The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-08-14
DISCRIMINATION is
UNCONSTITUTIONAL
How Chairman Carpenter of City Property Commit
tee Views Agitation for Exclusive Employment OF
Union Men by the eCity-Correspondence on the
Subject.

The city courlci property committee has
answered the Building Trades council.
through Chairman Henry A. Carpenter
who says In part:
.'I believe that no legislative body.
whether II be municipal. state or ma
tional. has any right to pass ordinances
or laws which Will discriminate against
any citizen, regardless OF his afiliation
with trade organizations. his creed or
nationality. and that legislation on this
line will be In violation OF and directly
contrary 10 the Constitution OF the United
States"
Chairman Carpenter yesterday after
noon sent out a notification TO The ProY-
dence Building Trades council through the
columns OF the public press that the COM
mittee will not and cannot interfere be-
tween the contractors who are making re-
pairs upon the school houses of this city
and the men who may be employed upon
those jobs.
Mr. Carpenter, in order that the public
may clearly understand the situation re-
garding work on the city's school build
ings and the position of the committee in
response to the demands OF the labor
unions. gives out the following statement;
"On July 10 the president ot the Provi-
dence Building Trades council and rep
ressntatives OF tho Painters and Car
penters' unions appeared before the COM
mittee on city property and requested
a conference relative To non-union men
being employed on public school build
ings.
I'm response to this request the COM
mittee sent the following communication
under date OF July 10 TO James III. Cole
man. president OF the Providence Build
ing Trades council:
'.At a meeting OF the committee on
city property held this day the verbal
request OF yourself and associates was
considered and II was the opinion OF the
committee that the Building Trades
ences that council may have to this
committee in writing; that thereupon
ff this committee has any jurisdiction In
the matter the committee will give the
same proper consideration.
I'm accordance Herewith you are hereby
advised OF the foregoing action OF the
committee and requested to proceed ac-
cordingly."
I.ABOR'S GRIEVANCES.
ION July 13. 1907. tho following reply
was received from the Building Trades
council. addressed TO Daniel +. Hayden.
clerk OF the committee on city property.
and dated July u:
The Providence Building Trades
council does hereby submit its griev-
-ances- for your consideration as per ytssiH
request 10 present them In writing to
namely:
81. A grievance against the employ
ment OF non-union men (plumbers) at
the Pocasset avenue ward room
"a Agrievance against the employ
ment OF non-union men (electricians) at
the Knight. Public, Technical and Pocas-
set avenue schools.
% To have the employment OF none
but union men on all jobs In control OF
the city property committee.
:. Hoping your honorable committee
Will give this matter your earliest. con-
alteration. and that you will grant us q
This communication was considered by
the committee ot a meeting held on July
Is. and tho following reply made there
James II. Coleman, President OF the
Providence Building Trades Council
Dear Sir: The committee on city
property directs me to acknowledge the
receipt OF a communica ton from the
Providence Building Trades council Of the
18th inst, reciting certain grievances and
10 state In reply thereto that the COM
mittee has no jurisdiction over the mat
ters named In said communication. In
accordance Herewith you are hereby Nd-
vised OF the foregoing action OF said
committee
ION July 81 the following communication
was received by the chairman from the
Building Trades council. serving notice on
the committee that they intended to call
out all union men employed on city prop
erty:
THREAT TO STRIKE.
"'H. A. Carpenter-Dear Sir: l have
been instructed by the Providence Build
ing Trades council 10 inform you that IL
the non-union men employed on the
buildings under the jurisdiction OF the
city property committee are not taken
off by Saturday night and kept OFF the
union men on all city property will re-
fuse TO work after Monday morning
nnxU In YFn
two Instances, is being performed under
written contracts. These contracts were
let by the committee after receiving com
petitive bids duly advertised. as the law
reuuires Contractors are required to
furnish bonds for the faithful perform
ance OF their respective contracts. These
contracts were let In accordance with the
ordinances OF The city, and the work is
being carried on by the committee, as the
law requires.
sin 1905. with the authority OF the city
council, two contracts were let on the
Technical high school for day work, the
contractors naming the prices OF labor
and materials, and being allowed per-
centage for profit. Objection was made
last year 10 the employment OF non-union
men by one OF these contractors and the
ohtection has also been made this year.
The Plumbers union having advanced the
price of wager, the plumbing contractor
requested the committee for an advance
IN wages 10 meet the union price, but the
committee promptly decnneo 10 allow
tor was not warranted In making such
a request according TO his original
agreement. ,
"ExTREMELY. UNFORTUNATE
Mr.. Carpenter adds: Personally. with
out reference to or knowledge or the
oninions OF the other members or the
Sfty property committed. consider the
0hole affair an extremely unfortunate