC tR bond w tne cye p4ssdgnt
PGrke OF Ric t M and C2mmissioher.. /
h ns AMI rafty voted aga, sgsinst this
awarded. The resolution also provides that !
The contract in BROOKLYN be gwen TO J; b. Wat /
ough. Mr.. Watkins also manages his business |
INDEPENDENTLY OF the union
Owing TO the policy Of economy in school |
Affairs which the ctv has sought 10 naugu. !
rate In 1900, eighty-nine teachers have asked |
TO be retired before Jan. j. ana their requests |
We're com piled with Yesterday by tn. boari !
IL being retired on Dec. ~. the teachers will |
get half paw on the salaries IA fixed in the |
nigh schedules adopted by the school boards
this year.
The board passed a resolution offered by Mr.
Burke requesting the Committee on By Laws
TO prepare and have introduced IN the L"gIS.a-
ture Dill Tor al. equitable division Of the gen.
eral school fund aud the abolition Of section
1Vto OF the charter, which provide. for AN an
portionnIent oi this fund 1v the Board Of E,u-
cation among the several borough boards
Another bill ~ "a wider scope Intended to rr0r.
ganize the school system will also Lo intro
duced in accordance with u resolution PASSED
a. the same meeting, This resolution call. on
the school boards to appoint sub.com-
mittees 10 form a committee on the
whole which shall draw up n bill including all
the boroughs The Brooklyn memh-rs On.
posed this because u committee from that
borough intends to present its own ideas 10
the Legislature independent ol those oil the
Tho Board before adIourning raised tho
salary OF the present lanltrcsS Of the hal OF the
hoard OF Education Mrs, Higgins, TO Si,aD
Mrs Higgins will be the JantresS o. the new
building at Fi'ty-nnth street and Park avcnua
where no living quarters have been provided
THE >. ". TAiL"R ar 4UEEyS1OWN.