Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-03-29
EDUCATION BOARD
TAKES Steps TO
END LABOR FIGHT
.FavOrs Giving Contractor Full
Leeway on Central
High Claims.

Definite steps to settle the contro-
versy between the contractor. Frederick
Kilgus. and the labor unions. which is
delaying the completion of the Central
Manual Training and Commercial High
School, will be commenced today by a
subcommittee of The building commit
tee of the Board OF Education, which
met yesterday afternoon. 1t is not un-
likely that non-union mon will finish
the work.
Frederick Kilgus appeared before the
committee yesterday and asked for an
extension of time for the completion ot
the work on the building, which, he
said, was being delayed by unfair de-
mands' and a matchmaking attitude"
The trouble began when kllgus re-
eeived the contract, following the insol-
yency of the Glen Engineering Com
pany, the original contractors. This
owes the masOnS. carpenters
and other workers several thousands of
dollars in wages. The actual claim Of
the brlcklayers is $1,24S.45, but, besides
this, they claim 81 1920 for waiting
time, and the carpenters claim $426.
This was explained by Conover English,
counsel for Mr.. Kilgus, The contractor
is willing to pay he claim of the men,
with the exception of the waiting time.
He feels that he could recover the
amour from the Board of Education, If
the claims were transferred to him. He
has already paid the carpenters, and
will pay the bricklayers as soon as they
are ready to accept the actual amount
of their labor, exclusive of the waiting
time.
The delegates of the bricklayers'
union insist that the waiting time be
paid, and have refused to go to work,
and have induced the carpenters to
quit until the waiting time is paid.
A subcommittee, consisting of Chair
man Taaffe and commissioners Guild
and Taylor, was appointed to assist Mr..
Kilgus.
Mr.. English declared hat his client
had no reason to pay the bills of an
other concern, and characterized the at
titude of the union men as a "holdup"
and "blackmail." lie asserted that this
was a new situation in America and
amounted to holding a gun up to a man
and demanding some $4,000, knowing
lldl MI. hIISuS NdS SuDJctt I Il HIS
for every day the work was being held
up.
The commissioners seemed to agree
with Mr.. English, especially since the
workingmen had been told that their
claim against the Glen Company would
be met when the school was finished.
There is enough money on hand out of
the original appropriation to pay the
men. The delegates, however. do not
wish to wait for the money and demand
it now. threatening to hold up the
school if they are not paid. This, some
of the commissioners declared. was de-
laying a much-needed Improvement,
and was harmful to the taxpayers and
the Board of Education.
Commissioner Taylor said Thai he was
not opposed to unions, but that he
would never support them in an unfair
proposition, and hoped that the public
in general would take a stand in the
matter. 81 am certain he said, that
the board will not interfere If the con-
tractor chooses to employ non-union
men,"
The other commissioners agreed with
Mr.. Tavlor, and were in favor of giving
Mr.. Kilgus as much leeway as possible.
Under the contract. Kilgus cannot be
fined for the delay In the work, because
1t was caused by the combined acton
of workmen, and the committee sup
ports the contention OF the contractor.