Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-14
WORKS BOARD TO
QUIZ CONTRACTORS
ON UNION CHARGES
Plan Drastic Action Against
Those Found Violating
States Law.

The Board of Works yesterday de-
ciied to take drastic action against
contractors doing city work who
violate the working hour laws Of the
State The contractors who are now
engaged on Springfield avenue and
Broad street were summoned to ap-
pear before the board at its next
meeting and explain the reasons for
breaking the laws. Henry J. Lohse,
representing the Essex Trades conn-
Gil, spoke in detail of the violations
at yesterdays meeting.
Mr.. Lohse stated that he had made
q careful investigation since he ap-
peared first a week ago and he had
found that while the skilled workers
were not compelled to work longer
than eight hours, the unskilled labor
was employed ten hours.
It was explained by Chief Engineer
Morris r. Sherrerd that the con-
tractors had given the board to I'M
derstand that they were paying the
men by the hour and that they would
be getting less II they i've up to the
eight-hour limit.
5yThat is a fine way for these con-
tractors to evade the law" replied
Mr.. Lohse, IF they were doing what
they say, but which they are not,
the men would be receiving a good
deal more than they get" The board
then decided TO hear the contractors
next week.
The laborers of the water depart
ment were given their requested in
crease from % to 30 cents an hour
and the street sweepers were granted
a half a days pay on the basis of $40
Il g. H. fnfr
the sweepers were paid on a weekly
basis, and did not receive extra COM
pensation for overtime. on behalf
of the men OF the water department
a committee of First Warders, COM
posed of Michael A. Castellano,
James Purcell and Thomas Crosse,
appeared and championed the cause
of the laborers.
September was set down for the
receiving OF bids for the dredging
OF the inland channel dividing the
meadow reclamation zone to an adj |
ditional 200 feet width This resolu- |
ton is a further step in the general t
project of making the bay front of /
the city a revenue producer as fast I
as possible. The bids also include T
construction of bulkheads to hold T
the fill in the reclaimed land.
The old and unsightly trolley and
electric light poles on orange street.
between Broad and High streets, will
soon make way for ornamental poles
light and trolley service,
which change will reduce their num-
Der in that section from thirty-seven
to twenfy-seVen.
Sewer construction work in various
streets, including South orange ave-
niue, where some protest was offered
by vailsburg property was
awarded to Peter D'Amato, as fol-
lows: South Orange avenue, 2,716;
Shaw avenue, $685. Seventeenth
avenue, $174.s0; Abinger place, 1897.
The board also passed an ordinance
for the construction of storm water
sewer on Rodwen avenue as an ex-
tension to the Vailsburg section
system.
Commissioner Gillen, as chairman
Of the street committee, reported to
the board that the Public Service,
IN construction work on the terminal
tunnel at Halsey and Cedar streets.
vas blocking the whole thorough
are needlessly, IN spite Of the promise
o only occupy one-half Of the width
Il the street at the time. The board
'rdered the company notified.
Further purchases OF meadow {
)ropeDty were made as follows: .
3. Runyon, 81, 099, 3.14 !,
lcres; Walter S. Nichols, 1904. 761
lcres; Caroline A. and Helen Witt
ngham, s121.23, and the late Edward
T. Nottingham, Ss0S33 The last two {
are for part interests in a
.en- acreage plot.
Portion of Amity place was vacated
BY resolution Of the board The hear
ng on the pending trolley franchises
Roseville avenue, Park
place, Military Park loop and Park
hurst street was postponed until
Thursday, September 10.
Commissioner BiertuempfeI an
nounced that the new lighting units
viii shortly be installed on Ferry
street and Springfield avenue. making
these thoroughfares equal the white
way Of Broad and Market streets.