The San Francisco call., 1909-07-04
PUBLIC SENTIMENT
WITH WAGE FARMERS
UnskiIIed ToiIers Should Get
Their Money When the
Work Is Done
Continued From Page II

NohAhucu fosh AaSS ~
stance the charge was the same-that
wages honestly earned by the hard
est of toll were withheld for weeks and
sometimes months; that company
checks were used in payment, from
which excessive deductions were made
by agencies making a business of ad-
vancing money to the laborers prior to
the date on which the checks became
payable and that every effort made by
laboring man to secure satisfaction
from the firm was always met with alb
solute refusal and open insult.
Already the denunciation of time
check systems such as that employed
by Gray Brothers has brought about a
movement of large proportions for
reform of the laws to make such rob
berry impossible. Mayor Taylor, has
put himself upon record as favoring
the immediate action of some sort of
regulation to compel employers TO eX-
tend humanity and justice to their men.
State Labor Commissioner Mackenzie
has voiced the same sentiment and has
already begun an investigation look
ing to the bringing about of such re-
suit. Labor leaders united yesterday
in denunciation of the system, and the
subject will today pe the theme of
sermons in many local pulpits.
Killed in Legislature
P. H. Mccarthy, president of the
building trades council. stated that sew
eraI years ago a bill relating TO wage
payments for laborers was presented
TO the legislature and killed without
consideration. He referred to the prac-
tice of postponing payments to labor
ers as shameful and little short OF
criminal in its operation and edclared
that he hoped the present agitation
would result in the passing of strin-
gent laws TO prevent the continuance
of such a thing. Andrew Gallagher,
secretary of the labor council. also
spoke strongly concerning the matter,
and Michael Casey, president of the
teamsters' union, said that the body
which he represents will undoubtedly
take active steps to assist in any legal
reform that may be considered ade-
quate to cover the subject.
Harry Gray's Statement
Harry Gray, a member Of the firm on
which the stigma of charges of inhu-
manity has been heaped by an outraged
public conscience, refused again yester-
day to discuss the details of the Gun
ningham and Novak incidents. In
stead Of taking the matter up from the
standpoint of his own firms methods
he insisted on looking at it as a 'sys-
TEN generally in vogue and contented
! himself with the statement:
These men are unfortunate in hav-
/ ing to wait for their money but they
are not in any worse position than the
businessman who has TO stand the
strain during the financial stringency.
We have been forced to pay our men
half in cash and half IN drafts because
our debtors were slow in paying US.
/ Regarding Cunningham, 1 know
nothing I never even sa wthe man."
How do you explain the fact that
| Cunningham quit your employ April &c
and has not been paid yet?" Gray was
asked.
Il do not care to talk about that fell
1 low at ALL" was his reply
He would say nothing about the
! Cunningham check. which called for a
payment July 19 of work, the last Of
which was performed April 26, nearly
three months before. So far as actual
discussion of concrete facts was con-
cerned he became absolutely silent.
Incentive to Violence
Chief of Police Jesse B. Cook was
among those who added their denuncia-
/ tiOnS yesterday to the attitude MAIN
tained by Gray Brothers toward their
employees, and to the way in which
many Of the large corporations
throughout the state exact a petty
graft from their poorly paid laborers.
THE system of some Contractors in
| paying their men is outrageous and has
a tendency to force men 10 commit
| crime from q spirit of revenge" the
chief declared warmly. Just think of
| a laborer, who has a hard row to hoe
at any time, working hard for a month
or two and when he expects his wages
he is given a piece of paper payable
two months after date. This is an
! outrage. laboring man should be
| paid at once on presenting his time
check If a man is put off from time
to time is il any wonder that he broods
/ over it, and finally ends IN crime2 There
is no law to reach these contractors
/ and they must settle II with their own
/ consciences.
Complaints have been made to Cap
! tain Colby aot the southern station by
| men who have been put off by Gray
/ brothers just as Noyak and Cunning
( hame were. OF course Colby could
do nothing in the way of helping the
/ men, but when he was told that a
woman had been shot in a contrac-
tors office, he Immediately said that
it must have occurred in Gray broth
ers.
The system is wrong and something
should be done so that laboriDg men
Will be paid whenever they present
their time checks.
1T is a matter for the state labor
bureau to take up, and If nothing on
! the statute books can cover the ground
legislation should be asked TO put an
/ end Ia this Dernfcio,ls system