The Detroit times., 1913-10-08
D.P.W. FOREMAN
IS ACCUSED BY
EX-EMPLOYES
Intimate That Jos. Ivers Used
City Men and Material on
Private Jobs
FOUR FILE AFFIDAVITS
WITH COM. FENKELL
Declare, Too, They Saw "FavOrs"
Handed Boss By Men on
Pay Day


investigating charges made agains,
Joseph Ivers, a paving foreman. by
four men formerly employed under
him. The charges are not very def
mite or positive. but an attempt II
made to create the impression tha
lvers used city employees and ma
terial on a private Job.
Angus Mitchell. George Thompson
James j. Clennan and Joseph McCar
thy, Tuesday morning, filed affidaviti
with the commissioner.
The feeling Of the men against Iveri
Is caused by the foreman's action II
discharging Mitchell. The foreman
charges Mitchell with attempting Il
incite a strike laziness and refusinl
to obey orders" The other three mer
state in their affidavits that they Qui
their jobs because they believed the!
were also In danger OF being fred
by lvers.
Commissioner Fenkell read the All
davits by the men and assured then
that the matter would be made thu
subject of q thorough investigation.
Following Is part Of the AFFIDAVIT
ul<Suc W NlCuuou duu VOuCuCu AVI ",
two other pavers:
While employed by Mr.. Ivers
noticed that he was not on the
job, and at one particular time l
noticed that he was not on the job
for two days at q time. and II was
not unusual for him to be absent
or not show up on the job for q
day at a time. though that was
the only fob that Mr.. Ivers had
charge Of. Very often Mr.. Ivers'
brother would come on the job
with q horse and buggy and take
Mr.. Ivers away for the greater
part Of that day.
/. While working on this paving
job on West Jefferson-ave. Mr..
Mitchell one day called my atten-
ton to q number of Mr.. Ivers' men
with q straw boss" by the name
Of Mr.. ]. Do0dy doing some work
that we considered was on private
property. Coming back from lunch
at noon Mitchell, Thompson, Nc
Carly and myself made 1t our
business to look over the work
and We were fully convinced that
the work was on private prop
erty. The next day investigated
the work. again alone with the
same result. Men employed by
Mr.. Ivers were on this work a
greater part OF two days. Gravel
that had come from screenings of
sand to be used In the grout was
used In fixing up this work. l also
saw q double team employed by
Ivers dump gravel on the job.
Some time later l made another
investigation by myself and learn
ed from some of the employees of
the Michigan Central railroad in
the freight house that this was
the railroad property. They In
property. Later I informed Mr..
Bunnell that felt sure Mr.. Ivers'
men mad done work on private
property when we were working
on West Jefferson-ave., and Mr..
Bunnell stated that he would In
vesttgate the matter and advise
me the result. He stated that the
work was actually done on rail-
road property. but he considered
from what he saw that he would
not consider II crooked work.
The men In their statements say
they were compelled by lvers to lay
from 40 to SO yards of paving a day
while other favored men on the job
were doing but 10 yards. When the
men complained, Ivers reported them
to Superintendent Bunnell and Bun
nell accused Thompson Of attempting
to run the job. The superintendent
told Ivers to get rid Of them II they
don't do as you say"
Mitchell told the commissioner he
saw men employed under Ivers hand
Ing "favors" to the foreman the day
after pay day. He also said he asked
Superintendent Bunnell II 1t were no,
true that some men were being kept
on the job because they were "goot
for nine or 10 votes" but that Bun
nell did not reply.
These men recently asked for al
increase from $3.50 to - a day." safe
Commissioner Fenkell. Mitchell act
ed as spokesman for them. Wher
they came In. THIS morning, they tote
me that PAYERS were being paid IS 9
day In Chicago. | told them they mac
better go to Chicago.
Il have not Investigated the mattel
as yet, and I am not familiar with
any of the charges that the mer
make. think the whole trouble
grows out OF their demand for more
pay. do not know Mr.. Ivers per
lily. The investigation Of these
charges will be very thorough"