The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-19
ALIEN LABOR
TEST WILL BE
MADE AT ONCE
Subway Contractors Decide
TO Respect Law Until Case
3. Is Decided.
NON.CITIZENS RUSH
TO GET FIRST PAPERS

A test case 10 determine the constltu-
tlonsii:y OF the alien labor law will prob
ably DE agreed upon to-day by the Public
Seryice Commission city officers and the
General Contractors Association. Tending
tne decision OF that case subway and
,evated construction will go on and the
threatened tIcup will not take place un-
less the labor unions force II.
Tho situation was thus disclosed after
i, meeting last night of forty members OF
III, Contractors Association. including all
IN, contractors FOR dual system construc-
ron. a: the Engineers Club. on West For
te.n street This statement was given
on. by c \. Crane. secretary OF the asso-
citation
The General Contractors Association
declared the intention of its members TO
comply with the law OF the state in every
particular AZ the same time Il desires
10 call TO public attention the extreme
d.ficulty Of constructing the vast public
works nor under way and az the same
time excluding all alien labor.
~, is believed that the alien labor law
r. no; constitutional and IL in viola
t!ol OF treaties with other countries. and
,teps will he taken as speedily as possible
TO submit the question to the courts.
May Keep Forces.
Whether or not laborers who are not
citizens shall he dismissed before A court
,ts, Is made is for each contractor 10 de-
ode individually. All OF the contractors
II .ast NIGHTS M citing were disposed
to coS,nue with their present f,-ces.
Il Sas thought that the Public Service
Commission would not attempt 60 cancel
any contracts unless the Cour. OF APP
rAs upholds the contentious OF the
IN. ons. In to-dsy's conferences tho con-
tractors will he represented by their law
committee. W. VI. h. olcott was pres
or, 20 advise them last night
The Italian Government has already in
t.res;ed itsei; in the controversy. Ten
aavs ago A consular representative here
made inquiry OF the Dock Contracting
Company. which laid or Italians al the
request o: the unions. az 10 the perina
n.ace OF this arrangement
II the law Is upae.d--a!ost lawyer
t,.nk il Will not be-:he barge canal aud
otAe- big projects besides New York :
subway. will have 10 sc; along withou,
alien lsborers. Experts say it can't bs
C3ae.
one result OF the protest against the
employment of aiken labor on the New
York subway contracts was the biggest
crush yesterday that the naturalization
bureaus of the county courts OF the
greater city have seen IN many day
No Of foreign birth. most OF them in
working clothes came clamoring for FIRST
papers In groups Of hundred at a time
~ the end OF the day eome had TO be
told 10 come back to-day.
MAYOR Mitchell. who appeared 10 be a
,.,'. bit worried By the threats " a
-'neyal subway t!eup. offered the susges-
or that IL the thousands OF alien WORK
-. are thrown out Of jobs their places
ri, ght BE- tshen by men nov on the city
p,5roll who may have TO be dropped by
- city in the next few months. Else
where the question was heard. WHY rot
-; To work IN the 'ubways the 5o,oOv
lorgshoremen vino are said to he idle
Tho MAJOR said
= have ro desire - inject myself
,r'o this question. 7 have no power &c
IN so. I do think. however. that
srne,h!rs should be done Immediately
- that work on the subway will not b.
,1ppsd and men thrown out OF work a.
80 time.
or course I agre" with the Labor
Union. n believing that native laooreE'
should be employed in preference u aliens
~ me building OF public works. ] pre-
'lns that an American born ''',Sc,
might rot want 10 work with PICK
srd shovel IL lie could get other ON
r'ovn,ent but feel that thc'e ~" ceI'
',nlv many American born citizens who
wau,d ne willing 10 do almost ANYTHING
. these harl times. |, there are MOI
enough native born QUEENS 10 no NNi'
york !. does seem TO me that ther'
o1gA, 10 be enough naturalized c.tizen'
>" 10 H."
Il haven't looked MO tho lsw and con
'snuer.ly would rather not discuss J.,
10 believe that. however grave TIM
situation may appear. there should d
some means OF adjusting il between IN
Contractors and labor unions. Tney ough
- get toge-he- Il conference. and see I
'-ey can't md some means Of comprom's
'-E When the interests everywhere a
t'ake are 80 big am sure that DOT!
could be willing - do all in thelr powe
r. prevent the - station of subway work.
Vale there are exact statistics, Il n
estimated that 90 per cent. OF the un
,a.el and 80 Der cent. - tho skilled
lsno- on the dual system IS supplied b,
aae.s The shogeys union. ore OF th
'r,age.t, = said 10 be 80 PEE cent. s!.ei'
.lohu GU. tn. business gent Of In
h.."k'dvars ard Inasous union, w.or
threats have caused the present 'Gouo't
has testified before the Pubic S~rvic
Commission that the unions admitted Iol
rgs.. vaen they took out frst natural
'2s'ioa papers, and he did not deny that
lr'r" promise 10 take out papers was goo
'rolga TO WIN union card.
Part Of Contracts. liz says.
II a statement last night Mr.. CA sai'
Tat Il there are $4,000 aliens working
- taa subvays II Is scandal an
-.sNrtcd that the alien laborers work 70
ION !l.a5 to sl.75 a dav. He sai
rtat -he contra ctora were fully aware o
m. aw and the law was made par
81 their contracts. II IS onl" the polti
81 contractors. he asserted. That try Z
r"old the law.
The proposal that test case be made
d, sad is inconsistent with the duty n
public officials - obey both the spri
Hld tho letter of the law. He also SAT-
',cre are 10000 men ont of work Il
New York who will be glad OF employ
iyeut II the contractors will pay even a
much as $3.50 a day
The contracts of the dual system roy
y, der way total about $4,000. 00U. \
Naf OF these are virtually completed. 10
amount thar would be actually nnecte
h' a general CESSATION of work !s abou
SEQ o00. 900. Az a section nears completlo
tus contractor receives all the none
tamtuE To him except 10 per cent, whic
.- ls'd back IA guarantee OF CGmp,st 10
I'D AGAINST damage claims
The city's position Is enba 'rsSsu ne h,
'au.s II IL forces a contractor 20 forte
r contract ana tt'u the labor law
-oIrd uGyonst'tui GA. the contractor ma
10 able 10 sur Tor loss Of hs PROFITS o
Nrgh uo. pad iIg
IN addition TO the eup,oyni'"t Of ale