New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-22
LABOR MEN ASK DIX
TO GUST PRENDERCAST
Charge Controller with VioIat-
ing Labor Law in Paying
Subway Contractors
ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ACT
Prevailing Rate of Wages and
Eight Hour Provisions Alleged
to Have Been Ignored in
Work for CITY.

Albany, Aug. H-Chargcs were filed
with Governor Dix to-day against Con-
troller William a. Prendergast Of New
York City. alleging that he had paid con
tractors for public work performed IN
violation OF the state labor law The com
plant was made by representatives Of the
executive council OF the United Board Of
Business Agents Of Greater New York
and Long Island Building Trades. who
told the Governor that they believed NJ.
Prendergast should be removed from
office. The papers were referred 20 At
torney General Carmody.
The papers alege that Controller Prem
dergast audited bills presented by John
Slattery, the Keeps Dry Construction and
the Bradley Construction Company for
work performed in New York and Brook
Ign, which included subway and sewer
construction.
The complainants say they protested
against these payments on the ground
that the contractors had violated the
labor law by failing TO pay the prevailing
rate Of wages to their employees and by
employing their men more than eight
hours a day
The money was paid to the Keeps Dry
Construction Company and John slattery
on the advice OF the Corporation Counsel.
according to the papers.
Accompanying the papers are anidavits
from members OF the Central Federated
Union alleging they heard Controller
Prendergast declare that "he was not in
favor of the eight-hour law, az a superin-
tendent on the job might force the men 20
work longer and the contractor would be
blamed"
Governor Dix gave out the following
statement regarding the charges
l was waited on to-day by Thomas J.
Curtis, John Henley, Joseph McGranc
Charles Burns and John +. raSgart rep
resenting the executive council Of the
United Board OF Business Agents Or
Greater New York ana Long Island
Building Trades Their mission was 'he
presentation Of various data and signed
statements charging Controller Preudor-
CAST with having paid money 10 con
tractor for constructing sewer In the
city Of New York, although the con-
Of wages. and also that the contractor
had required the men 20 work more thau
an eight-hour legal day. in violation OF
tho labor law.
Their statements were in effect that
violation had been made ana, uotWltu-
standing such violation. tho Controller
had settled with the contractor contrary
10 statute. The claim OF this committee
was that for such violation the Controller
should be removed from ONCE.
In conclusion the Governor saws the
papers have been referred 10 the Attor-
ney General for examination and instruc-
tons Ito see that the labor laws OF TINS
state are rigidly enforced.
Controller Prendergast Is out Of tho city
and Douglas Mathewson. Acting Control
Ter, said last night that ne had not heard
OF the charges against the Controller. tn"
case Of the John Slattcry COMPANY ne
said he had never heard Of bat b"
thought that he recalled hearing ~ the
case OF the Keep Dry Construction com
parry The bill. he thought. was for paint
ing city property on Long Island lie
thought the charges were of little cons"-
cuence. as questions 81 violation Of the
Ia Dor laws always went 10 tho corpora
ton Counsel before bills were audited.