The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-04


can club at a recent meeting:
Salt Lake, Jan 80.
Editor Enthusiastically ascertained
facts relative to the number OF unem-
ployed citizens in Salt Lake City coupled
with observations made. Sunday, on The
class OF labor now constructing the new
City Creek high line has led me 10 suS-
gcst. through your medium, for the con-
sideration OF our legislators now in ses-
sion, the making OF an amendment to
our State constitution forbidding con-
tractors of State, county, or municipal
work 10 employ any but citizens OF the
United States in the fulfllmcnt Of such
public contracts. j am thoroughly con-
vinccd that such an amendment. when
passed by the electors OF the State at
the next general election, would mitigate
10 an apprecablc extent. conditions which
are largely characteristic OF this inter-
mountain region.
Section 1 OF Article XVI. OF our Consti-
tuition says: The rights of labor shall
have just protection through laws calcu
lated TO promote the industrial welfare
OF the State"
a fitting corolary to such a provision
is section porvidinG against the employ
of aliens on public works. Such
provision would be constitutional and just.
| am informed that the aliens now en-
poyed on the high line are receiving
wages which would not enable an Amer
lean to live in social respcctability, and
the high line is but one case of constant
ly occurring agGravations OF this nature.
| do not believe in extending the lib
critics now accorded trade unions; but
am convinced that we should not COM
pei our own citizens To compete with
social scales Iar inferior TO that 10 which
we are accustomed. We cannot reach
the private contractor: but we may di-
rect the man who employs thousands
In the building OF our public utilities.
Very respectfully yours,
CLAUDE Z. BARNES
There will be general approval of
the idea made prominent in the above
that we should not compel our own citi-
zens TO compete with social scales far
inferior to that to which we are accus.
toned That is good American doe
triue, and is a doctrine that the Ameri-
can people not only approve, but in
sist upon throughout the country.
In pursuance of the same idea,
The Tribune has taken pains TO make
investigation into the facts, and quotes
the President of the Council Mr.. W.
Mont. Ferry, as saying:
There was a. clause in the last Amer
lean party platform referring 10 the en-
ployment OF American labor on public
works. In all contracts let by the board
Of public works there is a. clause stipu-
lating that American labor is to he given
the preference" by the contractor
Contractor z. J. Moran answers as
follows:
AT this time of year there always
comes UP the question OF giving employ
city Creek Canyon job there are "a half
dozen foreigners employed al class of
work That does not appeal to Americans.
These foreigners get the same wages that
Americans do at the same kind OF labor
In summer when am rushing a con
tract | am compelled 10 hire any and
cigners are employed. AT such times
there are men idle who wouldn't work
II they had Job offered them on sill
YER platter Again. some OF the places
filed by foreigners can not be taken by
Americans on account of lack of ex-
perience. There is clause i'm my con-
tracts which reads that preference is to
be given american labor.
II is understood that City Attorney
Dininny holds that absolute discrimi.
nation would be a violation of rho
treaty rights Of foreigners. and thus
would be unconstitutional. The Ameri
can club has appointed strong com
mittec to look into this point, and that
committee will no doubt report after
making full investigation
In the meantime, Councilman Me
Kinney introduced in the Council
meeting OF Thursday evening last.
resolution providing that preference be
given to bona fide citizens and tax.
payers on all public works. carrying
OUT more fully the clause in the con
tract for doing public work referred
to by Mr.. Ferry, STIMULATING that Amcri