The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-16
Ask
|THATs30,000v0TEO
| ELKS Be HELD UP
Tell Mayor Contracts for Decorations
Are Going To Chicago and Cincin-
matt, While Detroit Men Are
Begging For Work.
F. s. Burgess Says Press of Tire
Makes Letting of Some Contracts
To Outsiders Necessary.

The Association of Practical Elec-
tricians. through Secretary Fred 5.
Thompson. has sent a letter to Mayor
Breitmeyer, protesting against the
employment OF outside electricians on
the street decorations for the coming
Elks' reunion, the expense TO be paid
out OF the $4,000 raised by. the city
and which comes out OF the pockets
OF the taxpayers. Mr.. Thomson repre-
sents that local firms were given no
opportunity to bid on the work.
though electricians are walking the
streets In search OF work. His as
ISOLATION was prepared 10 furnish, on
10 days notice, festoon work for III
miles OF streets. he says. The mayor
is asked TO take some action in the
matter.
F. 8. Burgess, chairman OF the
Elks' executive committee. declares
that there was no intention 10 slight
the local electricians 1t was found
necessary to let the contract for some
OF the work to outsiders because OF
circumstances over which the Elks
had no control. he says.
"Other cities have had from three
TO five months to prepare for Elks'
reunion in the past" Mr.. Burgess
stated, Thursday morning. I'VE were
delayed in getting our appropriation
and, consequently. the time allowed
In which TO get our decorations ready
has been greatly curtailed. To rush
the work through in time for the
opening OF the reunion we had to go
10 the biggest concerns in the coun-
try, which make a specially of these
xxkr. texkf hfnh 10
being used in the decoration scheme,
is controlled by one man and we were
obliged TO go to him or run the risk
OF not being ready for the opening OF
the convention.
IF there are any electricians beg
ging for work l have not heard OF
them, and II that is true they are the
only class OF workmen | know of who
have not been able TO secure employ
ment. AS a matter of fact, the local
firms have not been ignored II. V.
Buelow. No. 100 Michigan-ave.. has the
contract for the big arch to be erected
at Woodward and Jefferson-aves., on
which work has already started, and
the electrical work >on this arch will
be done by local workmen. The cleo
trical illumination OF the business
houses of the city will also provide
work for the Detroit electricians and
we have offered prizes aggregating
$500 for the express purpose OF
securing as fine a showing as possible
in this particular.
Mr.. Thomson's letter to the mayor
follows
Detroit. Mich, June Is. 1910.
Hon. Philip Breitmeyer,
Mayor OF Detroit, City
Dear Sir: On behalf OF the
Association OF Practical Electri-
clans of the city of Detroit, | am
calling your attention to what we
consider the greatest slur ever
cast upon a profession in this fair
and booming city OF Detroit Some
time ago the city council voted
$4,000 to the society of Elks, 10
be spent for the decorating and
identifying OF our city for the
coming convention, that the visit
ing members OF their brotherhood
as we'll as the many tourists who
touch on our shores, might feel
the warmth, and spirit, which the
city OF Detroit can extend to their
guests on such an occasion.
We appreciate the feeling ex-
handsome gift SO generously do
mated the society OF Elks, Tor this
grand purpose and display. But
we resent this money being spent
In Chicago and Cincinnati, when
II should have been spent at home.
What q feeling II will be for the
men In our profession, to stand by
and watch the workmen from
attt 70
streets, and take the bread out OF
our mouths. when some stipula-
ton should have been made, that
this money be spent at home. We
have men begging for work every
day, and there are many idle cleo
tricians in this city at the present
time.
personally am In a position to
know, that proposals for contract
for this work were never asked
for in this city, while every con-
tractor of note should have been
given an opportunity TO get some
OF this work which has been let
outside. The firms that this asso-
citation represents were In posi-
ton to furnish. on ten days
notice, festooning for ten miles OF
your streets, but the opportunity
never came, and we feel az
whole that this money should be
held up, until the committee which
has the letting and awarding CT
this work In charge, explains and
gives reasons why this money was
not left in Detroit. We have just
as competent men in this city as
you will find either in Chicago or
Cincinnati. and we feel that
great injustice has been done both
TO the taxpayers and electricians
at large in the city OF Detroit.
Hoping that some steps may be
taken to overcome this feeling
and resentment that at present
exists. we remain,
Very truly yours,
II ASSOCIATION OF PRACTICAL
ELECTRICIANS,
t,DLSn TIInMGnN